With the 2025 spring season underway, Baldwin Wallace University men’s lacrosse features a roster that’s both geographically diverse and talented. A notable 27 players come from outside the Buckeye State, stretching from Oregon to as far as New York.
BW’s lacrosse team has forged a culture based on core values, which has contributed to their early success.
Head Coach Tony Tatro described the importance of team values, and how important they are to the college experience for the athletes on the team.
“We want guys who care about the three most important aspects of a college experience: playing good lacrosse, caring about academics and caring about each other socially.” Tatro said.
This values-based approach has attracted players from all areas of the United States to BW.
Freshman sport management major Justin Diniz, a California native, embodies this out-of-state experience within the program at BW.
“The lacrosse program’s reputation and proximity to Cleveland were the two factors that initially led me to Berea,” Diniz said. “Everybody is really welcoming…the biggest part was really just being welcomed in by the upperclassmen.”
But the team’s diversity goes beyond mere geographical representation. Diniz expressed that each player on the roster is important.
“Team culture wise, it’s a very big brotherhood. I mean, they bring in different cultures, different slang, all that stuff…it just brings a lot of laughs.” Diniz said.
While bonding with teammates can often compensate for the sacrifices that come with playing far from home, there are some challenges that come with playing for an out-of-state school. One such challenge is travel prices.
“Flights home cost $500 roundtrip…I spent Thanksgivings with teammates in Pennsylvania instead of going back to Nevada,” Gavin Flak, a junior exercise science major, from Reno, Nevada, said.
In an environment that fosters unity, players find themselves leaning on each other for support. Looking back, Tatro recalls a fond memory of his current junior class.
Tatro said: “Four or five of them went out to Oregon to visit Benjamin Glover [now junior], and he lives and works on a farm with his mom and his sister. So, they went out there and worked on the farm for about a week and then they drove across the country to campus to be here on the first day to help the freshman move in.”
Balancing both the social and physical aspects of the college environment, the Yellow Jackets have a positive outlook on their spring season, which is now underway. After a 1-0 start to non-conference play, they look to add to the win column.
“They don’t care how cold it is or what the weather is outside,” Tatro said. “They want more reps and love playing lacrosse.”
Tatro credits the excellent start to the player’s love for the game and their toughness.
“Ultimately, our goal is to make a run in the NCAA tournament,” Tatro said. “But for now we’ll take it one game at a time.”
