TopJLax have managed to secure an exclusive interview with current Long Island Lizard face-off machine Greg 'The Beast' Gurenlian. 'The Beast', given the nickname for his substantial physical prowess at the X, was selected by the Lizards in the 5th round of the 2010 Supplemental Draft. He has previously played three seasons of Major League Lacrosse, spending time with both the Rochester Rattlers and San Francisco Dragons. At the start of the season he had played in 33 total MLL games, scoring 20 goals and 14 assists, scooping up 147 groundballs and winning 448 faceoffs. Coach Dave catches up with 'The Beast'.
Coach Dave: What age did you start playing lacrosse and how did you first find out about the sport?
Greg Gurenlian: In philadelphia, Lacrosse is big. In my hometown of Springfield it's huge and I was told I was crazy for trying to pick up the game at age 15. Most kids start at age 6 around my way.
CD: For a UK Lacrosse player who has no idea about High School Lacrosse in the states, can you describe what the program is like, how intensive etc?
GG: High school Lacrosse in the US hotbeds such as Philly, Long Island, Baltimore, Up-State NY, is not a recreational hobby. It's a serious commitment and it's taken very seriously. For many players, winning a state title in Lacrosse is an absolute dream. Summer team camps, Fall indoor leagues, Winter conditioning and optional practices, all the way up to spring training. We take it seriously and obviously that reflects in the quality of our collegiate programs.
CD: You studied and played at Penn State what was your most memorable experience from that? Do you miss university lacrosse at all?
GG: Yea, I didn't go to a traditional lax school. My family is a crazy Penn State football family and I was raised as a PSU fan. Once I started getting letters from colleges after my sophmore year it became evident that I could use lacrosse to get to the school of my dreams. I wanted to study Kinesiology, I knew that from an early age and Penn State coincidentally has one of the top Kines programs in the country so it was a perfect fit for me. I do miss playing in college because it was a way of life. I feel my game is better suited for the MLL level but I do miss college lacrosse. ( I really miss winning nearly every face off each game, those days were awesome!) The greatest moment of my sports life was when we beat Georgetown my Junior year in overtime capping a 7 game winning streak that propelled us to the NCAA tournament on the final day of the regular season. That team was so tight and fought through so much together. It was a dream.
CD: What was the transition like for you moving from college to pro?
GG: Well it was pretty simple for me. On an athletic level, I feel that I'm very blessed but I've been able to use my strength and speed to help me in a league that is much more fast paced so when I'm in the open field I feel much more lethal with the ball, in college I felt a little more like a liability when I had the ball in my stick. The toughest part for a fogo in the MLL is getting used to the Refs on the face-offs. Many let you play and let the players decided the outcome. But there are some that are determined to blow the whistle constantly and slow up the game.
CD: Has your game changed at all/ Did you have to adapt it for the MLL?
GG: Once I got to the MLL easy face-offs were a thing of the past. Every draw is a war. Like I said, I started this game at a very late age and if I tried to rely on skill to beat the Chris Ecks, Geoff Sniders and Alex Smiths of the world then I'd be dead in the water. Once I was living in NYC and didn't have to practice lacrosse 3 hours a day like I did in college, I could focus on my power and my strength and tailor my own training to what I thought would best help me to be successful. So I work on speed, I train to be explosive and be a constant offensive threat.
CD: What have been the differences, if any, that you have noticed in the pro game since you started playing?
GG: Adding the 4th pole completely changed the game. No more sprinting down the field with short sticks trying to catch me anymore, that 4th defender changes how teams play offense and defense and especially how the face-off battles go.
CD: The MLL recently cut down the number of franchises, have you noticed any remarkable change in the quality of play as increased specialisation has come about?
GG: Not really. I never thought that the talent was watered down with 10 teams, instead I thought it gave new names, opportunities to become stars. I think the brand of play is just as great as before and when the league is ready again, I believe re-expansion will be incredibly successful.
CD: Which is your favourite franchise that you have played for?
