Gatt commits to Titans
Just one look was all it took to hook Joaquin Gatt.
The 17-year-old Niagara Falls native took a tour of the University of Detroit Mercy last month and was quickly convinced the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division 1 school was a perfect fit.
“’I’m super excited. I’ve been wanting to play in college my whole life, ever since I was a child,” Gatt said. “I was visiting schools with my parents and I talked to about five schools I was really interested in and Detroit was up there for me. I went for a visit two weeks ago and I just fell in love with the place, fell in love with the people, the community, the culture and it all just happened so I committed.”
Gatt, who is currently enrolled at St. Anne’s-Belfield prep school in Virginia, was blown away with the interactions he had during his visit.
“The best part for sure were the coaches and the people,” he said. “When I arrived on campus and met all the coaches, I really fell in love with the place. It really caught my eye with everything I want to do, I want to study.
“I’m really excited to get there in a couple years and have the best time ever and play the game that I love.”
Gatt, who will begin attending UDM in the fall of 2026, was relieved to get the process of choosing a school completed.
“It feels great. I was one of the later guys in my class to commit and I was stressing for a couple weeks,” Gatt said. “Seven of my buddies committed to all these good schools before me so I was really stressing but now I’m super pumped for it.”
Titans assistant head coach and offensive co-ordinator Zach Palmer is looking forward to getting Gatt in the fold.
“Joaquin is the first offensive commit to our 2026 class and to say we are thrilled to have him would be a massive understatement,” Palmer said. “What sets Joaquin apart from the rest of the pack is his ability to make those around him better and set the bar high for his peers. His vision with and without the ball, anticipation of what the next step of the play will be, and his determination to succeed, create the triple threat we are looking for on our offence. Along with his natural athletic ability, phenomenal stick skills, and the ability to get to spots on the field that most won’t venture, will make him a threat every time he steps on a collegiate field.
“We expect Joaquin to make an instant impact once he arrives on campus and know that he expects the same of himself.”
Gatt has yet to decide on a major but it leaning towards something in the arts, perhaps communications or film studies.
Gatt was recently invited to training camp for the U20 Team Haudenshaunee that will compete in South Korea in August, 2025. He previously was a member of Team Haudenshaunee that won a gold medal at the under-15 world indoor lacrosse championships in Messina, N.Y., in 2021. Gatt has a Metis status card from his mother and grandmother.
“That was great. I’ve obviously played with them before but that was a long time ago. I don’t know if I’m playing for sure because I think I have a high school tournament with my whole high school team. I’m not sure if I can play but it’s still a great honour and representation.”
Gatt started playing lacrosse in the Welland house league when he was four. He attended St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo before moving on to St. Anne’s-Belfield.
“It really has helped me with being a better person at boarding school and doing new things and just being a man,” Gatt said.
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