by Ted Ryan

Just as the 2009 lacrosse season was ready to begin, James Schmidt realized Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., wasn't the place for him. The first-year student from Shelburne had decided he wanted to pursue a business degree with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and another school, Babson College in the Boston area, boasted the "Number 1" such program, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The decision to transfer for educational reasons also had an effect on Schmidt's athletic career. Upon arriving on the Babson campus in January, Schmidt all but stepped into the Beavers' starting lineup.

"I was on the (Clarkson) lacrosse team, but I decided not to play right before the season began. I wanted to transfer and I wanted to get my grades up," said Schmidt, whose grade point average jumped from "around 2.8 to 3.7." He stayed at Clarkson for a third semester, transferring to Babson after the Christmas/New Year's holidays. He had already been in contact with Babson lacrosse coach Brendan Gorman and he knew much about the team from a friend from his Kimball Union Academy (KUA) days.

"My friend (Scott Schaccer) recommended me to the coach and I was talking with the coach through the whole transfer process," said Schmidt. "My friend pretty much told me I'd be a starter right away." Schmidt, who played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse for two years at Rice Memorial before playing the same sports at KUA, said his one preseason with the Clarkson team was beneficial. "Clarkson's (program is) substantially better than here," said Schmidt, "and training with them, I got a lot better." An attack, Schmidt said of himself, "I'm pretty quick. I'm small and fast."

Another factor working to his advantage was a first-year Babson coach who had no preset ideas of who would be in the starting lineup. "When I got here, I was pretty much starting immediately. In practice he looked at me and I was in the lineup." Through Babson's first four games - the Beavers began 1-3 - Schmidt has collected three goals and four assists.

After missing the 2009 season, he said, "It feels really good. It's like I've got a new fire. "After not playing for so long, I definitely missed it and it's a lot of fun for me," said Schmidt. Of his two years at Rice, Schmidt said, "Athletically, it was awesome. My sophomore year I was the leading scorer. We were undefeated and we won the state championship in lacrosse."

Still, his primary sport at that time was hockey and it's still a passion. "Last semester I played club hockey and I thought about trying out for the Babson team. Ironically, I had talked to their coach (Jamie Rice) when I was in prep school," said Schmidt, "but I've decided to stick with lacrosse." So far, it's been a good decision, as has his decision to pursue his educational interests at one of the best schools possible.