(photo obtained from Skidmore Atheltics website)
Jason Shlonsky ‘21, who originally was a wrestler and football player, never gave much thought to playing lacrosse in college. Realizing that wrestling and football weren’t right for him, Shlonsky turned to lacrosse, which he saw as a perfect balance between fun and work, and suited his lifestyle better. After touring Skidmore and meeting the guys on the team, Shlonsky’s mind was made up. Now a senior on the Skidmore Men’s Lacrosse team, Shlonsky reflects on his past four years playing lacrosse and how his senior season changed how he viewed his role on the team.
During the summer before his junior year, Shlonsky underwent back surgery and then because of the pandemic, he didn’t have any opportunity to play his junior season. Even though Shlonsky was disappointed, he describes how this process taught him how to be a better teammate and altered his perspective on what lacrosse means to him.
Despite not being able to play, Shlonsky made use of his time and focused on things he could control. “I think it's one of those things that you kind of have to come to the realization very quickly that it’s out of your control. I'm a pretty firm believer in controlling the controllables. So during the time off I just kind of said okay, this is my time to try and take care of my body and strengthen my off-the-field relationships and my academics or my career. And if I do get the opportunity to come back, it wouldn’t be about anything other than just appreciating being back out there and trying to get back to the roots of what it was like when I was a kid.”
Throughout his time on the team, Shlonsky describes that he always had the mindset of making sure that he leaves the program, and the people, in a better position than when he found it. “I was more concerned about what is the impression that I want to leave behind on people, when I'm not here, when COVID is not here, what the future of the program will be because as you get older, you realize there are things outside of sports that are going to matter more in your life.”
As a captain this season, Shlonsky continued to practice these ideals on the team. Especially with the unprecedented tribulations of this year, he wanted to make sure the team could achieve their goals and be good members of the community. “Once I had that title, it didn't really change much. I felt more, as an upperclassman around people in a difficult situation, that it is my job to check in with them, ask them how they're doing, and take more of that role of taking people under your wing. And I think It taught me more about how to be a more caring person, to be honest.”
Additionally, beyond this season, lacrosse taught Shlonsky how to be more present and appreciate what is right in front of him. “It taught me to just do the best I can and not worry so much about the outcomes of what my effort is going to turn into but worrying about how what I am putting into this is, is the best that I can do right now. When you take a step back and think about the highs and the lows, it just teaches you how to manage life. And just taking that head on, and not letting every little thing impact your attitude.”
This year, the athletics community had a bigger spotlight on it and the lacrosse team found itself at the epicenter. When asked how the narrative around the team and the COVID situation on campus changed how he viewed himself as an athlete and team dynamics, Shlonsky responded, “So first and foremost, my thoughts around it are part of it's well deserved, right? There's a couple bad apples out of a batch and that's going to happen in any sport, but when you're one of the bigger teams on campus, there's a little bit of a light on you.”
He continues, “I think lacrosse in general has had a pretty bad light on it. All the way back to the Duke scandal. And I think that's something that the whole team is starting to realize, and wants to make that reputation better as community members, because there's nothing more that athletes in general, particularly on lacrosse, want than to fit into the campus just as much as anybody else. Even though it might not come off that way, that's a really strong desire for people. We want to support others and we want others to support us.”
Overall, Shlonsky hopes that the team becomes more conscious of their role as not only athletes, but as contributing members of a larger community, and learn from their mistakes to move in a more positive direction. “People make mistakes, right? I mean, everyone in college just came out of high school and are young adults, so mistakes will be made. And I think the only thing that you could ask is to limit those mistakes the best you can, use your best judgment, really think before your actions and understand that not everything's going to be fair.”
As for his future plans, the Business major and Economics minor is planning on working at Ernst and Young doing management consulting. To him, the business route fits his personality and is a perfect balance of quantitative and qualitative attributes. Shlonsky will probably take time off from athletics in general.
“I think between injuries and COVID, I think some time off from athletics in general will help me get back to it one day. I'm sure I'll pick up a stick, whether it's for an alumni game or in a summer league or something like that. But, I don't think professional sports or anything like that is in my future. I think it's time for me to part ways with that aspect of my life and transition into something new. I'm just excited to kind of take that next step into the next chapter of my life.”
Looking back at his time playing lacrosse, Shlonsky notes that despite COVID and his injury, he wouldn’t have done anything differently. “It's not the goals, or the wins or anything like that. It's the bus rides, having friends to talk to in class or going through something difficult with someone, like that hardship is what makes those friendships stronger and makes them authentic. And I think those are things that I'm going to keep with me for the rest of my life.”