Withers vows to bring home world gold with Team Canada
Jake Withers has had an 18 months most athletes only dream about.
Withers went to the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse final with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was drafted in the first-round by the MLL’s Atlanta Blaze. He won a Mann Cup with the Peterborough Lakers.
He was the second overall pick in the NLL draft by the Rochester Knighthawks. He played in the NLL final and on Wednesday was named to Team Canada for the 2018 FIL Men’s World Field Lacrosse Championship July 12 to 21 in Netanya, Israel.
“I’ve had a pretty good 18 months,” Withers said.
“It could have been a little better if I’d won all three but I’ve been fortunate to experience all that. Not many people can say they went to the NCAA final, Mann Cup final and Champion’s Cup final all within a calendar year. As a young boy, you really grow up hoping and wishing to play for your country one day. Now that it’s a reality it has to be up there above them all. It’s the pinnacle of lacrosse.”
This will be his first time representing Canada.
“It’s a big honour and a dream come true,” Withers said, “to be one of the 23 selected to go over there and defend Canada’s world title especially with how deep and talented the player pool was. I’m looking forward to going over there and bringing home a gold medal.”
A dispute between the Canadian Lacrosse Association and National Lacrosse Team Players Association created uncertainty whether Canada would be represented in Israel. The dispute has been settled and Withers feels it won’t affect their performance.
“There was a little bit of uneasiness about whether we were going or not but, at the same time, everyone handled their business like men and the professional athletes we are,” he said.
“We were just waiting for the go-ahead. Now that we’ve got it, I don’t think we ever took a step back. We’re in a good position. We’ll get together for a weekend before we go over there and build some relationships with our teammates and go over some schematics.
Being Canadian, I think it makes us a unique group that we’re able to get thrown together whenever we need to and mesh with all of our box lacrosse backgrounds. It’s the way Canadians are with their perseverance and background. I don’t think there is anything to worry about.”
Withers was recently traded in the MLL to the Charlotte Hounds. He will make his season debut this weekend.
Joining Withers on Team Canada are Lakers teammates Zach Currier and Matt Gilray.