Spot On: Mendes Makes His Mark
July 8, 2008
This article appeared in the May 2008 edition of Lacrosse Magazine, a US Lacrosse publication available exclusively to its members. Join today to start your monthly subscription to LM.
by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
Tony Mendes likes a challenge. His friends know he likes beating challenges more.
Mendes, as a freshman midfielder at Maryland, became a key contributor for the resurgent Terrapins.He played on the team's second midfield and helped coach Dave Cottle's young squad emerge as an NCAA tournament contender.
"He's very quick, very fast and very skilled," said Cottle. "He's much more athletic than we thought."
It's easy to understand how Mendes, 19, has put himself in this position. Last summer, this two-time US Lacrosse All-American from East Chapel Hill (N.C.) High School emerged as one of the 23 players selected for the 2008 U.S. Under-19 team after four days of tryouts that included 120 of the nation's best players.
"It was a lot tougher than I thought it might be," said Mendes. "I would evaluate my standing after each day, thinking about where I ranked. I don't think I clinched my spot until the last day."
"Tony had a good body of work throughout the week," said Team USA head coach Chuck Apel. "His offense really stood out, and he shot the ball very well."
Almost all who see him play immediately notice his quickness and hard right-handed shot, which has been clocked at 95 mph.
"He has a blinding speed and is very, very hard to defend," said East Chapel Hill head coach Franklin Zirkle. "He's also extremely competitive in everything he does. He doesn't want to fail in anything."
That motivation helps explain why Mendes, also an all-conference soccer player in high school, spent the past two summers working on his shot, even on the hottest days under the searing North Carolina sun.
"When you drive by his house, you always see Tony out in the front yard shooting," said Zirkle. "Nobody works harder than Tony. He is very dedicated to the process."
Through the influence of his older brother Michael, who now plays club lacrosse at East Carolina, Mendes initially started playing the game in the sixth grade. He quickly emerged as a standout player, to the point that he would be grouped with the older kids while attending John Haus' summer camp at the University of North Carolina.
During the summer of 2005, while playing on a travel team, Mendes was named MVP of the War of the South Tournament in Virginia. That proved to be the tipping point.
"Tony became the go-to player," said Zirkle. "He gained a lot of confidence and became immersed in lacrosse at that point."
With newfound confidence and an expanded role as a team leader in his junior year, Mendes led East Chapel Hill to the Class 4A state title the following spring. He capped a 100-point season by being named MVP of the championship game.
"It was obvious that he was a special talent," said Zirkle.
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"He's very quick, very fast and very skilled. He's much more athletic than we thought." Maryland men's lacrosse coach Dave Cottle, on midfielder Tony Mendes
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"It just seemed like they wanted me more than anybody else," he said.
Now, as one of UM's new young guns, which include fellow freshmen and U-19 teammates Ryan Young and Max Schmidt, Mendes is tackling new challenges presented by the college game. He pinpoints the continued development of his left hand and his individual defensive skills as priorities.
"The game is a lot faster than I thought it would be, and everybody is really good," said Mendes. "But having so many other freshmen contributing to the team gives me a boost."
Those that know him have no reservations that the newest obstacles standing before Mendes will soon fall by the wayside.
"He can hold his own against the best in the country," said Zirkle. "We're not surprised at his success, because we know the confidence and work ethic that he has."
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