Lehigh University Athletics
Honeywell savoring every last moment at Lehigh
4/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
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Senior captain Dan Honeywell is a staple of the Lehigh Men’s Lacrosse team, bolstering a defense that has looked impressive this season. Dan, a 6’3” defenseman from Horseheads, New York has returned for his fifth-year in order to fulfill his athletic eligibility and earn a double-concentration in both Product and Graphic Design after losing his freshman season due to injury.
In his time at Lehigh, Honeywell has learned a lot both on the field and in the classroom, something he says has given him the skills he needs to be successful later in life. “Between competing in the classroom and competing on the field, my professors and my coaches have provided me with the knowledge to handle real life situations,” Honeywell said.
Obstacles have been a mainstay in Honeywell’s career at Lehigh, in which he conquered injury, a change in majors and a coaching change. “The coaching transition was shocking, finding out that Coach (Chris) Wakely was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and would be stepping down was sad to hear,” Honeywell explains.
The waiting period while coaches were interviewed was a process in and of itself, but once Honeywell learned that Kevin Cassese would be taking the helm as coach, he says that the rest of the seniors and himself were very anxious to meet him and get down to business by beginning to talk about Lehigh Lacrosse.
Cassese, Honeywell and the rest of the team have seemed to mix well together proving for a fluid transition. “Dan has been a pleasure to work with during my two years as the Mountain Hawk head coach,” Cassese said. “He is an outstanding athlete who always wears his heart on his sleeve. As a coach and as a leader, you learn to trust young men who demonstrate an unwavering sense of loyalty and work ethic. I believe these to be the qualities that best describe Dan Honeywell the player and Dan Honeywell the man,” Cassese said.
This season has been interesting thus far, and Honeywell is ecstatic about road wins against ranked opponents Army, as well as St. Johns, calling them very big steps for the team this season. These moments rank among Honeywell’s most memorable at Lehigh, although the whole ride has been the most memorable to him. “There have been too many lacrosse experiences here at school; Lehigh Lacrosse is more than a team, it’s a family and you want to work for the guys in your locker room.”
Family is just what started Honeywell on the lacrosse trip as he began to learn the game at home before he started playing at the organized level. “My older brother started playing, so I got a stick to play with him at home.” From here Honeywell went on to start playing organized lacrosse during his freshman year in high school, where he also played soccer.
Dan’s brother plays lacrosse in college at Alfred State University in New York, and both of his parents were high school athletes. After college Dan has a plan on the table as he has secured employment. “I was fortunate enough to find a job outside Philadelphia and will be working at the electronics company, Nielson Kellerman.”
In the meantime however, Honeywell will focus his attention on trying to secure a spot in the 2009 Patriot League Tournament. The senior captain and his Mountain Hawk teammates host archrival Lafayette on Saturday evening and with a win, Lehigh will clinch a berth in the upcoming tournament. Lehigh and Lafayette are slated to get things started at 7:00 on Saturday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Written by Ryan Sheehy ‘09
