Every September, as the academic calendar begins, a few brave souls make their way to Homewood Field to attempt the seemingly impossible: to make the men's lacrosse team as a walk-on.
The dream of these unrecruited, non-scholarship players is to be a part of the greatest lacrosse tradition in the country and to contribute whatever they can toward the goal of a national championship.
For three current Blue Jays, their perseverance paid off and their dreams were fulfilled.
Senior James Maimone-Medwick, sophomore Kyle Miller, and freshman Val Washington have all gotten their names on the roster only after getting into Hopkins and proving themselves to their coaches and fellow players on the field.
Listed at 5'8" and 165 lbs., Maimone-Medwick is considerably smaller than nearly every one of his teammates. Growing up in Long Island, he used to hear lacrosse stories from his uncle, Bob Maimone, who graduated from Hopkins in 1977 and was a legendary face-off specialist. He was also a member of the 1974 NCAA championship-winning team.
"He gave me a lacrosse stick for one of my birthdays and made me want to play here growing up," said Maimone-Medwick.
Washington knew he was going to try out for the lacrosse team as soon as he was accepted into Hopkins. Hailing from Bloomfield, Mich., he played lacrosse for Cranbrook High School alongside fellow walk-on Miller.
"I went in with an open mind and I figured there's nothing to be afraid of. If I get cut, I get cut, and if I make it, I make it," said Washington.
As the days went by on the practice field, Washington's confidence began to build.
"Every day they didn't cut me was another good day," he said.
After making the team, Washington feels that he and the other walk-ons have been treated as equals.
"The team as a whole has accepted me like a brother, and the same goes for James and Kyle," said Washington. "The 'walk-on' title is only there while you're trying out, but then you're made a full part of the team."
Maimone-Medwick was a backup goalie at Manhasset High School, one of the best teams in the state. When he arrived on campus, he heard that the lacrosse team was only carrying two goalies and probably would need at least one more to round out the team.
"When I came here and I saw they were looking for a goalie, that was my opportunity," he said.
Maimone-Medwick and another walk-on battled for the spot, which Maimone-Medwick eventually lost. Needless to say, he wasn't too pleased.
"I felt like I had ruined a good situation, and I was pretty upset with myself for a while," he said.
But he would get a second chance. During his sophomore year, when the team had no need for goalies, Maimone-Medwick continued playing for the club lacrosse team, while also serving as its president. Then, during his junior year, the team once again found itself short a goalie. Upon returning from a fall semester studying in Florence, Maimone-Medwick vowed to get himself into shape and make one last run at the team.
After showing up at practice beginning in January and playing hard for the next two weeks, he finally achieved the goal he had set for himself. One day after practice, head coach Dave Pietramala quietly announced that a new member had been added to the team.
"It felt amazing, my lifelong dream had actually come true," said Maimone-Medwick. "I thought I would never have another shot, but it turns out, luckily, that I did." He currently wears the number 26 on his jersey, twice his high school number, 13.
Maimone-Medwick has only played twice in his career, at the end of games against Albany, both this year and last. But those are moments he will never forget.
In the first game of his career last spring, Pietramala put him in with less than two minutes in the game and victory already assured. In that brief time he faced one shot which he just couldn't get his stick on and ended up in as a goal. Still, he was pleasantly surprised at getting the opportunity to play.
"I did not know I was going to play before the game," he said. "Coach told me to get ready two seconds before I went in."
If there seem to be any similarities to the movie Rudy, you wouldn't be too far off.
"I always felt attached to the Rudy story," says Maimone-Medwick. "I'm not that tall, I'm not that big, and I've always felt a strong attachment to the underdog."
Washington has also seen only brief playing time. But that doesn't diminish the experience for him at all.
"Everybody has a role on the team, and no matter what that role is, it still contributes to the team. If one succeeds, we all succeed and if one fails, we all fail," he said.
Though Rudy Ruettiger was on the field for only one play his whole career, he will forever be remembered as a hero of Notre Dame football. While Maimone-Medwick, Washington and Miller may receive less publicity and attention, their accomplishments are just as noteworthy, proving that determination and hard work can go a long way.
