Q&A with Oceanside Collegiate Academy lacrosse player Jackson Hineman
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — A Q&A with Jackson Hineman who is a lacrosse player at Oceanside Collegiate Academy.
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Jackson Hineman: When I moved from Charlotte, NC to New York I started playing lacrosse and it just felt like such a perfect fit for me. I played a little flag football and had one football season in middle school. Now as a freshman in HS living on Daniel Island, I play lacrosse and football at Oceanside Collegiate Academy. I鈥檇 really like to continue to improve on my skills and help my teams during this season. I鈥檝e often thought about playing lacrosse in college. Right now I鈥檓 focused on learning as much as I can from my coaches, coming together with my teammates and just really enjoying the game.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Hineman: My biggest challenge as a player is being a freshman playing on Varsity and going up against older, strong players. It can be a bit daunting to go up against guys that are a lot bigger but I like a good challenge.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Hineman: What you give to the game you鈥檒l get out of it. Love the game and it will love you back.
What do you love about your sport?
Hineman: I gravitated to the game of lacrosse because it combines a lot of the aspects of completely different sports into one. I like the fast pace of the game and how the score can change direction quickly in a short amount of time, the need for strong hand/eye coordination and the opportunity to be aggressive on the field. Tournaments are a fun way to get a lot of lacrosse games and play time in during a short weekend. The bonus is we get some downtime to hang out as a team together when we鈥檙e not on the field.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Hineman: My pregame ritual isn鈥檛 very unique but the simplicity of it keeps me focused. I eat very light before early morning games but if my games start later in the day I opt for a bigger meal. Hydration starts a few days before so I don鈥檛 cramp up. I usually like to retape my lacrosse stick so I have a good grip and I like the nice clean look. I try and do a good field stretch which helps me since we do a lot of running. Music is a must. We usually do our eye black right before the game.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Hineman: Anyone that knows me would say if I鈥檓 not on a field, I鈥檇 hope you鈥檇 find me by some water with a fishing pole in my hand. One of the best things I love about living on DI is how close we are to good fishing. I鈥檝e had some great days out on the water with my friend Rhys who is also my football teammate. My grandfather is a legend fisherman and he taught me a lot when I was living in NY. Fishing (of any kind!) is something I could do all day long. It鈥檚 so peaceful on the water and just a great way to relax.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Hineman: It鈥檚 taught me that when we all work together to bring our best effort on the field, we can be successful. Players that are self-centered, only out for themselves and don鈥檛 have a true team mentality rarely go far in sports. We win or lose by what we do collectively on the field, not by what one person does or doesn鈥檛 do. I鈥檝e learned that everyone has good and bad games during a season and each game in a new opportunity to do better.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Hineman: Sometimes I can take a shot too soon. I try to correct that when it happens in a game by taking that extra step the next time I get the ball and am shooting on goal. Usually, it improves my accuracy and gives me a better chance to score.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Hineman: My lacrosse coach Tom Harris likes to use the K.I.S.S. acronym about 鈥渒eeping it simple stupid.鈥� He鈥檚 been trying to teach us about how we can be a competitive team when we keep our plays on the field simple with clean passes, aggressive defense and sticking to a lot of the basics we鈥檝e learned about the game. If we can be strong in those things, we can play our best as a team.
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