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Yanni Peary (Cape Elizabeth ’05) was a second team All American selection at Gettysburg College for his outstanding play and leadership that helped his team to the Division III National Championship Game this year. MPL caught up with him in Portland this Summer and here are a few things he had to say:
MPL: So what was it like playing in a national championship game?
YP: Amazing. I remember as a kid watching a national championship in Baltimore and dreaming of one day playing in that game. Of course, you don’t dream of losing. But that’s what you play for... that feeling.
MPL: What feeling?
YP: That adrenaline rush you get from being in such a huge game at such a huge venue. You feel like a rock star.
MPL: So what was it like the week before leading up to the game?
YP: One of coach’s (Janczyk) first moves was to create that big crowd atmosphere at our practices. He had crowd noises blasting through the loud speakers so we would get used to looking to the sideline for calls and echoing them on the field. We had 5,000 in attendance at the Stevenson game; and there were 3,500 at Salisbury, but nothing like Foxboro.
MPL: Do you feel like this helped in the actual title game?
YP: Definitely. This along with the teamwork built into everything we did. We ate together, did lots of team stretches, mental work, and chalk talked ’til we understood the offensive and defensive schemes inside out.
 MPL: Speaking of Stevenson, how about that revenge match for you in the Semi-Final?
YP: That 1st game in the regular season was eye-opening. 16-6 was one of Gettysburg’s worst losses in ten years. They talked a lot of smack and really got us upset. We went into that second game knowing them really well. And we knew if could get on them early, they would fold. We took a lead going into the second half and then pulled away.
MPL: You guys had a ton of talent this year - how many All Americans?
YP: This year we had only six.
MPL: Wow. That must be really tough with only six All Americans.
YP: Last year we had ten.
MPL: That says a lot about your recruiting.
YP: Yeah, and our guys take a lot of initiative to get better. We came from all over to play lacrosse - New York, Ohio, California, Maine.
MPL: So now that the dream is over, what are you going to do with yourself?
YP: I plan on moving to New York City and working in the music and entertainment business.
MPL: No pro lacrosse.
YP: I declined an offer to enter the MLL Draft because I wanted to feel something else.
MPL: So there is life beyond lacrosse...
YP: I would still like to keep playing in tourneys like Vail, Ocean City if those opportunities come up.
MPL: Coaching?
YP: Not sure how good of a coach I would be. I’ll definitely be around the game.
MPL: Any words of wisdom for our young players?
YP: If you’re really serious about playing, you gotta dedicate yourself. Go to camps, play wall ball - play wall ball every day! Watch game tapes and emulate players that have similar physical attributes to your own.
MPL: Any favorite checks that one of your favorite former coaches may have shown you?
YP: The Rusty Gate.
MPL: Yeah that’s right. Heh, heh. Yanni, thanks so much for taking the time and good luck!
YP: No problem.
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