Senior attacker Jon Atwood, an accounting major, has led the CU men’s club lacrosse team in scoring this season, and is ranked second overall in scoring in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference. After playing his freshman year at the Division II Bryant University, the Colorado native transferred back to his home state to attend CU. The Campus Press took time to sit down with one of the eight seniors on the team before they head into the conference championships this weekend.
The Campus Press: What are your thoughts heading into your last home games in the championships this weekend?
Jon Atwood: I think we can win. I think if we beat CSU on Friday we will be able to carry momentum and be able to beat BYU. So I think if we win we will be able to beat BYU and win the championship. I think if we lose then we are going to have a really tough time getting into nationals cause there are so few at-large bids.
CP: What does it feel like going into your last time playing in Boulder?
Atwood: I don’t know, I am really excited. I consider Franklin our home field so I am pretty excited to play there.
CP: How do you think the team has changed over the past couple years that you have been playing?
Atwood: I think we have lost some experience over the past couple years, and this year really there were a lot of freshmen on the team, and it just kind of makes things hard because there is not that experience. I think our coach is getting a little more mature as well so that helps too. And we have a couple more, the two assistant coaches, Bastis and (Kyle) Lambert. I think they bring a lot to the table
CP: Why did you transfer out here?
Atwood: Well, I am from Colorado, and I didn’t really like my situation (at Bryant University). I just decided it would be a better fit here and I ended up just coming here to CU-Boulder because it has a good business school and it’s nice.
CP: How do you think you have changed as a player over the past couple years, both individually and as part of a team?
Atwood: I think my all-around game has gotten a little better, not just plain offense but riding and just having more field awareness of what is going on around me.
CP: What kind of role do you feel you have taken on as a leader this year as one of the few seniors?
Atwood: Well, I think the guys look to me to score at least a couple goals every game and, if our offense isn’t playing well, maybe become like the fire-starter I guess.
CP: Where do you see the team heading next year?
Atwood: I think next year is going to be a rebuilding year. I think a lot of the seniors that we have now, pretty much all of them, play or contribute a lot so I think it is going to be tough to fill in all those spots.
CP: What do you plan to do with lacrosse after graduation?
Atwood: I don’t know, I hadn’t really thought about it. Throughout my career I always play in summer tournaments and just around Colorado, especially up at the Vail tournament. I would like to do that, but I don’t have any real ambitions doing anything else (with lacrosse), like trying out for the pro teams or anything.
CP: What are you planning on doing outside of lacrosse?
Atwood: Well, I have one more semester left, I graduate in December, so just finishing up here and start working.
CP: What has it been like playing in this conference, because it is so strong?
Atwood: I mean, it’s tough. I think it’s the toughest conference in the nation; I mean last year three out of the four teams were in the quarterfinals. You are always playing against the best, but it is hard to get that number one spot. I know there are only like five teams in the conference, but it has been pretty tough.
CP: Is it something that you have liked, all the challenge?
Atwood: Yeah, I mean it is nice. We have never really been out of it, but we have never really claimed that top spot yet. I think being our last home game I would like to do it.
CP: Overall, what are your thoughts about being here at CU, especially after transferring, and playing lacrosse here?
Atwood: Well, the level of play, it is definitely different. Our coach brings a lot, coming from a good Division III school so he kind of brings a lot of the work ethic to the club team to make it what it is. I mean we are a pretty good team for being club. It hasn’t been much change. I think the level of competition isn’t as high but I mean the top five teams could probably compete with any of the other teams that I played with my freshman year.
Atwood and the rest of the team will play in the conference semifinals against Colorado State University Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. on Franklin Field.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Margot Schneider at margot.schneider@thecampuspress.com.
