Episcopal Academy’s John Malone is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week (April 10-16)

The junior midfielder has become a valuable all-around performer for the Churchmen after contributing as a short stick defensive midfielder last spring. As of April 6, Malone had scored six goals and six assists while contributing greatly on defense and faceoffs. Episcopal Academy boys lacrosse head coach Chris Bates said, “John is one of the most dedicated and hard-working guys in our program. In the off season, he was constantly in the weight room and taking extra shots. His success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.” Malone also plays soccer for EA, is an outstanding student and for the past two years has participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science program.

 

Q: What aspect of your game did you work on most during the past off-season?

 

A: Since I was mostly a D-mid last year I tried to get more reps shooting this off-season. I was also in the weight room five times a week working with EA’s incredible strength and conditioning coaches.

 

Q: Tell us a little about your start in lacrosse. What originally attracted you to lacrosse?

 

A: When I was a kid I liked a lot of different sports, but in fourth grade, I really grew to love lacrosse. This was mostly because of my first township team coach, Andy Levin at Conestoga Youth Lacrosse. He made practices really fun and had a ton of enthusiasm for the game, which rubbed off on me.

 

Q: What has been the biggest key to your productive scoring this spring?

 

A: Definitely my teammates. We have a really unselfish group on offense. We move the ball really well and anyone can score at any given time.

 

Q: Who have been your most important lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

 

A: I am so lucky to get to learn from Coach Bates and the rest of the EA staff. They are all such high-level coaches and do a great job teaching the finer points of the game. The lacrosse education I am getting from them is second to none. Steve Holmes, who runs the PennLax box lacrosse program that I have been with for six years, has also been a big influence and really got me interested in the box game, which has been a big part of my development.

 

Q: What (in your opinion) are the biggest key(s) to a successful faceoff?

 

A: I sometimes play the wing on face offs. All the credit, however, goes to our fogos, Will Hohn and Blake Riley, who have done an awesome job this year. They are grinders.

 

Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 34 for EA lacrosse – is there a reason you picked that number?

 

A: I also wear No. 34 for my club team, Mesa. I just thought it looked cool in 7th grade, when I first started wearing it.

 

 

Q: What is your favorite course at EA? What do you think you might want to major in at college? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?

 

A: I have loved my honors pre-calculus class with Dr. Goebeler. He challenges our class to think deeply about mathematical concepts and understand not just the “how” but the “why.” As I think about my path in college and later in life, I have realized that I am STEM-oriented and am still deciding between a pre-med track and engineering.

 

Fun facts – John Malone

Favorite book: No Easy Day, by Mark Owen.

Favorite author: Dan Brown.

Favorite TV show: The Office.

Favorite movie: Meet the Millers.

Favorite athlete: Henrik Lundqvist.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Baianá – Bakermat.

Favorite team: New York Rangers.

Favorite place to visit: Breckenridge, Colo.

Favorite pre-game meal: Wawa Sizzli.

Person I most admire, and why: “My grandparents because they are the most loving, caring, and supportive people I know.”

Family members: parents Steve and Kathleen, sister Michelle and brother Patrick.

 

(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)