Aug 21st, 2009

Get To Know The Stealth: Jamison Koesterer

If you make your way to a lacrosse field in the greater Seattle area, there’s a good chance you will run into an imposing figure that looks more like a linebacker for the Seahawks than a lacrosse player.  There’s also a good chance that every young laxer in Seattle knows that 6-foot-3, 230-pound monster is Jamison Koesterer and he’s the newest member of the Washington Stealth, the new professional lacrosse team in town.

Jamison has become a Seattle lacrosse fan favorite in just over a year in the area.  Originally from Cazenovia, NY (where he was a two-time All-State football player in addition to his lacrosse prowess), he went on to Johns Hopkins University to play lacrosse for one of the most prestigious programs in the country.  In his four years at JHU (2004-07), he won a pair of National Championships as the anchor of the team’s second midfield.  He won over 55% of his face-offs and collected 101 groundballs in his career.

Jamison made his way to the professional ranks last season as a member of the Portland Lumberjax.  He played eight games in his rookie campaign and emerged as one of the top face-off men for the squad.  He collected 39 loose balls (ground balls are called loose balls in indoor lacrosse) and won over 55% of his draws, including a 9-for-15 performance in a 16-13 win over the Stealth last February.  In the Portland dispersal draft a month ago, Jamison was picked ninth by the Buffalo Bandits.  The Stealth traded for him to solidify their face-off spot and provide another physical presence on the floor. 

The trade allows Jamison to be in the Puget Sound full time, where he can continue to assist in the growth of the sport in the state of Washington.  He is currently the Director of Operations for Walax, the area’s primary source for lacrosse.  He is extremely active with camps and clinics in the area, and is instrumental in setting up leagues throughout the Puget Sound.  In order to get to know who Jamison Koesterer is a bit more, here are a few questions we asked him.

Q&A

1. How did you get started playing lacrosse?
JK: I started playing lacrosse when I was in 5th grade. It was a new sport for our school and my father didn't want my brother and I to play baseball.

2. What other sports did you play when you were growing up?
JK: basketball and football

3. What is your greatest sports memory?
JK: Winning the national title in 2007

4. You played field lacrosse growing up and in college.  What is your favorite part about indoor lacrosse?
JK: The game is really fast, there are no out of bounds and it is much more physical.

5. You moved to Seattle from the East Coast. What lured you to the area?
JK: When I first came out here last summer I saw a lot of potential for the sport. Hundreds of kids looking to learn. Given the right opportunity I would be able to work with as many as I could to try and develop the next hotbed.

6. As a prominent member of the Washington lacrosse community, what goals do you have for the sport?
JK: That's easy. For it to become a sanctioned HS sport.

7. What are your favorite places to eat in the Seattle area?
JK: Wild Ginger, Cactus in Madison Park and Ezells .......

8. What are your three favorite music artists?
JK: B.I.G., Nas and Outkast

9. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you take with you and why?
JK: I had to think for a minute on this one.
1. A Hatchet: to hunt, defend myself, chop wood and build whatever was necessary.
2. A hen that will lay eggs: obviously for food and companionship.
3. A large wordy book with some pictures in it: to read, entertain myself and to help stay somewhat sane. It might also help to start fires...

10. What are your goals as you continue your professional lacrosse career in Washington?
JK: To win the championship. There is no other reason to play the game.