Stars and Stripes

After having been selected as one member of the 24 person World Cup Training Team, I am filled with mixed emotions. It is invigorating to be one step closer to the World Cup and in realizing the potential of a childhood dream. At the same time, when I think back to my first years on the US Team and about how young I must have looked and acted, I can’t help but to generate a timid smile. I was still in awe of veterans such as Jess Wilk, Danielle Gallagher, and Cherie Greer, among others. These veterans are the players who I, as well as my teammates, have looked up to and have tried to emulate throughout our US careers. They are the players who inspired us to pursue our love for lacrosse and they are the players who helped grow the sport to where it is today. We have simply followed in their footsteps. Now, I suppose that there are those of us who can be considered “vets” which leaves me feeling nostalgic and also eager to fill their shoes. As I look around at practice now, I not only see the best lacrosse players in the world, but also some of my best friends. Practice cannot be classified as just drills, but as overall entertainment. The laughter, chemistry, and overall enjoyment of the game combine to make being a part of the US Team not only an opportunity to compete at the highest level, but it also serves as an avenue to befriend some of the best people in the sport.

While all of this reflection is great, I know that the hard work is not over—not even close. The final roster of 24 will not be officially complete until February. The 48 players, who make up the US National Team, as well as their staffs, will continue to push each other in healthy competition throughout the upcoming months as we work to form the USA World Cup Team. I am both proud and determined to be a part of the US Team and hope to one day realize my dream of playing in a World Cup.

Forever 21

Most everyone I know has a story about their jersey number.  What is yours?  Some are superstitious, some are sentimental, some are in honor of, or in memory of… I’d like to know your story!

Mine started when the Colts of the NFL, used to be in Baltimore.  That’s right, young sports fans, the Colts were the Baltimore Colts long before Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts!  It was a family affair for us in the 70’s, cruising down to D’town B’more and Memorial Stadium in my grandfather’s Cadillac to sit among the other season ticket holders.  I remember that no amount of flannel blankets and hot chocolate could keep us warm.  But, it was the best family bonding and the warmest of childhood memories.   I grew up with NFL Football, and my older brother would take me out back and throw the long ball– playing out game winning catches and practicing our spirals.

My idols were very famous quarterbacks, Terry Bradshaw and Joe Namath, who both wore #12.
In 1978, I was #12 for Halloween–helmet, shoulder pads, mesh jersey, football pants and cleats!
My high school jersey number in all sports–volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse–was #12.  When I graduated from high school, my parents bought me a good luck charm for my necklace in the shape of a 12, to go with a gold lacrosse stick charm.

As a freshman in college I was wrecked when a senior already had #12, so I spent the year without an identity

Finally, I was able to get #12 in College Park, where I was lucky enough to earn All-American honors in #12 for Maryland Lacrosse.  When you make the U.S. Team, you’ll wear any number they give you, right?!!  Well, as icing on the cake, somehow I was also lucky enough to wear #12.

Forever 12??  That doesn’t sound right…there’s more to the story!

Playing for the U.S.A. National Team is a magical time.  To play with other players who you respect, and with whom you share the highest common goal–to win a gold medal–is a special experience.  Going abroad with U.S.A. on your back, as a competitor and as an ambassador of the game, are among the highest honors.  Growing into a threatening team, and becoming a unit on and off the field is an unforgettable process of selections, training camp, and travel.  When a team comes together it is a powerful experience and I was lucky to be among World Cup Teams that felt like family.
After being injured one year, and not being able to finish tryouts, the U.S. Team was selected and #12 was up for grabs.  As close as we were as teammates and families, when it comes to numbers, it was just as competitive as on the field.  Danielle Gallagher, who I insanely respect as one of the best players in the world, swooped up #12…AND THE REST IS HISTORY, as they say!
What’s the opposite of 12, 21!

It was a playful twist, a fresh outlook, and after all, the LUCKIEST of numbers!  After failed persuasion and unsuccessful attempts to pry  #12 from Danielle, I moved on and celebrated #21.

“I see you 21.” “Great job 14.”  “12, can I have your autograph?”

What’s in a number?  People call us by our numbers and we answer to our numbers.  They basically become an identity. We answer to it in games when the ref tells us what to do. Numbers, not names, are retired. We see it on the stat sheets and scoreboards; it’s announced before our names; the other team is constantly either asking for you by number–”whose got 21?” or keeping tabs on you–”I see 21.”

I’ve heard some great stories about people choosing a certain number to honor tradition–one story was because their great great grandfather played in the Rose Bowl in 1940, so they wear his number, or simply a respected older sibling wore a number and people want to keep it in the family.  Sometimes athletes die and a number is chosen in memory–to keep that person close to them and look out for them when they go into battle and compete.  Some people’s jersey numbers simply are chosen because it is their lucky number or their birthday.  In some cultures and religions, certain numbers mean certain things–I’ve heard of someone choosing #3 for The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost; I’ve heard someone choosing #9 because the 9th letter in the Hebrew Alphabet is Chi and Chi means “life” and is good luck!  Sometimes numbers are chosen because they represent a standard, like #1–that kid is usually a self assured competitor…or #23–one of the most well known numbers made famous by Michael Jordan, of course.  One of my assistants grew up in a NASCAR family…yeeeah, hun, you get the picture…

Jersey numbers usually mean a little more than just a number.  It’s fun to ask people why they chose theirs.  I would like to hear your story!  Email me at: blogs@debeerlacrosse.com and tell US your story!

Michele Uhlfelder

Currently the founder and director of the Bay Area WAVE which plays coast to coast in tournaments and holds regular practice outside of the high school season.  She also runs Coast to Coast camps and clinics as well as B.A.L.L.–Bay Area Lacrosse Lessons.  Uhlfelder is know as a creative teacher of the game and has conducted camps and clinics in the U.S. and abroad.  Uhlfelder brings 14 years of Division 1 college experience to the high school and youth players after coaching at the highest level.  She spent the last 8 years as the head coach at Stanford, and prior to that she was an assistant for 2 years at Duke, and 4 years at Old Dominion.  Her Stanford team earned the distinction of becoming the first west coast program to ever reach the NCAA tournament, and  to ever produce All-Americans and U.S. Team players from the west coast.  At Duke, she coached 6 All Americans and helped the team reach the Final 4.  Uhlfelder has run numerous camps and clinics throughout the country.  She brings a wealth of playing experience including a 15 year run on the U.S. National team, helping the U.S.A. earn two gold medals in the 1997 (Japan) and 2001 (England) World Cups.  She has represented the U.S. on  international tours to Australia and England, Scotland, Wales.  In her playing days as a Terp at the University of Maryland, she was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year in Division 1 Lacrosse as well as a First Team All American.  She helped the Terps reach two NCAA Championship games.  For these accomplishments she has been honored in her hometown by being inducted into the Baltimore Chapter of USLacrosse Hall of Fame and was chosen as the recipient of the Pikesville HS Distinguished Alumni Award.