Q&A with Mamaroneck athletes Shawn Rosenblatt and Zach Wender
MAMARONECK, N.Y. — After years of writing the sports column and graduation soon being upon us, we have decided to do our last piece focusing on us, Shawn Rosenblatt and Zach Wender, and our experience with Mamaroneck High School athletics. Through both of us being two sport athletes, we have not only improved our game, but also learned valuable lessons and formed unbreakable friendships.
What sports did you play at MHS and how did they influence you during high school?
Shawn Rosenblatt: I have been lucky enough to be a part of both the girls varsity soccer and lacrosse programs. From both programs I was able to not only improve my stick and dribbling skills, but also meet so many new people. I was introduced to older and younger girls making my high school experience easier and better. I saw my teammates as an escape from school stress and as girls to look up to. Being a part of two very different teams gave me a sense of community within our large school, taught me what it means to be a true teammate, and allowed me to experience wins and losses, both of which are essential for growth. Lessons I learned translated on and off the field, as did the idea that my team would always have my back.
Zach Wender: I played football and lacrosse throughout all four years of high school. They didn’t just make me a better player on the field but a better person outside of sports.
What is your favorite MHS sports memory?
Rosenblatt: Last spring, we played lacrosse against Rye under the lights at home for senior day. At this point in the season, we were on a roll and all we needed was a win against Rye to take our confidence to the next level. Plus, my club coach is the head coach of the Rye team, so a win would’ve been even sweeter. When the game started, I was totally in the zone, unable to even notice my surroundings until my teammates told me to look at the stands. I have never seen a louder, bigger crowd at a MHS sporting event—it was the most amazing scene, and it made me even more determined to win. The score was tied with one minute left, and my coach called a timeout. I remember shaking with nerves. We got back out on the field, the ball was in my stick, and next thing I knew, I had dodged and it was in the goal…but I was on the floor. Turns out, I had slammed my head against my teammate’s knee and was spinning a bit. The game stopped and as everyone took a knee, I got carried to the sidelines. The feeling of winning that game for the seniors and being able to celebrate with my team, albeit a bit dizzily, was unforgettable.
Wender: My favorite memory is from this football season when we defeated New Rochelle for the first time in over 30 years. I knew how much it meant to our coaches and for the program.
How did you keep yourself motivated to continue to work hard in athletics during covid?
Rosenblatt: When school shut down, it was the first day of freshman year lacrosse practice. We were given a stick routine to do until we resumed practices, but little did we know the whole season would be canceled. While I was devastated, I used this disappointment as motivation to improve my skills and speed so I could try to make the varsity lacrosse team the next year. I did virtual lacrosse and soccer, attended sessions with my club team, and made a running schedule for myself. I met up with my friends in the park—socially distanced, of course—to motivate myself and have a pass. During that time, our team was texting, motivating and holding each other accountable to stay in shape for the upcoming season.
Wender: Throughout Covid, the coaches were very involved making sure we were ok and staying in shape, physically and mentally.
What advice would you tell your younger self as you wrap up your years at MHS?
Rosenblatt: Each year, I would contemplate if I could balance playing two seasons of sports with my academics. Looking back, I would tell myself to just relax and enjoy the ride. There are times where stress and life will try to get the best of you, but the time management and life skills you learn as part of an MHS sports team are incomparable and will serve you well as you head off to college. I would tell myself not to focus on the little things and to truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Win or lose, you will always remember being part of such a special program with talented teammates and amazing coaches as role models. All the hard work and time spent perfecting your shot or left-hand skills will pay off, so keep putting in the work. Enjoy every team dinner, gameday, practice, and celebration because before you know it, your time as a MHS athlete will be over.
Wender: I would definitely tell myself to never take a rep for granted because you never know when the last one will be.
Shawn Rosenblatt and Zach Wender are seniors at Mamaroneck High School. Shawn, a member of the girls Varsity Lacrosse and Soccer teams is the Founder of the women in sports club at MHS and developed and runs a program called Girls Stix Together where she teaches young girls in Ethiopia the game of lacrosse. Zach, a member of the Varsity Football and Lacrosse programs is on treasurer of the Students for Senegal Club, runs his own weekend football youth clinic and is a Summer Camp Counselor at the Larchmont Shore Club.
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