Vanyo commits to Lindenwood
St. Catharines Athletics goaltender Oliver Vanyo has committed to Lindenwood University for the 2023 season. File photo: BILL POTRECZ.
It didn’t take long for Oliver Vanyo to realize Lindenwood University was a perfect fit for him.
The 18-year-old goaltender for the St. Catharines WMKL Athletics recently accepted a scholarship to the Division 1 university after a visit to the campus early last month.
“I toured the school and stayed overnight. I saw a football game and the school blew me away,” Vanyo said. “It has an amazing campus and the major I was looking for. The coach was awesome, the team was awesome.”
Vanyo, who is completing Grade 12B at Governor Simcoe, said it was an easy decision to sign on the dotted line.
“Everything fell into place. They made an offer and I accepted,” he said.
Vanyo said he loved everything about the school, which is located near St. Louis.
“It’s a fairly large campus and I like the idea of all the students rushing around and commuting to classes and the beautiful buildings, the amazing stadium and then just the people,” he said. “Everybody I met, the staff, the teachers, the coaches, the players, everyone was super welcoming.
“It seemed like a great area with a lot of school pride.”
The commitment ended an eight-year long process for the St. Catharines native.
“It’s a huge relief,” he said. “It’s been something that I’ve been working toward since 2014 when I started playing EDGE lacrosse. The constant thought of being recruited, playing D1 lacrosse, it’s a huge, huge pressure and weight lifted off my shoulders to realize that I finally made it.”
Vanyo, who will major in physical education Grades 9-12, credits his time with EDGE for his progression.
“I started playing field lacrosse in St. Catharines in 2013 and they taught me a lot,” Vanyo said. “It was through Gavin Howard who played EDGE and he told me to come try out and I made team.
“It’s a lot of skill development and in-game development. They helped me tremendously. I would not be the field lacrosse player I am today without them.”
Vanyo plans to be busy for the next year in preparation for his freshman season.
“I’m going to hit the gym a lot, eat good, focus on school and develop and get better. I’m going to train through the winter and keep a stick in my hands,” he said. “Just preparing to make that jump to a D1 program where you’re lifting and practising every day and always on the go.”
He is eager to get back on the floor with the double blue.
“I’ve been looking forward to it. I’m super excited to get back out there with the guys. I know everyone else is too. We have very high hopes of how we’re going to do this year.
“I’m super excited to see the direction the team goes and how we do. We want to win very badly.”
A’s general manager Jeff Chcoski feels Vanyo will play a pivotal role for the A’s with three years of junior eligibility remaining.
“When we talk about these 04’s and we’re in a three-year plan to win the Canadian championship, I can’t say enough how he’s going to backbone our team and how great of a teammate he is and how great of a family he has,” Chcoski said.
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