Why lacrosse?

I’ve always been sporty — I grew up playing rugby, football, and tennis – but when I came to uni I wanted to try something new. Lacrosse has the physicality of rugby, the hand-eye coordination of tennis, and the stamina of football, all rolled into one fast-paced, slightly chaotic game. It’s also an exciting time to be part of the club, with our first batch of players having earned Blues last year – a great target for everyone to aim for.

Best sporting moment?

Scoring in last year’s Varsity Match to help us beat Oxford for the first time in 13 years! It’s hard to top that mix of adrenaline, disbelief, and pure celebration. And boy were there some serious celebrations…

“I’ve always been sporty — I grew up playing rugby, football and tennis”

Worst sporting moment?

Missing the conversion to win an U12s rugby cup match in the freezing rain. And the showers didn’t even have hot water afterwards.

Who is your sporting idol?

Jonny Wilkinson. Although I’m not quite old enough to remember it live, his drop goal to win the Rugby World Cup for England is one of those timeless sporting moments. The precision, composure, and sheer drama of it – that’s the sort of thing every athlete dreams of.

Is it easy for beginners to join lacrosse?

Absolutely! Most of our current players, including me, only first picked up a stick since coming to Cambridge. I started out with my college mixed team (Emma Roar), then spent a year with Uni Mixed before joining the Men’s team. We’ve got a really welcoming group with a good mix of experience levels, and everyone’s happy to offer tips to new players. If you’re even a bit curious, just come along and give it a go!

“Having only joined Men’s lacrosse last year, I’m still learning and improving myself”

How do you balance sport and work?

As a clinical medic on placement, it can definitely be tricky to make every practice or game. But I try to make as much room as possible — lacrosse training is the best part of my week. It’s a great reset from the hospital routine, even if it sometimes means a few early starts to make it back to Stevenage in time for the ward round.

Best bit about being captain?

Having only joined Men’s lacrosse last year, I’m still learning and improving myself, but being able to pass on what I’ve picked up to the new players has been really rewarding. Seeing their progress and enthusiasm is what makes it all worth it — and I can’t wait to see how far they’ll come by Varsity.

Worst bit about being captain?

Definitely the weekly barrage of WhatsApp messages trying to chase everyone for their availabilities. Herding lacrosse players is a skill in itself.

Pre-match rituals?

A strong coffee in the morning, followed by a heavy dose of techno that one of our American players insists on playing as we warm up.