Running with the Pride
June 26, 2008 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New Jersey Pride News Release
Clifton, NJ - People like the New Jersey Pride's rookie defenseman Tony McDevitt cannot be stereotyped. Upon graduating from college last month, Tony is not relaxing this summer. By the time his name was called twelfth overall at the Major League Lacrosse College Draft on May 28th, Tony already had a career in place off the lacrosse field. Hard work has gotten him this far. Perseverance will help him stay on track for the future.
"I live life with no regrets," remarked McDevitt. "I just go after what makes sense."
As much as most college grads would like to take some time off during the summer, Tony has already begun working on two ventures: Becoming a Summer Associate for Merrill Lynch in New York City and starting his software company, Logistical Athletic Solutions. Trying to make your mark on a professional sports team as well as trying to prove yourself in the corporate world can be daunting for someone at any age. All three are performance-based businesses with a high degree of risk.
"Time management allows me to hold two jobs and yet still have a social life," said McDevitt. "Each morning I wake up early, read the paper, go to work, work out, or suit up for a game, and the next day-repeat it all over again."
"We are very lucky to have Tony on the team," said GM Steve Ferretti. "He possesses a level of intensity that was evident within the first 20 seconds of his draft day interview with us. Some players are overly confident or nervous when they are meeting with prospective teams and talking about themselves and their abilities. Tony is one of those rare individuals who has a deep intensity, lurking there, waiting to come out in a game. He reminds me of a younger Ryan McClay or Brett Hughes. He had the best interview by far of any college draftee; the best in recent memory. He is mature beyond his years and is very serious about who he is and who he wants to be. Tony is just a rookie, but when I look at him, I see two people. The player he is now and the player he is going to be. When those two meet, watch out." Tony has a ruggedness and a seriousness about him. We need that, and I am sure that it's a reflection of his parents and how he was raised. He's never been handed anything in his life."
McDevitt who was raised by his two parents, Dan and Michelle, in Philadelphia, PA, learned early on the meaning of hard work and applying that to academic and physical activities. He wanted to play sports for as long as his body would allow him to, while likewise excelling academically, and being able to financially support himself.
Tony was fortunate enough to have earned an athletic scholarship to the famed Penn Charter school outside Philadelphia. His hard work in the classroom and on the football field as a teenager is what allowed McDevitt to also play lacrosse. At the time, lacrosse was simply a vehicle to keep in shape during the football off-season.
Looking back, earning All-American honors three times (2nd team twice, and 3rd team once) at Duke University is the end result of his commitment and passion for the game and essentially becoming a Major League Lacrosse professional lacrosse player.
"My parents are my role models who helped me become the person I am today," said McDevitt. "But I can not forget my high school coach, Tony Resch, now head coach of the Philadelphia Barrage, who taught me how to be a good athlete all together, and former head coach at Duke, Mike Pressler, who actually took a chance on me."
"The MLL and the sport of lacrosse is gaining momentum and will continue to gain momentum," said McDevitt when pressed on giving his first impression of MLL lacrosse. "I envision continuing to see record breaking crowds at the NCAA Final Four, and more and more states continuing to offer lacrosse programs to young athletes."
Not only will lacrosse in McDevitt's eyes continue to grow, but his self established business venture will be taking off with the same force.
"My college buddy Zack Maurides and I were able to form a conglomerate with other individuals involved in the business of software and we formed our own company, Logistical Athletic Solutions (LAS)," explained McDevitt. "It is a software tool that assists athletic teams in improving efficiency and athletic production."
Currently, the software he's developed is being tested at a few universities, and he's hoping that other academic institutions will follow suit.
"The software programs make sure that college athletes are always in the right place at the right time, and it not only benefits lacrosse players, but athletes overall. All this hard work I hope will have me continuing to play lacrosse at a high level into my late years, and regarding my business venture, well, I hope it one day allows me the ability to lie on a beach, and have a vacation spot to attend to," McDevitt said contentedly.
Nonetheless, he has only received such honors through living with the motto of hard work and perseverance while never giving up.
Catch Tony McDevitt and his Pride teammates up close this summer at the fast-paced, high scoring action of the summer 2008 season continues at Yurcak Lacrosse Field, Busch Campus, Rutgers University by calling 974-614-1792 for tickets!
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