Local brothers Jordon, 19, and Nathen, 18, Waddell are competing against one another in lacrosse before becoming teammates in the fall in college.
Jordon and Nathen have been playing lacrosse for nine and eight years respectively and next year will be the first time they play on the same team since recreation lacrosse when they were younger.
The older brother for the past two years has attended Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia on an athletic scholarship to play lacrosse while working towards a bachelor of science dual degree, majoring in environmental science and sustainability studies.
Jordon Waddell says that there was a bit of a jump between the style he played here compared to what he’s doing in college.
“The game is completely different and adjusting to it was one of the hardest parts. Playing box allowed my stick skills to be levels above the rest when I switched to a long pole defender this season.
“Being able to run with the ball with no hesitation is an aspect that allows me to be a leader on the field.
“Field lacrosse is a slower game in comparison to box lacrosse, but the mental aspect of the game is much higher with having many more aspects in playing defence, making it the tougher of the two sports,” Jordon Waddell said.
Nathen Waddell will be going into his first year at Davis & Elkins College and is a bit nervous about being able to balance his athletics and school work.
“I’m a little bit nervous but I feel like there’s good support there,” Nathen Waddell said. “So if I do have problems I have a lot of people there that I can talk to. I feel like it will be a bigger experience than anything that I’ve ever had before.”
Jordon describes how having to balance these aspects helped him improve his time management skills.
“Balancing my school work with five two-hour practices and three workouts per week in the off-season has allowed me to better my time management skills and prioritizing what needs to be done,” Jordon Waddell explained.
Specifically Jordon has found the in-season period has proven to be most difficult.
“In season can be difficult, with having two and three games per week with some trips driving six hours in one way,” said Jordon Waddell. “Getting all my school work done before it's due is what has led me to being successful in school.”
The two are looking forward to playing on the same team and for the dynamic that that presents on and off the field.
“I am thrilled to have Nathen come down to play at the same college as me here at Davis & Elkins. Having him here will allow me to teach him what I have learned, as well as to help him grow as a person being so far away from home,” said Jordon Waddell.
The two brothers have had a lot of opportunities in their lives, thanks to their time dedicated to the game of lacrosse. Both cite being able to travel and meet new people that they wouldn’t have been able to meet otherwise.
“The ability to travel around all of North America for lacrosse and playing in higher global tournaments is amazing,” Nathen Waddell said. “As well as meeting a lot of new people and gaining a brotherhood relationship with them.”
Until then the two are playing locally, with Nathen on the Olds Mavericks as a defensive player. His team number is 14.
Jordon is playing for the Red Deer Rampage as an offensive player and his team number is 18.
The two brothers will be going head to head here in Olds on May 31 at 8 p.m. and are looking forward to the match.
Nathen is hoping to put Jordon “on his butt,” stop their team and come through with a win for the home team.
