University of Virginia Library

'I Never Thought I'd Be All-American'–Mangels

By GERSON ROTHENBERG

Lacrosse players are a
strange breed. On a playing
field they resemble
extra-terrestial beings bedecked
with Little League batting
helmets, webbed wooden
sticks, and arm length shoulder
splints. Off the field, thought
they blend into a crowd with
remarkable facility and
celerity. So it is with ace
defenseman Bruce Mangels.

Mangels is the fourth year
cornerstone of the young
Wahoo defense. The two-time
All-American is not a
noticeable person, however, off
the field. He drifted in to chat
with me one day concealing his
athletic prowess with a casual
air atypical of champion
performers.

Casual and relaxed would
perhaps best describe Bruce
"I've never had more fun
practicing and playing lacrosse
anytime than now. Morale is
higher now on the team than
it's ever been since I've been here."

The fourth yearman has not
always been so relaxed. "In my
sophomore year I began to feel
the pressure during the season.
You felt if you did something
wrong the whole world would fall."

Slow Start

The road to fame and honor
was not an uncluttered one for
Mangels. "I quit the team when
I first came because I knew I
couldn't beat the starters or
the other freshmen out for
back defense. But the coach
told me to try crease defense."
There, Bruce's accomplished
stickwork compensated for his
lack of speed and eventually
resulted in a starting position.

Bruce modestly attributed
much of his brilliant success to
his fellow defensemen's
expertise. "I never thought I'd
make All-American. I was
really fortunate my sophomore
year but no one realizes my job
on the crease is made much
easier by me not having to
worry about feeds coming
from behind the goal. I've been

lucky to have good
defensemen in back of me."

In his high school days at
McDonogh in Baltimore,
Mangels starred in lacrosse
making first team all-state. He
also won two letters in
wrestling for which he jokingly
recalls, "I only won one match
and that was due to a forfeit."

Lacrosse Scholarships Not Given

From Baltimore he came to
the University where official
lacrosse scholarships have never
been awarded and everyone is a
"walk on". Bruce views the
team togetherness and the
school's winning tradition as
instrumental in attracting the
recruits for national
championship teams. "People
come down here because of the
guys on the team and the
winning tradition. We've got a
really great bunch of guys, easy
to get along with."

Long Hair Gone

Last year the Virginia
lacrosse team was easily
recognizable and nationally
known for the shaggy locks
sported by most of the players.
This year the trend has
about-faced, explained Bruce, a
graduate of a military school.

"My sophomore year we let
the hair grow. Hair meant
something. A lot of players
were trying to get away from
the jock image. We had a whole
lot of moustaches, too. I got
my hair cut this year, now
everyone's getting it cut, too."
Bruce's Fu Manchu has been
victim to this policy.

Future Plans

With this season the last one
for the Cavalier tri-captain,
thoughts of the future loom. "I
really want to get involved
next semester in Big Brother.
I'm applying right now for
VISTA, too."

Bruce did not appear to be
comfortable with these somber
thoughts about a future time
less carefree than the present.
"I've really enjoyed living here
and going to school," he
mused. "I'm going to miss it
all."

Shortly thereafter he
departed to be absorbed into
the anonymous crowd at
Newcomb Hall, his identity
unknown to the masses and
unstigmatized by his
seldom-publicized national
laurels.