Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1528788
26 WAC Magazine | wac.net living fit meet the athlete / lacrosse Meet the athlete David Funes By Mae Folsom Jacobson WAC lacrosse team captain David Funes was born and raised in Seattle, where he started playing lacrosse at 8 years old. Summer clinics organized by a local parent evolved into Sand- point Lacrosse, a club team for elementary and middle school boys. David continued to play in high school for Nathan Hale and then Seattle Academy of Art and Sciences. He attend- ed the University of Denver and walked on to the team as a sophomore. David returned to Seattle in 2019. He works as a mechanical engineer for Skanska and serves as Seattle Acade- my head lacrosse coach. Q. What's Seattle's lacrosse community like? A. It's really growing. Lacrosse isn't so much a West Coast sport, but there are more players every year, and circles within the community are always overlapping. I feel very connected through the sport and excited that more people are interested. Q. How was playing for the University of Denver? A. I played club lacrosse during my first year, but I really missed being part of a competitive team. I took the summer between freshman and sophomore year to get into Division I shape and walked on to the team as sophomore. I spent most of my time on the practice squad, and I scored a goal against Cleveland State in 2018. Denver has a reputation as a lacrosse school, and I was lucky to play for them. Q. How has your coaching experience been? A. I feel fortunate to have been a player and now a coach. I understand the challenges these young men face in and out of sports. It's super fun to see all their hard work, commitment, and "Aha!" moments. Q. Tell us about playing for the WAC. A. It's an awesome opportunity. We've been very successful, winning four league championships in a row. e WAC enables us to be great and to play with other high-caliber competitors. Q. Any advice for aspiring athletes? A. I tell my players to practice with purpose. Carry through and make sure you're doing it right even if it's for 15 minutes. WAC LACROSSE The WAC lacrosse team plays on weekends from March through May. "Come out and see us," team captain David Funes says. "We always have one game where we'll set up a barbecue and hang out." Team news is posted at wac.net/lacrosse. E M I L I O H U E R TA S ( 2 ) WAC lacrosse team captain David Funes gives back to the local sports scene as coach at Seattle Academy.