Prepping for the World Championships with Team England goalie Will Baxter – LGR Episode 210
By Coach Damon
June 16, 2023
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On today’s episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with William Baxter, the talented goalie for Team England.
William is currently preparing for the highly anticipated 2023 World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, and we delved into his experiences and aspirations.
This will be William’s second Senior World Championship appearance, having been selected for the team back in 2018. He also proudly represented British Lacrosse at the World Games in 2022.
During our conversation, William shared valuable insights and lessons he learned from his previous World Championship experience in Netanya, which he hopes will aid him in the upcoming tournament in San Diego.
William has been a member of the National Squad since 2015 and achieved the remarkable feat of being named the tournament MVP at the 2016 Euros. His outstanding performance helped lead England to victory, boasting an impressive 75% save percentage.
Beyond his achievements on home soil, William made a significant impact across the pond during his two-year collegiate career at Limestone University in the United States. He received the prestigious title of South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Limestone player to earn such an honor since 2017 and only the fourth player in the program’s history and was also named a Division II All-American in 2022.
Throughout his time at Limestone, he made an astonishing 300 saves in 31 games, maintaining an impressive save percentage of 56%.
Playing college lacrosse in the US had always been a dream for William. Although he initially considered pursuing his education in England, he made the decision, after graduating in October 2020, to pursue his passion for college lacrosse and give himself the best opportunity to compete at the highest level.
At the age of 24, William reached out to the top five Division 2 schools via email, sharing highlights from the 2018 World Championships. Limestone University responded promptly, and the rest, as they say, is history. He sent the email in November and found himself on campus in January, commencing his graduate studies.
Throughout his journey, William found inspiration in his goalie coach, Ben McCallum, who represented Team England in four world championships. McCallum’s guidance and mentorship played a crucial role in William’s development as a goalie.
Another influential figure in his life is John Marr, who showcased his skills for Team Scotland at the age of 68 during the 2006 World Championship. Additionally, William enjoys watching Dillon Ward of the Waterdogs, drawing inspiration from his exceptional play.
I trust you’ll find this episode with William Baxter insightful and engaging. We explore a range of topics, including the valuable lessons he learned from the 2018 World Championships, the dynamic nature of Sixes Lacrosse, and his advice for aspiring international goalies who dream of playing college lacrosse.
Show Notes
Video Interview with Will Baxter
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