Name: Maxwell Wasscher
Position: Defense
Currently playing at: Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
Played at: MDNT U19
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? What do you do in daily life? When did you start playing lacrosse?
I was born in Budapest Hungary, but my dad was born and raised in the Netherlands, which allows me to play for the Dutch team. When I was three I moved to the States, and have lived most of my life in Plymouth, Minnesota. I started playing lacrosse ten years ago. I immediately fell in love with the sport. It’s a fast-paced and action-packed sport that is exciting to both watch and play. I currently play lacrosse at a NCAA DIII school in Wisconsin, USA. Besides playing lacrosse I also study Mechanical Engineering, and am In my third year (out of four) at University.
Congratulations with your spot on the team! What was the first thing you did when you heard?
When I first found out I was in class, and I couldn’t believe the news! I was so excited and I wanted to jump up and shout with joy, but I couldn’t so I just sat still with the biggest smile across my face.
What are you most looking forward to in Denver?
The competition. I always want to play against the best players, not only to improve, but also to show them I am a dominant defender. There is nothing like shutting down or taking the ball away from a highly skilled attackman.
What are your expectations for Denver?
I fully expect to come out of the group stage undefeated. Having played with Dutch players before, and looking at the 2010 FIL Championship, the Dutch finished leaps and bounds ahead of the other teams. It’s hard to say how we will do after the group stage, but I do believe we will be a strong team that can easily finish in the top 10.
How do you interpret “Destination Denver and Beyond”?
To me, Destination Denver and Beyond is about improving Nederland Lacrosse, not just in international play, but also with domestic play. This means as a foreigner I have a bigger role than just as a player. Because I have been playing the game for so long, I have a lot of experience and knowledge on the field that I need to pass on to the other Dutch players in an attempt to bring more knowledge of the sport back to the Netherlands. Also when I finish my undergraduate, I am hoping to go to graduate school at Delft, where I can not only live in the Netherlands and experience the culture, but also play on a Dutch team and further strengthen the Dutch Lacrosse.
