BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Wearing the Green and White representing the Illinois Wesleyan men's lacrosse team is one thing, but Tom Lyons experienced a different "wearin' of the green" this summer as a player on the Ireland Under 19 national team in the World Championships, held July 7-16 near Vancouver in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

Lyons, who will be a sophomore at IWU this year, scored 14 goals and had two assists in six games for Team Ireland, making its first appearance in the World Championships. Ireland placed seventh in the tournament, downing Germany 16-12 in the seventh-place game behind five goals from Lyons.

"It was a huge honor to be on the first-ever team, a lifetime experience that I'll never forget," he said. "I made life-long friends and created memories that will last forever. This tournament was special to me because I was able to represent my family and our Irish heritage."

Lyons made his way onto the 23-man team as a result of a 2015 summer vacation to visit relatives in Ireland. Lyons tried out for the squad at the University of Limerick over three days during his vacation and learned he had made the team nearly three weeks later after their return to their Palos Heights, Ill., home in suburban Chicago.
 

Lyons is eligible as a result of genealogical allowances - to be on the Ireland national team requires that the player himself, a parent or grandparent to have been born in Ireland. Lyons' paternal grandparents, Tommy "Dixie" Lyons, born in Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, and Kathleen Lyons (nee Staunton), born in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, fulfilled that requirement.
Lyons' father, Rich, also has several aunts, uncles and cousins who live in Ireland.

After the tryouts last summer, the Team Ireland players stayed in touch via group text messages and Facebook groups. Beginning July 3, the squad held a mini training camp in the Vancouver area that included practices and exhibition wins over Hong Kong and Israel.

"After that mini-camp, we all kind of knew each other's skill levels and how we could play as a team," Lyons said. "We had a wide range of talent from U.S. East Coast guys who have been playing their whole lives to some who picked up the game in the recent years. We had a few who had completed a year of college lacrosse to others still playing high school and club lacrosse. We played well together as a team and didn't let the different talent levels affect us."

At the World Championships, Ireland played well enough to go 3-0 in pool play with wins over Scotland (14-9), Korea (19-4) and China (15-7), before losing to the Iroquois Nationals (22-5) and, despite three goals from Lyons, a loss to Israel 12-10, to set up the seventh-place game.

Lyons credits team chemistry to their finish in the top half of the squads in the tournament. "We all had the common goal of representing our country, playing the game we love and having fun while doing it," he said. "On the field, everyone knew their role and off the field, it was nothing but laughs and good times. Everyone got along and made each other's experiences unforgettable."
 
Lyons was impressed with the level of competition he saw at the world event. "Every athlete was there for a reason, they were the best lacrosse players meeting the age requirement and talent level during their country's tryouts."
 
He was especially taken with the Iroquois Nationals team comprised of athletes representing Native Americans territories, often considered among the originators of the game of lacrosse. "The Iroquois team was the most fun to watch and play against. Their stick skills are second to none and, even though they beat us badly, I will never forget playing them because of their tradition and contribution to the game."
 
The United States won the tournament for the second consecutive time, defeating Canada, 13-12, with a goal in the final 10 seconds. "The USA players were also fun to watch," said Lyons. "It was cool to get to know some of them since we stayed in the same hotel for the two weeks."
 
Lyons didn't lack for support at the World Championships – his immediate family along with uncles, aunts, cousins, and his St. Laurence High School lacrosse coach Dennis Foley and his family were able to make it to several of the games.
He also received support from his Illinois Wesleyan teammates along with IWU head coach Zach Iannucci and assistant Peter Donley. "They were awesome and my friends and other family members were all great too, whether it was with phone calls, texts, or anything social media related. It was incredible and their support made the tournament that much more special for me." 
 
It wasn't all work and games for Lyons and his teammates in the Vancouver area – they were able to swim, play sand volleyball and enjoy the nice weather. "We took a boat tour of Vancouver and the city looks even better from the water then it does on the land," he said. "It was great stuff."

Returning to campus and the Green and White of his college team is imminent for Lyons, but representing the green of the Emerald Isle will sure and begorra long stay with him. "Being able to represent my country, family, hometown, friends, and the Illinois Wesleyan men's lacrosse team at a World Championship was a breathtaking experience and will never be forgotten."