Riverdale, NY — The Box Lacrosse World Championships descended upon Utica, New York this week with Manhattan Lacrosse well represented among the field of teams. The Jaspers who traveled to Utica are Brendan O'Sullivan '22, Ryan Wheeler '01 and James Synowiez with each representing different nations. The box discipline contrasts from field lacrosse in stick size, number of periods, shot clock length, and the more pronounced differences of playing indoors and the increased physicality of the game.
O'Sullivan suited up for the Irish National Team this week being Manhattan's most recent alum to take part in the tournament. O'Sullivan enrolled at Manhattan for his graduate year after a standout career at York College (Div. III) where he was a Second Team USILA All-American in 2021. His decision to join Manhattan Lacrosse proved to be prescient as the Jaspers went on to win the MAAC Championship in 2022, giving the program their first MAAC title in 20 years. O'Sullivan scored 4 goals and recorded 1 assist with the Jaspers.
This week, O'Sullivan has left his mark with 8 goals and 10 assists thus far.
Ryan Wheeler '01 is an assistant coach for the USA Women and has been able to enjoy a week filled with scoring and winning. Entering the tournament, the Americans were the clear cut favorites and have not disappointed. The Americans boast a +141 goal differential in 6 games and made quick work of Australia on Friday with a 26-2 win.
At Manhattan, Wheeler was named to the 2000 MAAC All-Championship Team and helped lay the foundation for a program that won the MAAC Championship two years later.
After his career at Manhattan, Wheeler competed as a box lacrosse player for the US Men's National Team, appearing for the stars and stripes across 7 summers and winning a bronze medal at the Box Championships in 2007. A year earlier, he became the first Jasper lacrosse player to make the professional ranks when he signed with the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse. His exploits continued with 7 seasons playing Major & Senior-B indoor lacrosse in the Canadian professional ranks. To this day, he remains the only Jaspers lacrosse player to represent the United States at any level.
"This championship is in many ways a culmination of many facets of my career and my beliefs about the superiority of the box discipline within the game of lacrosse," Wheeler said. "Having the privilege of wearing the red, white and blue as a Team USA athlete had always been the capstone of my professional career."
Wheeler considers this coaching opportunity in Utica to be a tremendous honor that bridges his past with the present. He loves representing his country and getting to witness greatness from the current generation of American stars. His return to the sidelines comes 5 years after serving as assistant for the U19 US Men's Box Team at the 2018 World Championships in Saskatchewan, and only months removed from serving as a volunteer coach for the Manhattan Women's Lacrosse program.
"Ryan is taking part in the world wide push to grow the game of lacrosse," Manhattan head coach Jenna Dingler said. "I wish him and the team nothing but success in this championship and those to come."
James Synowiez '10 got the call from the Hungarian Men's National Team to serve as an assistant coach at the Box Championships. Synowiez holds the second and third highest scoring campaigns in Jaspers history with 38 in 2008 and 43 in 2009. He has no ethnic ties to Hungary but instead had a strong connection with the coaching staff. Together, Synowiez and Hungary made history with this being the Magyars first appearance in the championships. Back home in Westchester County, Synowiez is a physical education teacher and the head varsity coach for boys hockey and lacrosse at Scarsdale High School.
"A lot of us in terms of coaching and playing want to be around the game as much as we can and it's special to have that bond as Jaspers," said Synowiez, who is married to Manhattan Women's Lacrosse alum Ashley McHale '11. "It's an honor to help grow the game beyond Riverdale.
"Our humble school and program continues to punch above its weight within the game," Wheeler added. "We are all proud Jasper lacrosse alumni who are representing the brand here in Utica."
