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08/09/2023 07:35 AMSpiro Maniatis always drew great adulation for lacrosse through its frenetic pace of play, and that was quite evident as he was consistently quick on the draw as a fantastic faceoff man for the Tigers.
The Hand Class of 2023 member grew up playing various sports including hockey, but as he grew older and connected with the kids in the town of Madison, he gravitated towards lacrosse. Spiro was a two-sport varsity captain this past senior year, both on the ice and for lacrosse. This spring for Class M state finalist Hand boys’ lacrosse, the faceoff specialist won 60% of his draws in two seasons, while winning the team’s Game Changer Award. Additionally, he was 20-for-20 on faceoffs against Watertown and will be playing for Bentley University next spring, while remaining a faceoff man.
“Certain sports give off a family and hard-working mentality, and the coaches and people through lacrosse give that mentality. I also love the speed of the game, and it is a similar pace to hockey,” says Spiro. “It means everything to continue the game at Bentley. I love that I will be keeping that family atmosphere with me. Once you are in lacrosse, I feel you are always a part of it. I look forward to work hard to be part of the family there. I cannot thank my Hand coaches and teammates enough, but I am so happy and excited for this opportunity.”
Hand boys’ lacrosse Head Coach John Orlando details that Spiro backed up his vocal leadership with his often unmatched physical efforts when battling opponents, to provide an emotional and spiritual spark to the Tigers on and off the turf.
“Spiro is a tireless worker who leads by example both during practice and games. He had a great season as our team’s primary faceoff specialist,” says Orlando. “Spiro was also one of our most vocal leaders as a senior and captain, often inspiring the team to a better effort and results. Also his play after a faceoff for ground balls is described as relentless, always wanting to win each small competition in games. This same type of effort and play was also displayed on the ice during hockey season. He was a defenseman, but often played at forward as well to give his team the best chance to win.”
When it came to his faceoff designation, Spiro might have been late to the party when compared to his adversaries at the center line of the turf. Yet with his steadfast dedication and diligence, coupled with a support system around him, Spiro quickly amassed a great skill set.
“I was in a unique situation with that position, because I started later with it at the beginning of my junior year. It took a lot of hard work to make up for lost time,” Spiro says. “I have to thank the coaches for helping me and the resources they gave me to work with. Otherwise, I would not have made progress. I found 70% of success with faceoffs comes from confidence. It makes a big difference. It is a very independent position; the highs are high and the lows are low. You have to use your confidence to your advantage. Mental fortitude is important, and you have to stay composed when you lose a draw.”
Spiro always aspired to be a leader and act like one long before he earned the “C” patch on his jersey for the Tigers. And so once he was officially given the moniker, he took the chance and ran with it by leaving an indelible impact on multiple facets of the Hand program.
“Being a senior captain was fantastic. I had great role models ahead of me. It was the first time I was officially named a leader, but I have always tried to lead,” says Spiro. “The dynamic I had with my friends and teammates was fantastic. I knew my expectations were to perform and help out the team. I could not have asked for anything better. We had a great year, and it was a great experience for me because of my teammates’ hard work.”
As Spiro looks to uphold the delicate balance of academics and athletics at Bentley, he looks to find his additional post-lacrosse passion and further growth towards adulthood.
“Athletically, I want to continue and grow with the new guys at Bentley,” Spiro says. “I also want to maintain the balance between school and sports. I am hoping to also find where I belong and what I am interested in as far as a career. I also look to keep growing as a person and a man.”
No matter how big Spiro becomes at Bentley, he will remain humble and hard working, thanks in large part to his hometown pride in Madison and the connections made through the grind and hardships of being a student-athlete.
“Sports are very demanding, and they take a lot out of you, but a great bond with your coaches and teammates comes from it,” says Spiro. “I will have bonds with these guys forever, and I will always be there for those guys. I will always think of myself as a Hand Tiger, and I have so much pride for this town.”