Blog Central
 
        THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Following the success of last season's Brothers Blog, the Maritime men's lacrosse team will be right back at it this year, offering a inside look at the team from a player's perspective with the all new Southern Swag Blog: Featuring Wess Johnson (Elgin, S.C./Heath Wood Hall).
 
        A native of Elgin, S.C., Johnson will begin his second season at attack for the Privateers in 2012. During his freshman year in 2011, he saw action in nine games, registering two goals and two assists. He scored his first career goal at home against Plattsburgh State on March 12. Johnson helped Maritime to a 7-9 overall record and a semifinal appearance in the Skyline Conference Tournament.
 
        Wess will be checking in with MaritimeAthletics.com throughout the preseason and regular season with blog updates twice a week that will give followers an inside look of what's going on in his life both on and off the field.

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        From my high school practice fields, I could see the huge frame of the University of South Carolina Football Stadium. On game day, it would house 80,000 people and thousands more in parking lots with RVs camped and grills fired up. That Gamecocks Stadium pales in comparison to the athletic fields of the Privateers. Every day I am still amazed by the great view from our campus. From the field we can see the skyline of Manhattan, the span of the Throgs Neck and the Empire State at the entrance of the East River. At practice, I have been caught staring off at the sunset, taking in the waterfront. All of this comes to a quick end when “Coach D”('Argenio) yells from the side line to get my butt moving along in the drill. I quickly need to transition to the action of the play.
 
        Even with a bit of day dreaming, practices have been going well. The tempo is one that will definitely progress into wins this season. Over the weekend we were broken up into two teams - red and white. As with any athlete, when put onto a team there is an immediate self-pride and competiveness. You can imagine when both teams were neck and neck, there was an intense level of play between both teams. It was in the second twenty minute half and the large maroon Privateer scoreboard read 5 to 7. As the clock slowly ticked away both teams developed what I like to term the New York State of Mind.  Unlike my day dreaming state – the plays began to speed up, middies began to run at a faster click, and goalies started to yell at the defense more aggressively. With the white team down by two points, Junior Joe Villarreal (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) stepped up to the occasion and ripped a top right shot. The goal was good and lifted the score, 6 to 7. Sadly, the white team was not able to score again. The red team took victor.
 
        I describe this New York State of Mind as more than just a heightened state of play, it is an attitude of wanting to do your best. Junior Matt Messina exemplifies this with his ability to rise to the occasion in support of teammates but also taking the lead as a co-captain.
 
        GO MARITIME!
 
- Wessley Johnson, Sophomore Attack