Team of Rivals By Mark Macyk Abraham Lincoln never saw a world
lacrosse championship, but the Great Emancipator would love this U.S. team. At the center, America’s Secretary of
Like Lincoln’s famed presidential cabinet, which brought together three of his former political opponents for a common goal, the Team USA attack unit is a team of rivals.
Offense, is its quarterback, Rob Pannell. And if this is about rivals coming together, then it can begin in only one place.
THE ATTACK
Type “Rob Pannell v-” into Google and it will suggest “Rob Pannell vs. Steele Stanwick” even before “Rob Pannell video.” To many, their juxtaposition defined college lacrosse over the last half decade. But to the two guys at the center of
it, rivalry is a relative term. Just because they happened to be excellent lacrosse players born at the same time who fought at the top of the NCAA rankings and in Tewaaraton Award races doesn’t mean they never got along. “We always laugh about it,” Pannell said. “People perceive it that way and it made a good story for lacrosse, so we’re all for it. We’re actually pretty good friends.” Pannell and Stanwick like each other, and it turns out they really like playing alongside each other. Many wondered if that could even work logistically. Pannell and Stanwick traditionally serve the same role on the field, directing their offense from behind the cage.
Youth movement surrounds veteran fixtures
1 MARCUS HOLMAN
PRO TEAM: Machine COLLEGE: North Carolina ‘13 HIGH SCHOOL: Gilman (Md.) HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10, 185 AGE: 23 TWITTER: @MarcusHolman1 DAY JOB: Assistant coach, Durham Academy; Breschi Lacrosse, college lacrosse broadcasting
“I grew up three miles from Homewood Field, so I vividly remember watching Adam Doneger and loving his game and then Kyle Harrison and eventually Paul Rabil,” Holman said. “While I didn’t see them live as much, the Powell brothers all had a big impact on my career as well, specifically Mikey.”
2 BRENDAN MUNDORF
PRO TEAM: Bayhawks COLLEGE: UMBC ‘06 HIGH SCHOOL: Mount St. Joseph (Md.) HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-11, 200 AGE: 29 TWITTER: @BMuney2 DAY JOB: Operations manager, M&M Sediment Control and Excavating Inc.; Owner and operator, Bitmore Lacrosse Club
“Over the past year and a half, I have had three major surgeries,” Mundorf said. “Rehabbing and continuing to train during this time has been the toughest obstacle I have ever faced.”
That could have set up a new rivalry, with feuding generals battling to run the same unit from the same spot on the national team. But when they finally got the chance to run together at Champion Challenge in January, something great happened. “It worked really well,” Stanwick said. “Just knowing the type of player Rob is, I felt I could anticipate more. We do a good job of knowing where the other wants to go and creating space.” To Pannell, the only issue is they hadn’t been paired up sooner. “We said, ‘It’s about time,’” Pannell said.
6 STEELE STANWICK
PRO TEAM: Machine COLLEGE: Virginia ‘12 HIGH SCHOOL: Loyola Blakefield (Md.) HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0, 185 AGE: 24 TWITTER: @steelewick DAY JOB: Under Armour Lacrosse athlete, Johns Hopkins women’s offensive coordinator
42 LACROSSE MAGAZINE June 2014>>
“Your time of playing lacrosse goes by way too fast so try to enjoy everything about the experience,” Stanwick said. “From the bus rides, to practices, the locker room, and of course the games. Enjoy it all.”
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©JOHN STROHSACKER (ALL)
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