GG: Well when I played for San Francisco, it was a first class organization that made you feel like a true professional. Doug Locker the GM at the time was sensational, you always felt taken care of. But for me it was a 12 hour round trip flight every weekend. My situation right now in Long Island is the most ideal: quick commute, close team and a hardworking blue collar attitude.
CD: What do you see as the future for the MLL? Can you see the LXM pro tour becoming bigger than it? Will it continue to survive?
GG: The future is very bright for the MLL. They have been very smart so far. Not expanding just for the sake of expanding. This is a process and everything that is done is done for a reason. The movement right now seems to be giving the teams further control. I think that this is a natural and vital step for any successful league. Once teams have control, we'll see sponsorships increase, player marketing deals will rise greatly and much more lacrosse companies will have their hats in the ring which means a brighter and greater product on the field for fans.
LXM is great and it's fun but it's a traveling circus of lacrosse and fun. If you graduate from college and want to play the best in the world then you play in the MLL. Some people don't care and are laid back which is great. But for many of us, we want to play the best, beat the best and win serious games.
CD: Do you foresee a growth in the pro game that mimics the current growth in grassroots level clubs?
GG: I firmly believe that the MLL has a lot to do with the growth of the game at the basic levels. When little kids come out to a pro game and see the level of access they have with the best players in the world I think it really creates a buzz. When a kid comes and sees a big name player for their home team score behind the back while diving and then just 30 minutes later they can easily get a picture with him, it creates a serious bond between generations. MLL lacrosse will be successful because future generations are becoming inspired by it.
CD: You're a personal trainer. What advice would you give to lacrosse players in terms of their training? Do you have 5 top tips for the gym?
GG: I'm a strength coach and my company believes that everyone should train like an athlete (www.BrawlicStrength.com).
1) If you can, find a certified strength coach with a degree in the field. Even if it's just for a few sessions, you can learn so much from an athletic coach who knows what he's doing.
2) Train your whole body from the ground up. I see so many young guys wasting their time obsessing over their arms and bench press. Don't train body parts one at a time like a bodybuilder. Train your whole body every time you step into the gym.
3) Never Use machines. We're athletes! do every exercise standing, jumping, running. Never sit in a machine and waste your time moving one joint.
4) Top 5 exercises for every athlete:
Dead Lift, Squat, Push Press, Chin Ups, Push Ups. If you don't have these in your program then you aren't training like an athlete.
5) Be smart! Question everything that you hear from the random meatheads at the gym. Learn by reading books by coaches in the field not "ultra flex magazine" Don't worry about supplements, eat healthy food and train smart.
CD: Have you ever played lacrosse outside of the US? If so what was the experience like?
GG: No. I'd love to but I haven't been lucky enough to have the chance yet.
CD: If we sent you a small topjlax sticker, would you put it on your lid?
GG: If I can find a way to wear it without being fined I certainly would!
CD: For players picking up the sport in the UK, what would be your biggest piece of advice?
GG: Practice. Practice all the time. This is unlike any other sport I've ever played. You can pick up soccer, football, basketball, baseball and eventually get really good by being a good athlete. You CAN'T be a great lacrosse player without carrying your stick with you and practicing a lot.
CD: What's the dirtiest face-off trick you've had pulled on you?
GG: I've had guys dive at my knees, players using their hands to grab the ball, players rolling through the whistle. But I think the most effective is when I played in baltimore a few weeks ago and the other face-off man would just yell "He went early!" on every single draw that he lost (The Beast is referring to a certain match Long Island had recently against the Chesapeake Bayhawks). It worked like a charm! I was called for 12 false starts. I would try that trick...But Beasts don't play that way ;)
TopJLax would like to thank 'The Beast' for sparing the time from his busy schedule to sit down for an interview with us. We wish him and the Long Island Lizards the best of luck for the rest of the current MLL season and we sincerly hope that his personal training business continues to go from strength to strength (I couldn't resist the pun).
