SectionsOne demanding crash course
Lacrosse team boasts 4 with no past in sport
Kai Raymer
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports
"I was terrible," Stratton said. "I honestly felt embarrassed because I was so bad."
The physical transition to the sport was slightly easier for the athletic Nienhaus. Developing certain skills was another matter.
"It was frustrating because I didn't have any stick skills," he said. "I also didn't know most of the rules so in the first game I played, whenever the refs would make a call I would be like, 'What happened? Why did they do that?'"
Flaton said he had "no idea what was going on" in his first few weeks of practice.
"The first couple of games, I would run over to Austin and ask him if I what was doing was legal or not," Flaton said.
Love and improvement
All four said they have grown to appreciate and like the sport, and their skills are developing as well.
"After that first game, I couldn't get enough," Moss said. "I play on the first line and when the second line was coming in, I was like, "No, I don't want to come out."
Nienhaus, who played strong safety at Northwest Missouri State, said his football skills have given him to chance to play a similar role for the Bears.
"It gives me a chance to be an enforcer," he said. "I may not have the stick skills just yet, but I bring it when it comes to hitting."
Practice has led to drastic improvement for Flaton.
"Just from playing, my stick skills have gotten better," Flaton said. "You do it over and over, you get better. Once you get the basics down, it's a lot easier."
Added Stratton: "The games can still get a little confusing, but it's just something I like to do for fun."
Holman mentioned that the best thing a player can sometimes do to learn the sport is to sit back and simply watch.
"It was a slow start for them but I think they've picked it up faster than most players do," Holman said.
The physical transition to the sport was slightly easier for the athletic Nienhaus. Developing certain skills was another matter.
"It was frustrating because I didn't have any stick skills," he said. "I also didn't know most of the rules so in the first game I played, whenever the refs would make a call I would be like, 'What happened? Why did they do that?'"
Flaton said he had "no idea what was going on" in his first few weeks of practice.
"The first couple of games, I would run over to Austin and ask him if I what was doing was legal or not," Flaton said.
Love and improvement
All four said they have grown to appreciate and like the sport, and their skills are developing as well.
"After that first game, I couldn't get enough," Moss said. "I play on the first line and when the second line was coming in, I was like, "No, I don't want to come out."
Nienhaus, who played strong safety at Northwest Missouri State, said his football skills have given him to chance to play a similar role for the Bears.
"It gives me a chance to be an enforcer," he said. "I may not have the stick skills just yet, but I bring it when it comes to hitting."
Practice has led to drastic improvement for Flaton.
"Just from playing, my stick skills have gotten better," Flaton said. "You do it over and over, you get better. Once you get the basics down, it's a lot easier."
Added Stratton: "The games can still get a little confusing, but it's just something I like to do for fun."
Holman mentioned that the best thing a player can sometimes do to learn the sport is to sit back and simply watch.
"It was a slow start for them but I think they've picked it up faster than most players do," Holman said.
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