Fletch Rolls By Gary Lambrecht Over the past two years, Loyola
senior Joe Fletcher has been increasingly impossible to ignore in lacrosse circles, although the shy, studious, accomplished Fletcher sincerely wishes people would not make a fuss over him.
THE DEFENSE
Talk to his coaches and teammates at Loyola, and you hear about the anti-star that personifies “Fletch.” You hear about the accounting major who has lined up a job in risk assurance at PricewaterhouseCoopers. It’s the same guy who can be found studying by his locker, devouring a Harry Potter book or writing a paper on his laptop while riding the team bus in the front seat — helmet on. You hear about how Fletcher has to be reminded it’s not necessary to pick up lacrosse equipment after a game at Ridley Athletic Complex. You hear about the incredibly consistent defender, the guy with the awkward, hunched-over, 6-foot-2 frame that negates the opponent’s top dodging and quarterbacking threat with numbing regularity. It’s the same guy who would rather change the subject than acknowledge how good he clearly is.
An all-star combo of brains, brawn and versatility will look to slow down the rest of the world
PRO TEAM: Cannons COLLEGE: Cornell ‘07 HIGH SCHOOL: Severna Park (Md.)
21 MITCH BELISLE
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10, 195 AGE: 28 TWITTER: @MBelisle85 DAY JOB: Partner, Trilogy Lacrosse
“The biggest obstacle in my playing career was also my biggest opportunity,” Belisle said. “I was recruited to Cornell as an offensive midfielder and had never known much about defense. Freshmen year I was moved to d-middie, then eventually close defense.”
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36 JESSE BERNHARDT
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0, 195 AGE: 24 TWITTER: @JessBernhardt36 DAY JOB: Volunteer assistant coach, Maryland men’s lacrosse
51 TUCKER DURKIN
PRO TEAM: Launch COLLEGE: Johns Hopkins ‘13 HIGH SCHOOL: LaSalle (Pa.) HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-2, 210 AGE: 23 TWITTER: @tdurkin51 DAY JOB: Corporate security intelligence analyst, Exelon
“Joe oozes confidence without a hint of arrogance. He’s so grounded,” Loyola coach Charley Toomey said. “He came up to me after the Colgate game [a 10-8 win in late March] and apologized for missing a ground ball. I mean, what do you say to that?” “Talent aside — and Joe’s got a ton of
it — he’s the most humble kid I’ve ever coached,” added Matt Dwan, Loyola’s defensive coordinator. “In three years, we haven’t slid to [help] him [on defense]. But when you give him a compliment, he looks at his shoes.”
“If I was Joe, I’d be telling people I was one of the best,” added Pat Laconi, the Greyhounds’ senior defensive midfielder. “Joe won’t do it.”
“It is such an honor to be involved in even the tryout process and now to be part of the team is incredible,” Bernhardt said. “To represent our country and the people who are a part of it is amazing.”
“I was a guy who wasn’t recruited very heavily in the early stages of the recruiting process in high school,” Durkin said. “I was confident in myself and my abilities and just kept working and eventually ended up at my dream school, Johns Hopkins.”
48 LACROSSE MAGAZINE June 2014>>
No, that is definitely not how “Fletch” rolls. In a post-game press conference this spring, after he had spent two hours hounding Army’s John Glesener into 2-for-22 shooting with masterful positioning and stick work, Fletcher spent 10 uncomfortable minutes deflecting questions about his pivotal performance in Loyola’s 7-6 win. “I’m the last person to care about recognition. I don’t like [being interviewed]. I’m a nerd,” said Fletcher, who fidgeted with a pen throughout a polite chat with a reporter before a Greyhounds practice. “Luckily, lacrosse was the last sport I got good at,” he added. “I’ve been very lucky to be part of the [defensive] units I’ve had [at Loyola]. It’s been so much fun. These guys are like my best friends.” Fletcher, a formerly unknown defenseman from Syracuse — unknown,
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©GREG WALL
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