Wolves Spotlight: Ty Wheatley

How long have you been playing lacrosse and what got you involved?

I have been playing lacrosse for 10 years, I started as a first year in Novice. My dad and friends got me into lacrosse. My first practice was coached by lacrosse legend Wayne Finck, and it was actually in an elementary school gym. I fell in love with the game immediately and never looked back.  

How has being a part of the Wolves Lacrosse community influenced your lacrosse journey? 

I have been all around the league, playing for multiple organizations. When I got to the Wolves, I immediately noticed something was different. It is like a huge family. The amount of people who attend our games every night is amazing. The fact that most of them aren’t even related to the players shows how tightly-knit the community is. Being a part of the Wolves has allowed me to experience numerous unique opportunities that a normal person wouldn’t get the privilege to participate in. From coaching Tykes to volunteering at the Bingo Hall and much more.  

How have you enjoyed your experience at your university, both as an athlete and student? 

The University experience for me was a huge change. Compared to my old school of 320 kids, going to a school with over 20 thousand was crazy at first. The first couple of days I had no friends and thought that would never change. But then I met the boys on the lacrosse team, and that all changed. Weekly dinners at captain's houses, 5-hour bus rides to Bishops and many more experiences resulted in me having some of the closest friends I’ve ever had. That’s the beauty of being on a team. You can have 0 friends outside of the sport, but you know you’ll always have your family.  

Being on a varsity team also helps me with school. We get our own study space, and even personal tutors for free if needed. This is a huge difference compared to regular students. They have to pay for tutors, and have to study in public libraries, etc. It also helps with academic discipline, because you have to keep a solid GPA and be enrolled in 5 classes to be on the team. 

Can you share a memorable game or moment from your lacrosse career? Is there a particular highlight or achievement that stands out to you?  

My most memorable moment in my lacrosse career was winning the Lakes Region Championship in my Junior Year. There were like 2,000 people at the game, and it was against our rivals, under the lights in pouring rain. Probably one of the best days of my life not gonna lie. 

What advice would you give to young lacrosse players aspiring to play at the University level? 

Some advice I have for young players is just stick with it. Consistency is key. Wall-ball every day, go on runs, etc. Also, use lacrosse as motivation. You want to go to a Prep School with hopes of NCAA one day? Well, you have to keep your grades up. You want to go to University for free, then you have to go D1, so again, practice every day and keep your grades up.