Current Athlete Of The Week: Cole Chambers

Lacrosse can be an incredibly physical game. If you are a player who lights up the scoresheet, you’re likely to find yourself on the receiving end of some physical defense in an attempt to slow you down. It makes what Whaler sophomore attacker Cole Chambers is doing this season all the more impressive.

Chambers has been one of Nantucket’s most consistent scorers. He has 21 goals and 10 assists through his team’s first eight games. Chambers receives more and more attention from the opposition by the game as his statistics pile up, but his level of play never declines. It remains at a high level and it is a significant reason why he is the Current’s first athlete of the week for the spring season.

Chambers says that the pressure of being one of his team’s leading scorers at such a young age, and the expectations that are put on him before every game, don't bother him.

“I don’t really feel any pressure,” he said. “I am just playing the game and having a good time. When you’re having fun it’s hard to feel the pressure around you. Sure you have your ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I am just out there to have a good time.”

Chambers plays lacrosse year-round. He plays for the Penguins Select Lacrosse team in the offseason. It gives him an opportunity to meet other highly-skilled players and a place to develop and learn different techniques and skills that can be added to his own offensive repertoire.

It isn’t hard for Chambers to commit all his time and effort to lacrosse given that his love for the game dates back as far as he can remember. Lacrosse has always been a part of who he is and pillar of his life.

“I can’t recall a time where the game was first introduced to me,” Chambers said. “I just grew up around it. My grandfather coached, my Dad and Uncle played and coach, and my sister played in high school. The competition (with the Penguins) is a lot different but it is really fun.”

Chambers believes most of his success stems from his teammates and coaches and their ability to lift him up. He said you can’t score or be successful in this game without the players around you and the coaches who teach you and believes that without them, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

Two teammates Chambers feels have helped him in particular are senior goalie George Boucher and sophomore attacker/midfielder Jack Halik.

“George Boucher has really helped me grow a lot,” Chambers said. “He’s helped me with which type of shots to shoot on game day and as well as being a brick wall in practice. I think me and Jack Halik have good chemistry. We just know each other so well. It’s just fun to go out there and play with him.”

For all his positives, Chambers said there are still plenty of things he wants to improve upon as this season continues.

"I think I really need to work on my ground balls,” Chambers said. “They are just horrendous right now and I need to fix that. Since the spring I definitely have been working on my shooting and it has showed. Last year I wasn’t shooting nearly as much and I just don’t think I had the confidence to do so. But this year has been different and I think I’ve been doing a solid job so far.”

Chambers has a bright future ahead of him and doesn’t take this opportunity to represent Nantucket as a student athlete lightly.

“Being a Whaler is really special,” he said. “Putting on that jersey you don’t just represent your team, you represent all of Nantucket. There is a lot of Whaler Pride in this town and we definitely feel that whenever we suit up. When you are out there you don’t play for yourself, you play for the guy next to you and he does the same. It’s a brotherhood that is like nothing else.”

The Whalers have two big games coming up. They will host the Falmouth Clippers on Thursday at 4 p.m. and the Pembroke Titans on Saturday at 11 a.m. Nantucket lost to Falmouth 10-3 last month and Pembroke 8-4 in their season opener, but Chambers still likes his team’s chances this week.

“These teams that are coming up are beatable,” Chambers said. “All we have to do is show up, play, and execute. If we do that, then we will be just fine.”