Athlete of the Month: Joe Shepard

Joe Shepard, a Jamesville-DeWitt senior, is a quiet kid.

He won't tell you about his Section III championship for lacrosse or the run at states the team made last year. He won't tell you about the blood, sweat, and tears he pours in during the off-season. He won't tell you about his plans to play lacrosse at Mercyhurst College, a NCAA Division II powerhouse.

But maybe, just maybe, his actions will tell you.

"He works hard every practice," says Mac Feiner, a senior and lacrosse teammate to Shepard. "But what is amazing is how Joe elevates his play when the game picks up in intensity."

This positive attitude is something that Joe has learned from playing for the J-DHS Boy's Varsity Lacrosse team. Since Joe's arrival to the squad the team has flourished, beating Carthage in 2009 to win the Section III Championship as a junior. The team then advanced to win the Regional Championship, only to lose in the state semifinal game.

Shepard started playing sports early in his life and his work ethic was apparent since day one. "When we were younger, neighbors would complain because it would be 7:30 on a Saturday morning and he'd be out shooting a basketball," says older brother Eddie Shepard, a J-DHS graduate.

"I started playing through JDYAA (Jamesville-DeWitt Youth Athletic Association)," says Joe. "I had always been into different sports and games since I was young and ended up really liking lacrosse and football a lot." However, it was apparent from an early age that he was different than most kids.

Eddie remembers seeing Joe's calm demeanor after every game Joe played. "Often times when Joey would play a good game he would still have a very stoic look on his face as if he had played poorly," says the elder Shepard. "I recall other parents coming up to my parents and saying "˜what's wrong with Joe? He played great.' But that's just how he is: very steady."

Joe is able to model this work ethic after that of his parents. "I see how they work hard and they've taught me to be useful and do things right," says Joe.

The respect does not come only from family members, however. As a member of the Jamesville-DeWitt Varsity Football team, Shepard made major contributions at the linebacker position and on offense that earned him praise from coaches.

"He is tough," says history teacher at J-DHS and varsity football coach Eric Ormond. "Joe is an old-school, throwback player. He knocks "˜em down, picks "˜em up and knocks "˜em down again."

Thanks to Joe and the other J-DHS players, the football team had a .500 record, qualifying for playoffs for the second straight year. Mr. Ormond greatly appreciates Joe for his athletic contributions, but also for the intangibles he possesses. "Joe is absolutely selfless. We try to get as many people involved in each game as we can. Joe could easily have 20 carries a game as starting fullback, but instead takes five carries a game at running back. I never heard a word out of him and he never asked for more playing time," says Mr. Ormond.

Joe picks up the slack on the athletic field as well as in the classroom. "Joe is a very hard worker," says Marilyn Shelton a J-DHS English teacher. "He is a great listener. He seems to command respect from the other students." Joe has qualified for honor roll or high honor roll throughout his time at the high school and is a member of J-DHS National Honor Society.

"(School) is important," says Joe. It's helped me become interested in many different topics and subjects."

Despite his intellectual side, and the quality of being a quiet kid, don't be mistaken: Joe is as competitive as they get. When Joe was young his family had a tradition of playing a relaxing game of croquet. Joe's competitive edge started showing then, because when he would lose he had the tendency to snap a mallet. "We had to replace, like, four of them." Eddie explained.

"He has always been competitive," says Kenny Schunck, a J-DHS senior and football teammate to Joe. "It's a quality that really defines him as a player."

Eddie is sure Joe can find success at Mercyhurst next year. "He will find a way to get out on the field," says Eddie. "He does the little things well that any coach should appreciate, even if he's not scoring." Mercyhurst is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and this spring the Lakers are 7-0, ranked No. 3 among Division II Lacrosse Programs.

Mr. Ormond thinks that three things will help Joe succeed. "He's got great physicality, he's very athletic, and he's disciplined. These combined make him really good."

Come fall of 2010, when the leaves in Central New York fall and the temperatures begin to drop, Joe's neighbors will be able to sleep in come Saturday mornings. The rhythmic bouncing of a basketball won't wake them up, and the quiet work horse will be off to Mercyhurst to wake up a new group of people with his stoic silence.