Noah Bachwitz: ‘Three-sport speed demon’

He’s played soccer and hockey since he can remember, but Noah Bachwitz wanted to try something new before graduating from Williamsville North. He gave in to his friends’ wishes and joined the varsity lacrosse team this season. The Spartans ended up finishing as the No. 2 seed in the section, and although they lost to rival Niagara Wheatfield in the semifinal game, Bachwitz enjoyed his time playing lacrosse and even scored a goal on senior night.

Soccer and hockey were even better, especially this season. North defeated Clarence in soccer, a team Bachwitz had gone winless against in his varsity soccer career, before winning the Section VI championship.

And in hockey, it was a similar story. The Spartans defeated St. Joe’s, another team they’d gone winless against in Bachwitz’s time playing varsity hockey at North, and once again, Bachwitz was part of a Section VI team as North defeated Niagara Wheatfield.

Next year, Bachwitz’s soccer career will continue at Ohio Northern University, and hockey and lacrosse will be left in the past. But the “three-sport speed demon,” as he was introduced on lacrosse senior night, won’t soon forget his time spent playing sports at Williamsville North.

Bachwitz took some time to talk to Icing The Fed after another lacrosse Williamsville Cup win about his sports memories, his first and only season of lacrosse, and his future plans.

When did you start playing soccer?

I think I was 2 or 3. My dad was always into soccer — my whole family was — so he just got me into it.

When did you start playing hockey?

Just a couple years after that. My dad never played hockey, but he always liked it, so he got me into that too.

What are some of your memories from growing up playing soccer and hockey?

Soccer, just being on varsity for four years, it’s a great experience being blond, and with my club team we’ve won states three or four times. We’re going to states again this year, so we’re looking to win that.

Hockey was fun. I started out at Amherst. I didn’t make my first year of travel at Amherst, so I went to Cheektowaga, and I stayed at Cheektowaga, and I ended up winning states at Cheektowaga actually and going to nationals, so that was a great experience.

What are some of your memories from high school soccer and hockey?

Just a great experience. We won the section this year for both sports, so I’m looking to do it again for lacrosse, and it’s just a great time with all my friends.

What would you say is the biggest crossover between the two sports?

Endurance. In hockey, I never get tired. My coach always says, “He can go forever,” so I’d be taking two- or three-minute shifts to end the games, and soccer really helped with that.

What’s the biggest difference?

Hockey’s just much faster. Soccer’s more, you find the right pass and stuff; hockey, it’s thinking too, but it’s much much faster.

What went into your decision to play lacrosse this year?

My friends have been talking to me about it forever. It’s my last year and I’m a senior, so I decided to be with my friends and try and win another section title.

What’s it been like playing lacrosse?

It’s awesome. They make me feel part of the team, and obviously I play a different role than the other two sports since I’ve never played, but it’s a real fun experience so far.

Is there a moment or a game from soccer or hockey this season that you’ll never forget?

For soccer, definitely when we beat Clarence. We lost to them for four years straight, my whole career at North, and we finally beat them in the section semifinal game, one-nothing.

And then for hockey, the St. Joe’s game. We finally beat them, so both those games were real fun.

What went into your decision to play soccer at Ohio Northern University?

I was looking between there and Philadelphia University, and the recruiting process was just very smooth at Ohio Northern. I liked the coaches a lot, so it was fun.

Anything else you want to say about your experience playing all three sports at North?

The coaches for all three sports have been fantastic, and North is just a great school to be a part of, and the sports are fantastic, so it’s great.