Sports Spotlight: Jackson Grinnell | Observer Preps

Jackson Grinnell is a senior on the Windermere Prep boys lacrosse team, and he is making the most out of his last year. So far through seven games played, he leads the team with 24 goals and has five assists for the Lakers. When he’s not dominating opposing teams, there’s a lot that Grinnell loves to get into — especially when it comes to creating art.  

What first got you into playing lacrosse?

I started playing lacrosse in seventh grade, and the main season is because I couldn’t play football anymore, because I had too many concussions. It ended up being way more fun than I thought, and I got hooked on it. It’s sort of become my main sport by chance, and I’m pretty grateful for that, because it’s a whole lot of fun.

You’ve played at Windermere Prep all four years of high school. What’s been your favorite part?

My favorite thing is just how fun it is. The whole program is just an absolute blast, and Jojo (Marasco) is just about the greatest coach you could wish for — he is super fun to be around, and the energy he brings is just awesome. Having a game where you can go out and play your sport with your boys and having everyone cheering you on is just awesome.

What’s some of the best advice that coach Marasco has given you?

He never once doubted me in anything that I’ve ever done. He has always pushed me, and he has never closed any doors on me, which I think was awesome. Even when I was a freshman, he was always super willing and able to help me after practice. I don’t think I would love the game nearly as much if it wasn’t for that man.

What is the biggest challenge when it comes to your sport?

For me, the biggest challenge is the dedication it takes to perform. Unlike other sports where you can just be an athlete and then go out there and dominate, you have to practice your stick work, and it takes a whole bunch of dedication to get that down. And naturally, I’m right-handed — my whole game has been super righty dominant until this year — and I’ve been really practicing my left hand and pushing my game. I think developing my left hand has been one of my biggest challenges.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I started playing so late, and I didn’t really start taking the game serious until I was a junior — I missed sophomore year because I fractured my back — so junior year is when I sort of got the lacrosse bug. It was a little too late for me to do anything in the recruiting process, because I didn’t have any film, so I’m going to FSU and they have a club program, and I think I’m going to try out for that.

When you’re not playing lacrosse or doing homework, what do you enjoy doing?

Anything with my friends. I love being on the lake or ocean — surfing, fishing — and I’m an artist. Both of my sisters are pretty remarkable self-taught artists, and that trickled down to me by just being around it. I just like doing it for fun — I mainly work in color pencils and acrylic paint.