MLAX Senior Reflection: Cole Blazer
4/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
This is part of a series on the Marquette experiences of the men's lacrosse team's 2018 senior class.
Cole Blazer, an engineering major, is a two-time All-BIG EAST performer and the 2017 BIG EAST Men's Lacrosse Championship Most Outstanding Player. He has helped Marquette to a pair of NCAA Championship appearances and is MU's all-time leader in saves, goals against average and games started.
1. What is your proudest moment as a Marquette lacrosse player?
Cole Blazer: Winning our first BIG EAST Championship in Denver.
2. What is your most memorable experience with the team?
Blazer: My first start against Villanova my sophomore year.
3. What's the best advice one of your coaches at MU has given you?
Blazer: Best advice I have received is to simply catch the ball and throw it to our team. Now obviously it is a little easier said than done, but a saying like that from Coach Amplo really helps to simplify my position and has given me confidence during some of the tough moments in big games.
4. What's the best advice a teammate has given you?
Blazer: B.J. Grill told me that this all doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. We play this sport to compete and have fun. It's not the end of the world or our existences if we don't succeed. As a sophomore, just starting to play, that really resonated with me especially since my motivation is out of fear of playing poorly.
5. What's the best advice you could offer future Marquette lacrosse players?
Blazer: The best advice I could give an incoming freshman is trust yourself, trust your teammates, and trust the process. Things will be difficult and uncomfortable, especially freshman year. The quicker you can embrace that discomfort and realize that everything we do is for a reason ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" and that reason is typically to make us all better ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" then it'll make it all worth it. This program is built on love and culture; the sooner you can find your love for this place, your teammates, and the coaches, the sky is the limit with what you can accomplish here.
6. What has motivated you?
Blazer: Competition and fear has driven me. I am an extreme competitor and never like to be second. That is one of the reasons why I pushed myself and didn't give up to land myself a walk-on spot on this team. Once here I didn't settle. I fought my way on to the field, and now I have been continually fighting to prove I belong. I have a continual fear of playing poorly and letting my teammates down. That is truly what motivates me to play my best.
7. Most memorable game?
Blazer: My most memorable game was my sophomore year when I started for the first time against Villanova.
8. Describe how you felt during your very first practice or team activity.
Blazer: One of my first memories here was the first day of practice when we were running a sort of combine like practice. I step up to test my vertical, and (former MU strength coach) Nate Heyrman asks me for my name and I wasn't even on the list. I knew from there I belonged.
9. Describe how you felt before your first game.
Blazer: Leading up to that Villanova game I felt like I had done everything throughout the week to get myself and my mind ready for the game. Goalie is an extremely mental position. The butterflies were churning that day and I kept telling myself trust yourself. I didn't even tell my dad leading up to the game that I was starting because I wanted to surprise him.
10. Do you feel a rivalry developing with any opponents you have played?
Blazer: Georgetown has been a rivalry from the start since we always play them to a one goal game. I also feel like we are developing a rivalry with Notre Dame since we play them very close and they're a big-time opponent in the Midwest.
11. How do you think you've changed as a player or person over your career at Marquette?
Blazer: I have become much more mature while here at Marquette. I have also become a lot stronger.
12. What have you learned that you will take with you as you move on from MU?
Blazer: The way to treat people and how to be an influential citizen to this world.
13. What are your post-graduation plans?
Blazer: I have a job after graduation as a manufacturing engineer for a polymer supplier to Ford and General Motors. I do plan to get a graduate degree someday, but the decision to be made whether it be an MBA or engineering graduate degree will be down the road.
Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).
