For the past four years, former North Carolina men’s lacrosse attackman Marcus Holman hasn’t had to worry about making the cut.
He had a full scholarship at UNC and once he graduated was selected 12th overall in the 2013 Major League Lacrosse draft.
But after being invited to try out for the U.S. National team, the 2013 Tewaaraton finalist found himself competing against former Tewaaraton winners and NCAA legends for an opportunity to don his country’s colors in the 2014 FIL World Championship.
After one round of tryouts, Holman survived the first cut and was added to the team’s 52-man roster last week with the likes of other former top ACC attackmen like Duke’s Matt Danowski and Virginia’s Steele Stanwick.
“I nervously waited out my labor day and found out via twitter around 1:30,” Holman said. “That’s the news source everybody uses nowadays.”
“It’s definitely the first step and it’s pretty cool to make it through.”
In the coming months, Holman will train in preparation for the Champion Challenge where 46 of Team USA’s current 52 players will go against the nation’s top college teams in exhibition games. The team will use the contests to evaluate players and narrow down its roster from 46 to 23.
While at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. on January 24-26 for the Champion Challenge, Holman will attempt to prove he’s one of the top attackmen in the country.
Though there are 10 attackmen currently on Team USA’s roster, there will likely be only five to seven after the final cut.
Holman has embraced the competition but, given the team’s depth at the position, recognizes the challenge that lies ahead.
“Four or five of the past Tewaaraton winners (are trying out)” Holman said. “These are guys that I really looked up to and modeled my game after.”
“There’s no question that these are the best players in the country.”
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