When the Gait brothers were tearing things up at Syracuse in the late 80’s, word slowly crept out that there was ‘another Canadian’ coming to play in the Carrier Dome.

Apparently, he was just as flashy, and his behind the back passes were as accurate as most attackmen’s forehand passes. The prodigy was Tom Marechek, and his flair on the field was Syracuse-style, true to form.

As a freshman and sophomore in 1989-90, Marechek won two NCAA titles alongside Paul and Gary Gait. The Canadian’s remarkable collegiate career ended in the finals with a sudden-death overtime loss to Princeton.

Marechek - who was first-team all-American three times, and second-team as a freshman - left Syracuse with 182 career goals, second only to Gary Gait. His 258 career points leave him fifth all time, and 10th all time with 76 assists. He also had the fourth-best goal scoring season in Syracuse history with 53 in his junior year.

After his college career, Marechek moved on to the pro indoor game. After being named (MILL) rookie of the year in 1994, Marachek has been selected all-pro five times. He currently leads the Philadelphia Wings with 12 goals in three games. He was recently named the NLL player of the week after totaling six goals and one assist in a 15-12 win over Rochester.

For youth and high school boys interested in learning from one of the best, Marechek runs the All Pro Lacrosse Camp at Goucher College. This year’s camp will run from June 25-29. For more info or to sign up, call 410-532-0189.

Steve S wants to know: I was wondering what high school lacrosse in Canada was like when you were growing up? Canada has produced a handful of great players including yourself but you really don’t hear a lot about the average players in Canada.

Steve, unfortunately we do not have too much high school lacrosse in Canada. I basically grew up playing box lacrosse and some field on club teams.

I still remember when I was young, coming home from school all excited about the lacrosse game I had that evening. My father would drive me to the box, (an outdoor box lacrosse arena) and we’d play a game from six o'clock until eight, two to three nights a week. That's the normal way a young Canadian lacrosse player starts his child hood career. I think the better players in Canada took that extra time to improve on their own.

I know when I was young, I would play for hours each day, shooting a tennis ball on a four by four goal on our driveway.

Wayne Nolan wants to know: Tom, you’re legendary for your behind the back passes. It’s an exciting part of your game. Do you encourage or discourage that kind of pass at the high school level versus a more “stick to the basics” approach?

Wayne, I started emulating my idols since the age of ten. I loved the game so much - to learn some fascinating moves made the game that much more exciting for me!
I tell a lot of young lacrosse players at my camps to first master the overhand and side arm pass and shot before trying moves like the behind the back.

I would encourage players to try these moves only when they feel very comfortable with them. I would also recommend that a behind the back should only be used in a game when it is necessary. For instance, when you’re losing your angle.

Jim Higgins wants to know: Tom, how deep do you keep your pocket? Do you vary it from field to indoor? What are the reasons: control, release? Thanks for your time.

Jim, I prefer having a deeper pocket for field lacrosse since I dodge a lot more than I do when I’m indoor. I want a field stick that will give me more control and feel, so I use a deeper pocket. In indoor, I like using a stick with a quicker release because you are playing in a more confined area.

Jason Holman wants to know: What is Charlie Lockwood up to? Do you keep in touch with the old SU gang?

Jason, Unfortunately I don't get to see too many of my old teammates from Syracuse. It would be nice to have a big reunion with the eighty nine and ninety team.

Pete Stevenson wants to know: As a goalie, I am constantly arguing about whether a goalie should step out and challenge the one-on-one, or if he should sit back and hope to make the incredible save. What do you hate more - a guy who steps out and challenges you and makes you decide real quick what to do, or someone who sits back and lets you rip one?

Pete, I think the hardest shot to take one-on-one is when the goalie waits for you to react, and than reacts at the split-second you shoot. I prefer playing against a goalie who comes out and jumps around.

If you know that the shooter isn’t a great faker, then come out and challenge him. Generally, I think it’s best to sit back and be patient - if you have any tapes of Sal Locasio, then you will understand what I mean. He’s the best!

Brian Lu wants to know: Why do you think that some American players, like Mark Frye, can really adjust to the indoor game like you, while other great players, like Casey Powell, can’t make that adjustment, even though he was the Player of the Year twice?

Brian, Some people have the knack to score around a more confined area and guys like Mark Frye and Jake Bergey are fast and physical enough to move in a crowd. But I have to disagree with you about Casey Powell. He is playing really well in indoor and is still getting better. He always had more freedom at Syracuse to roam around his defensemen, but he’s a good enough athlete to adjust to anything.

Thomas Arnold wants to know: What do you enjoy more - playing indoors or the outside game?

