The average lacrosse fan and the typical country-western listener are by no means one and the same, and thus, most readers wouldn't connect Grand Ol' Opry legend Loretta Lynn with starting senior captain Zandy Reich (pronounced rich). But after spending no more than a half-hour with Zandy, I spent the rest of the evening humming the lyrics to a song off the country legend’s latest 2004 release. I just couldn't shake the association, and a Lynn line lends itself to the correct title of this piece ? High on Life and “Reich” in Love. The chorus contains another appropriate line ? "we live, we love, and we laugh a lot." In all the responses Reich so willingly shared, there was one theme that ran through it all ? a genuine, "rich" love for life. The last name is no coincidence.
Zandy started playing lacrosse in the sixth grade when one of his teachers, who happened to coach Philadelphia’s professional indoor lacrosse team, The Wings, convinced him to give it a try. It wasn't long before baseball got the boot, and lacrosse took its place alongside basketball and soccer in his high school triple-varsity sport line-up. It became clear that lacrosse was soon going to wipe out the remaining two sports in Zandy's life as he self-proclaimed to like it best, was best at it, and was being recruited for it.
His college decision came down to Penn and Dartmouth, as both were making plays to add him to their rosters. In the end, as we know, Penn won out for the Philadelphia native.
"I initially didn't want to stay so close to home, but I realized that it was nice because I could be as close or as seemingly far as I wanted; that it was up to me,” Reich said. “I love Philly, I knew plenty of people who'd gone to Penn, and it just really proved to be the best mix between athletics and academics. I don't want to leave."
While Reich admits that four years of collegiate lacrosse has been no “stroll in the park,” he asserts that it has been well worth it.
"Lacrosse is a huge time commitment, and it really cuts into your social and academic life, leaving you little chance to be involved in other things on campus,” Reich lamented.
“But, first and foremost, I love the guys on the team. They have become my group for the last four years, on and off the field. They're what has made it fun. They keep me going."
Lacrosse has also developed Zandy's leadership and teamwork skills, as one can tell by looking at his title as tri-captain and his six assists this season.
"Not only as a captain, but also as an older guy and one who has seen significant playing time, guys look to me as a role model,” Reich explained. “I've learned how to lead by example. Actions speak louder than words, so they look to what I bring to the field and how I handle other situations. But, other people do that for me too. We have all learned how to pick each other up and keep going; how to give that boost we need. We rely on each other. It's been a tough season, with five games lost by a single point, but no one has pointed fingers. We've kept on, stuck together and pushed through. There's no reason we couldn't have won them all, but they don't always go your way. It's still been fun. It's definitely been a character-building season."
Zandy is an economics major who will begin a two-year commitment to Goldman-Sachs in New York City on July 18.
"I'm going to be (worked very hard), so I am going to try to live it up until then before the rest of my life starts."
As the interview was coming to a close, I asked Zandy for any advice he could leave with younger teammates.
"Do everything you possibly can, everything you get the opportunity to do. I think I've done a fairly decent job of it, and these have been the best four years of my life. They go by quickly, so enjoy them."
Clearly, Zandy has done a fine job of leading by example and of practicing what he preaches. For the life he's led over the past four years have been nothing short of "rich."
- Written by Maren McCauley, C'06
