My Journey to College Lacrosse - Chris Tessarolo (BMS '07)top
Playing college lacrosse is an aspiration for many young student-athletes. Playing college lacrosse allows an athlete to further his playing and educational careers, while continuing to open additional doors of opportunity for their future.
To play lacrosse at the college level, an athlete must display the ability to succeed on the field, in the classroom and show a coach that he will contribute in a positive way to the environment and culture within a college team.
As they prepared for the 2011 season, BMS Insider checked-in with former Burnaby Mountain Selects players to reflect back on their journey and talk about some of the experiences that they went through to fulfill their dream of playing lacrosse at the collegiate level...
Name: Chris Tessarolo (BMS '07)
Hometown: New Westminster, BC
High School: New Westminster Secondary
College: Simon Fraser University
Location: Burnaby, BC
League: MCLA Div. I
Class: Senior
Position: Attack
Major: Human Geography
How did you decide where to go to school?
I began thinking about the possibility of going to university at the beginning of my grade 12 year in high school at New Westminster Secondary (NWSS). I visited my counselors at NWSS to provide myself with some options as to where I could go for my post secondary education. After discussions with my parents, we both agreed that I should go somewhere that I can play Lacrosse at a competitive level while still gaining a reputable education. Looking at these two criteria I began to contact Jeff Cathrea and Brent Hoskins, the coaches at SFU. After exchanging emails and phone calls, Jeff and Brent provided the information I needed and SFU was now my next chapter in life.
What has the transition been like from High School to University?
The transformation from high school to university had a very positive effect on me. There is a serious attitude change in a person when they find themselves in an entirely different environment. That is what happened to me when I first set foot on the campus at SFU. You were no longer part of a system that had people looking over your shoulder making sure that you were doing okay. I was now on my own, all my actions and effort put into Lacrosse and my academics were for my benefit and no one else. This transition does not begin to set in until you have your first presentation in front of your professors, teaching assistants and peers. Learning to balance these assignments and other work with college Lacrosse is one of the many tasks that I managed to be capable of which is why I am now in my fourth year at SFU. This transition although intimidating and nerve racking at first, has been probably the most beneficial thing to happen to me and I do not regret any of it.
What do you like about your school academically?
The best thing academically about SFU that a lot of other schools do not offer are its tutorial sections of each class. The tutorials are created to allow students to step back from the lecture material and discuss it amongst their peers and teaching assistants. These tutorials are a very valuable part of SFU I found because if I did not understand something the odds were that someone else in the class did not understand it either so asking questions benefited everyone. These tutorials acted as a tool that allowed students to share ideas about the lecture materials and generate theories of their own to better understand the material.
What do you like about playing lacrosse at your school?
I like the fact that I play for the only Canadian university in an all American league. There is no better feeling than being in the fourth quarter of a game and having fans of the opposing team chanting U...S...A, no other motivating factor can beat this. Knowing that their is a national pride that we bring to every game allows us to be able to play for something more than just the 'W', and that is to beat the Americans.
What’s in your lacrosse bag?
Besides lots of turf rubber, you will find the usual things like screw drivers, extra mesh kits, sidewall string and other replacement fixer up type objects besides my gear. On game days you may find an Ipod and headphones and maybe some notes that were taken during the team meeting prior to the game on our opponent. But one thing that every player at the college level must have for frequent use and remedy, is Ibuprofen or Tylenol.
What valuable lessons did you learn from the recruiting process?
One thing that I learned from the recruiting process is do you research. At first my initial choice of school was not SFU, this was because I did not think I had the required level of a certain course to be admitted to SFU. I was partially wrong about this as when I contacted Jeff and Brent there was other ways of being admitted that over looked this problem. If you have questions or concerns about whether you are making the right decision with choosing a school, always use the resources you have.
What role did your family have in helping you get to where you are now?
My family has always been supportive of my decisions. Growing up I had two older brothers and two parents, all of which were Lacrosse fanatics. My family lived and breathed Lacrosse and it seemed like it was all we ever did. My mom Lisa managed a team almost every year and my dad Chel also either coached or managed a team while i was growing up. I did not have the spotlight playing Lacrosse when I was younger though, my two older brothers Sean and Steve both played high levels of Lacrosse and were just as crazy as I was about the sport. So having a family that loved the game of Lacrosse and being busy made me grow up to be just that, a student balancing college lacrosse, academics and a job all at the same time. At first I did not think I was going to be able to do this but then I remembered that I was a Tessarolo and that I was never too busy to be able to do all of these things at the same time. My family molded and guided me into the position that I am in today, and I thank them for that.
Favourite on-field memory from being part of the Burnaby Mountain Selects program?
My favourite on-field memory with the BMS program was winning the space needle tournament against a very talented Tacoma Starz team in the programs inaugural year.
Favourite off-field memory from your travels with the Burnaby Mountain Selects?
My favourite off-field memory being with the BMS program was meeting and hanging out with guys at the hotel that you played against and were now on the same team with. There is always that guy who you hated to play against but now that he was on your team you grew to really like the guy.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
As much as I hate hearing it every time when i am too tired - "rest on the field"
What coaching tips have had the biggest impact on your game?
- As an attackman the best advice for my position that I was given is to get your head up and see the field. In order to make your next pass, step or shot you need to be able to see whats ahead of you and not to see the long-pole defender axe chopping your arm.
- The other piece of advice as an attackman that I was given is to drive through a defenders stick. No matter how big and how many bicep curls a long-pole defender does, there is no way he can hold you back with his stick while you are driving top speed.
What advice would you give younger BMS players aspiring to play at the collegiate level?
1. Do not slack off in high school it can limit the doors that are open for post secondary.
2. Do your research when applying for schools
3. "rest on the field"
