"Where Are They Now" - Mike Flaherty
Mike Flaherty was a member of the Wells College men's lacrosse team and graduated cum laude from Wells with major in history and minor in secondary education in 2016. On the field he anchored the defense, a position not traditionally in the spotlight. Mike's efforts did not go unnoticed, especially with honors he received during his final three seasons. Mike earned defensive player of the week from the North Eastern Athletic Conference during his senior season on his way to capturing the team's most outstanding defensive player award. He also earned the team's Express Award the previous two seasons in 2014 and 2015. The two-time men's lacrosse team captain also excelled in the classroom as a NEAC scholar-athlete and as a Martin American History Prize recipient. His passion for athletics remains today as a coach and teacher in Wolcott, N.Y.
In a brief question and answer segment with Mike, we asked him to reflect on his time at Wells in looking back, while at the same time offering some advice to current and future Wells College student-athletes:
Wells College teams participated on and years of participation: Men's Lacrosse 2013-2016
Current occupation: I'm a U.S. history teacher at North Rose-Wolcott High School (Wolcott, N.Y.), where I also coach boys varsity track and modified cross country.
Reasons for choosing Wells to continue your athletic career: From the minute I walked on campus, Wells felt like the right place for me. The campus is amazing with the lake, old buildings, and by my senior year updated athletic facilities and the turf field. After meeting the coach and other players, I could tell that there was a sense of community at Wells that you would not get at a bigger college. Although playing lacrosse was important to me, the reason I chose Wells was because of its rigorous academic programs, especially in education and history. I was also able to participate in the study abroad program in Florence, Italy; which was a big plus. For such a small school, the academic and athletic opportunities at Wells were excellent and from the beginning I felt like it was a place I could belong and make an impact.
Favorite memory of Wells College: Wells is a very special place to me because it is where I met my wife, formed lasting friendships, and had many great memories. Some of my favorite memories include participating in even/odd traditions, bonding with the lacrosse team on bus rides to away games, and being able to compete as an athlete for the Express. Playing lacrosse for Wells was a great experience and I have so many memories of the games and practices. I am proud that I had the opportunity to put on the jersey and represent the Express.
Advice you would give to current Wells College Student-Athletes: The main advice I have is not to take your time at Wells for granted. That is probably the most cliché advice, but those semesters go by really fast, especially when you are playing a sport. Try to appreciate what Wells has to offer and explore the campus. Even though the campus and Aurora are small, there are so many unique and interesting things to do. Being involved in traditions and campus events will make the most of your college experience. Also going to see the games of different sports is awesome because you get to see bigger Division III programs come in and compete with Wells. Cheering on the Express in all of the sports was an awesome way to take in a full college experience. Lastly, I would advise to stay in touch with your coaches and professors. Whether it is to ask a question, ask for a letter of recommendation, or just to chat and catch up with them; the faculty and staff at Wells are amazing and they are a great resource to have.
