Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse: Fireside Chat with Cadet Tim Wyderko

Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse: Fireside Chat with Cadet Tim Wyderko

New London, CT – This spring, we sat down Cadet 1/c Tim Wyderko – one of three 2013 Team Captains selected at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Cadet 1/c Tim Wyderko is the anchor of the Bears defense and earned the rare honor of selection as a team captain as a junior and senior. Wyderko is a “do everything” defender – in 2012, he had 74 ground balls, six points and too many individual clearing efforts to count. “Tim is an excellent one on one defender with great intuition,” said Coach Weller. In 2011, Wyderko’s on-field exploits netted him PCLL 2nd Team All-Conference Defensemen honors.

Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse: Fireside Chat with Cadet Tim Wyderko

He started his summer aboard USCGC VIGILANT, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter out of Port Canaveral, Fla. and was exposed to Coast Guard counter narcotics missions throughout the Caribbean. He finished up his summer training period serving as the Bravo Company Executive Officer leading and managing the “Swab Summer” program for the newly arrived Class of 2016 – “Swab Summer” is the initial boot-camp style indoctrination period. He is a Government major and served as the Operations Spotlight (a lecture series that brings active duty personnel back to the Academy to address cadets) Project Officer last semester. Wyderko became the 2nd member of the Mike Fredie “Hard Hat” Union with 10 ground balls vs. University of New Haven on March 27, 2011.

Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse: Fireside Chat with Cadet Tim Wyderko

20 Questions with Tim Wyderko

Year in school: 2013
Age: 23
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Major: Government
Sport: Lacrosse

1. Why did you choose to come to the Coast Guard Academy? I always knew that I wanted to be in the military. The Coast Guard gives you the military aspect while also allowing you to impact people’s lives on a daily basis.

2. Plans after graduating: Ideally, I would like to go to a 110-foot Island-class patrol boat either on the East coast or in Alaska. I want to get as much Law Enforcement experience as possible because I would like to go over to Bahrain as part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) and follow in the footsteps of some of the Old Bears (Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse Alumni).

NOTE: Established in 2002 in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, PATFORSWA is the Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States. PATFORSWA has played a key role in maritime security and maritime infrastructure protection operations. PATFORSWA is comprised of six 110-foot patrol boats, associated shore side support personnel and other deployable specialized forces operating throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, including Afghanistan and Iraq.

3. Favorite summer experience: Getting underway on the USCGC VIGILANT, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter out of Port Canaveral, FL, and participating in migrant interdiction operations, it was incredibly eye-opening.

4. What other CGA sports/activities are you involved in: I enjoy Inter-Company football, working out and I’m in the Bronzing club.

5. What keeps you motivated each day: Family and Friends. My best friends at the academy are the people that I met during my swab summer and during my first year. They do a great job of helping me through everything.

6. What are your goals for this season: We would like to go undefeated at home and undefeated overall. In addition, we want to help the younger players develop so that one day they will be able to take over our positions.

7. Personal high point at CGA so far: There have been a lot of great memories that I have at the academy. I think one of my personal favorites was off the field. Last year during our spring break trip to Florida we visited a gator farm. It was one of the best team building events we’ve ever had.

8. What is your favorite activity apart from sports: I like going to the beach and bronzing.

9. Any pregame ritual: I always say a prayer before I take the field.

10. Funniest teammate: I would have to say it is either Treston Taylor or James Fennessey. However, I also think Coach Weller is absolutely hilarious.

11. Favorite movie: Top Gun…especially the scene where the Coast Guard helicopter saves the day.

12. Favorite song: Highway to the Danger Zone, this was one of Coach K’s favorite songs too.

13. Favorite TV show: The Office.

14. Favorite food: I do not have a favorite food, I will eat almost anything.

15. Favorite sports team: Michigan Wolverines.

16. Favorite athlete: Austin English and Steven Danseglio.

17. Place I want to travel: Eastern Europe.

18. Personal hero: My grandfather.

19. Any Pets: Dog named Brandy.

20. Advice to give to prospective cadets: Always maintain a positive attitude in everything you do. Things will not always go your way.

About United States Coast Guard Academy
As the smallest of the five U.S. service academies, the Coast Guard Academy offers the elite higher education, rigorous professional development, and honor and tradition of a military academy but with a more personalized approach.

The CGA offers an integrated life experience which emphasizes academics, physical fitness, character and leadership, in order to graduate officers of the highest caliber. Graduates go directly to positions of leadership in “The Shield of Freedom,” one of the most admired organizations in the world. The Academy also features an impressive teacher-student ratio and picturesque waterfront campus that instills a traditional small college feel.

Cadets devote themselves to an honor concept and graduate to work at sea, on land, in the air, and even in space, in meaningful careers of selfless service to others. For additional information – check out: www.coastguardlax.vicid.net.

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