NEWBERRY — Coming to Newberry was an opportunity for Bradley Chambliss to not only be apart of a winning program, but to showcase his lacrosse IQ.
“Bradley is a naturally great leader and his tactic to make sure his teammates hold themselves accountable has been very successful,” said Anne Arundel Head Coach Joe Stanilaus.
The Stevensville, Maryland native, which only has a population of about 5,800 citizens, was raised by his parents Bruce and Courtney Chambliss. Chambliss made his way to Anne Arundel by way of Kent Island High School, where he led his team to a 10-6-1 record on the season. The second-team All-Maryland JUCO honoree made waves as soon as he stepped foot on campus, heading the team as captain for two consecutive years.
“With the core that Newberry has acquired from Anne Arundel, we came in with the mindset to win immediately,” Chambliss said.
Just 13 miles down the road from Chambliss’s hometown is that of midfielder Justin Messersmith. The 5-7 communications student also had success while at Anne Arundel. Messersmith was a Second Team All-American that found the back of the net 23 times during his sophomore campaign.
“Justin is a well-rounded player. He can really do it all on both the defensive side or offensive side of the ball,” said Newberry Head Coach Nick Cotter.
Newberry was a no-brainer when it came to making his post Anne Arundel decision.
“With me being one of the older guys on the team, having the opportunity to become a leader and lead by example was a big key to my decision. Winning games and working hard every time we step on the field, we are all here for that one reason,” he said.
For Messersmith, trust is a key component of success for any sport, at any level, and who better to be alongside you throughout your collegiate career, than your former teammates?
“It’s great having these guys around. I have played with them for the past two years at Anne Arundel and have known some longer than that. We all have clicked and that shows on the field,” said Messersmith.
Captain Dylan Mansur from Edgewater, Maryland. stands at 5-10, but is said to be a “defensive nightmare for any team.” He comes to Newberry with many accolades and titles already under his belt. Mansur is a two-time JUCO All-American, that led the National Junior College Athletic Association in points with 114 during the 2017 season. Not only is he a bona fide scorer, but an efficient passer with a NJCAA-leading 65 assists on the season.
Having been a part of strong traditions in the past, Mansur’s sole goal was to start one of his own.
“Being a part of a first-year program is no easy task, and typically you go down as being undervalued and underappreciated. My decision to come to Newberry was a manifestation of going my whole life being undervalued. I joined the Wolves family to do one thing, prove my worth as a student and an athlete,” he said.
Mansur said it’s business as usual, when it comes to playing with his former JUCO teammates. The chemistry they have built on and off the field is what he believes can lead the Wolves to shock the heavyweights of Division II.
Mansur has stayed true to maintaining the “fourth quarter mentality,” whether that be in training and practice or in game.
“He’s a natural scorer with a great dodging ability, creating a tough cover for any opposing defense,” Cotter said.
Unperturbed, relaxed, and calm are just a few words that many have associated with Stone Boone. He started his lacrosse career at Kent Island High School, where he was the winner of two state championships. Boone followed in the tracks of his teammates and was a key starter for the Redhawks during his freshman year. He accumulated 43 out of the 192 goals that Anne Arundel scored on the season.
The Second Team All-American was essentially swayed to attend Newberry by his friends.
“A lot of my friends had decided to attend Newberry and really enjoyed their time here. Some of them I have grown up with and they persuaded me to make Newberry my number one choice” he said.
Hailing from historic Frederick, Maryland, Dan Sullivan has been in the sports world all of his life. However, it wasn’t lacrosse that had his heart from the beginning. He participated in martial arts and karate and was very accomplished, but at the age of 11 he found his love for lacrosse.
Sullivan, like others, saw the opportunity to start traditions of his own and create a legacy. However, coming to Newberry with five of his teammates was a bonus because of the many talents they can bring to the table. Strong on the ball and an exceptional student of the game, he was a key asset to the Redhawks’ 10-4 finish in 2017.
“Having my teammates here has been a blessing. We always try to push each other to become better. We’ve seen each other grow as players and men. In the end, we have one goal in mind, and that is to lead Newberry to a winning season,” Sullivan said.
To round out the Maryland contingent is midfielder Jeremy Ross of Annapolis. With the Redhawks, Ross was second on the team in goals (43) and third in shots (106). He placed a little over 40% of his shots on frame, and was named the Most Valuable Player in 2017. Ross has made a name for himself, being titled an All-Maryland, All-JUCO, and All-Region honoree while at Anne Arundel.
Before Anne Arundel, Ross was an All-County selection for football and lacrosse. He won the football offensive MVP during his senior year.
Coming to Newberry was a once in a lifetime opportunity that gave Ross a way to establish a tradition and culture at a new school. Being the pioneer for a new program will be something he will cherish for a lifetime.
“Being able to continue collegiate lacrosse journey here with five of my best friends was the icing on the cake. We have played with each other for the past two years, with one of them resulting in NJCAA Tournament appearance,” he said.
With most of these young men being teammates and friends for a number of years, it is unsurprising that they all ended up in the same destination. Regardless of the reason for choosing Newberry, the six will suit up for the Wolves together with one goal in mind: to win.
Cotter is excited about his Maryland connection and is confident that the six Anne Arundel veterans will help the Wolves grow into a cohesive bunch this spring.
“Overall it will take this whole team as a unit to be successful in our first season of competition here at Newberry. We have a great group of young men from all over that can each do great things here,” he said.