Thomas, I get that question all the time. I still like both indoor and outdoor the same. Outdoor is nice because of being able to relax on attack as apposed to indoor, were you are constantly running up and down the floor.

RipLax wants to know: Do you make the same offensive moves in box that you do in field?

I mostly do a lot of pick and rolls in indoor. You don't have the space that you have in the outdoor game, so you have to work more to free yourself. In outdoor you have more room to beat your man and go hard to the cage. You basically can dictate were you want to go in field and in indoor you usually stay on one side of the floor.

Samson wants to know: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the narrower box stick? Does anyone use a regular stick for box? What do you use when you play the field game?

Samson, The main advantage of a narrow box stick is accuracy. When it is narrower, the ball is automatically funneled into the middle of the pocket, giving the ball a straighter flight out at the target. Also, the ball gets lodged up in the sidewall when cradling, which makes it harder to get the ball taken from you.

The disadvantages are that it’s tougher to get ground balls because of the narrow scoop - and also not being able to have a deeper pocket. Most NLL players use a narrower stick because of accuracy and stick protection.

I like using a wider stick for outdoor, because I genarally try to get more ground balls and I like to have a little deeper pocket.

Billy J wants to know: Who’s better? Paul or Gary?

Billy J, That question is a tough one... because just when you think one is better, the other one scores seven on you.

Thomas Arnold wants to know: Do you have any plans to play in the new outdoor league that has formed? I would love to see you in Baltimore again. Long live 42.

Thomas, I think it would be fun playing for a professional outdoor league since I never have done it. It sure would be nice to play professionally in my home town again and not having to travel so far for practice. I would like to see a league form so players in college have something to look forward to after they graduate. It will take alot of promoting through television, radio, and newspaper to really start a successful outdoor league.

John Grady wants to know: Tell us what your practice schedule is like. Do you still work out as much as you did in college? How often do you practice shooting, etc? I’m really curious to know if players at the elite level still manage to spend lots of time practicing, or if playing is enough by itself. Thanks!

John, My practice schedule is less hectic than it was in college, but I seem to travel a lot more for games. I still have to work out often to stay in game shape. I started with a personal trainer five years ago, and now I’ve learned to lift weights and do plyometrics on my own.

I still practice almost every day in the spring. It is easy for me, because I coach lacrosse at my high school and I warm my goalie up each day. To be comfortable shooting you should practice at least a half an hour a day. I think the really good players still practice as much as they can.

007 wants to know: Why did you choose to go to Syracuse? Was it to play for Roy Simmons Jr.?

007, I went to Syracuse because I decided that it was time to go to college after graduating from high school, a year an a half later. I worked hard to get my grades up, taking a few classes at home after I had graduated. Then, Paul and Gary told coach Simmons that I was ready to go to college and the rest is history.

Roy Simmons was probably the best coach I ever had. To really know the man was a gift in itself! He gave us the green light to try anything on the field, because he believed in us.

Samson wants to know: I heard about the time that you were one on one with the goalie, threw a huge stick fake, and then started celebrating. When he turned around to get the ball, you threw it past him - True? or Urban Lacrosse Legend?

Samson, That story was true and I still remember the game. It was against Navy in the Carrier Dome. I caught a pass from Greg Burns and had plenty of time in front of the net, so I faked - two, three, four, and then five times and put my hands up in the air like I had already shot and scored.
The goalie then turned backwards to scoop the ball out of the goal - then I shot it in. I don’t do things like that as much anymore, because I think that the game is much more than that.

Josh wants to know: I want to take my game to the next level. As it stands, I have one main obstacle blocking the path to my goal. I’m pretty fast, agile, and possess good stick skills for someone who switches between attack and middie. My problem is that I somehow end up psyching myself out, and manage to mess myself up this way. I was wondering if there is anyway you know of to improve one’s poise and ability to react quickly and cool. Thank you.

Josh, I recommend not worrying about how good you look out on the field and just practice your stick work on your own to gain more confidence in yourself. It will take a while in order to form that gap between excellence and good.

Just do the right thing and everything will fall into place. You will probably learn to be poised the most at lacrosse camps, when you have extra time on your own!

Thomas Arnold wants to know: In my opinion, you are one of the greatest attackmen ever to play the game. In your opinion what makes a good attackmen? What has a greater impact on the game - a setman (feeder) or a goal scorer?

Thomas, I think the best way to become a good attackman is to do everything well - from shooting, to passing, to dodging. I even enjoy riding. Improving your stick skills is probably the biggest way to become a very good attackman.

Attackmen are mostly known for having soft hands. Since they’re mainly the quarterbacks on the team, they dictate the game in a different way than middies do. A feeder and a goal scorer both are equally as important, and to do both gives you that much more of an advantage.