Junior lacrosse player Juquan Tellis volunteers regularly at The Community Kitchen Project and is a Bonner Scholar. Tellis has started for three years for the lacrosse team and contributes his leadership, experience and explosive energy to help the Quakers. Though the Quakers are on a five-game losing streak, Tellis is still optimistic that the season will have a positive turnaround. Tellis agreed to an interview with The Guilfordian about his upbringing, goals and influences.

Q: Can you tell The Guilfordian about where you grew up? 

A: I grew up in Birmingham, Ala., which has a top 10 homicide rate, top 10 poverty rate, and mostly projects.

Q: How did your upbringing influence you as a lacrosse player? 

A: You got to hustle, and you got to grind. Ever since I was young, that determination transferred over onto the field.

Q: What made you to want to play lacrosse? 

A:  I mean, growing up, I was never big enough to play basketball. Most 5’ 9” people don’t make it in basketball, and it was fun to play.

Q: How did you begin playing lacrosse? 

A: Two coaches, by the names of Damsby and Lawley, came to my high school to coach lacrosse. One was a judge, and one was a defense attorney. I was playing baseball at the time, and I was really good at baseball. But the baseball coach wasn’t out there at the time, so I just picked up a lacrosse stick and started fooling around. Soon after, lacrosse turned into a passion. Ever since then, I just stuck with it.

Q: When did you fall in love with the game? 

A:  If you want to get out the projects, sometimes you have to fall in love with something to get you out. People look for a meal ticket out of a bad situation and lacrosse was my way out.

Q: What made you come to Guilford? 

A: The relationship between my coach and me was the main reason I’m here. He was real big on academics and me graduating. I would say we found Guilford. I had got the Bonner scholarship and also got the chance to play lacrosse at the college level.

Q: How do you prepare for games? 

A:  Music. It really takes me through, not just games, but also throughout my daily routine.

Q: What are your top five songs on the playlist before you take the field? 

A: I listen to Lil Boosie mixtapes or albums before games. He just gets me in my zone.

Q: What’s the most exciting part of lacrosse? 

A: The fans. There’s nothing better than when you get the ball and to hear everyone cheering for you just makes you go even harder.

Q: How do you feel about the team this year? 

A:  We have a good team, but we are still young. With us being young, performing at high levels consistently is a big thing that we have to do week in and week out.

Q: Last year, the lacrosse team finished seventh and missed the ODAC tournament. Does that impact the team at all? 

A:  We don’t really look at last year. We just look to this year to create a new image and focus on this year and out goals as a team.

Q: Being that you have played in Coach Carmean’s system for three years now, how do you try and help first-years understand the system? 

A: Coach and me have a good relationship on and off the field. It’s easy for me to instill what he would want into the younger guys, but it’s not just telling them. I have a big role as a leader to also demonstrate what he wants in his players.

Q: What is the hardest part about balancing your schoolwork and athletics? 

A: Managing yourself and your time would be hardest thing. Sometimes, being a leader, you have to demonstrate athletics as well as academics. You have to keep your grades up too.

Q: The team is currently on a five- game losing streak. How do you guys bounce back? 

A:  Team chemistry and sticking together is big. You can’t have players parting ways because that creates negative vibes. You have to stay focused and keep everyone on board. Staying focused is the biggest thing I can say.

Q: What are your personal goals for this season? 

A:  My personal goals for this season are to stay consistent and take a more vocal leadership role.

Q: What are your team goals for this season? 

A: We want to send a message to the league that Guilford College is a top 10 team and we are here to compete.