by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Tyson Bomberry is Oneida and he’s from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario Canada. He earned his degree at Syracuse University in communication and rhetorical studies from the College of Arts and Sciences. His minors were in human development and family science.
“I compete for my family and my teammates,” said Tyson. “Many times my teammates are like family to me so it is very important that I hold myself to competing at the same standard that I would for my own family.”
The Minto Cup is awarded annually to the top Canadian junior lacrosse team. Tyson was a member of the three-time Minto Cup Champions (2014, 2015, 2017) and he was the captain in 2017.
Tyson attended Syracuse University and left his mark on the field and in the classroom. He was two-time captain (2018, 2019), ACC All-Academic Team (2017, 2019), ACC Honor Roll (2017, 2018, 2019), and USILA Warrior/New Balance Scholar All-American (2019).
At Syracuse, Tyson played 32 games for the Orange, and had 66 ground balls. He concluded his career with 48 caused turnovers, and tied for sixth in program history.
Tyson had an early start competing at an elite level. In 2012, he was a member on the Founders Cup Champion team, and the U-19 Bronze medal winning team at the FIL championships with the Iroquois Nationals.
A team captain, Tyson represented the Iroquois Nationals in 2016 with the U-19 Bronze medal winning team at the FIL Championships, and in 2018 with the Bronze medal winning team at the FIL Championship. In 2019, he was on the Iroquois Nationals Bronze medal winning team at the FIL indoor Championships.
“One of my core values that was taught to me by my parents and family is hard work,” said Tyson. “I have been able to see these values embodied by my parents and family members. Two of the most influential people are my grandpa Ted Bomberry and my dad Tim Bomberry.
“My grandpa Ted passed away when I was 12 but he was like my father and always hard working,” said Tyson. “He was an iron worker and I had heard stories about him from some of my friends dads about how strong he used to be and how hard working he was.”
“I was lucky enough to be able to watch my dad play lacrosse for a majority of my life, but most importantly I was able to see how hard he would train outside of the lacrosse arena. From a young age I was able to see the extra effort that was needed to become a great athlete, but more importantly the effort needed to be successful in all aspects in life.”
“My dad coached or helped coach me in all of the sports I played growing up including hockey, lacrosse and football. He started coaching me from when I started playing organized sports at about three years old until I was about 15 years old when I started playing Jr. B Lacrosse for the Six Nations Rebels. Having my dad as the coach of my lacrosse team growing up helped me grow as a player quickly because I always was with him. We would watch lacrosse games together all summer and he would explain what strategies teams would use and how to implement them into my game. He was also playing at the time for the Six Nations Chiefs, Mohawk Stars, and St. Catherine’s Saints. I would travel to his games and be the ball boy so I was at the lacrosse arena all week and weekend. Its safe to say that my summers were and still are all lacrosse all the time.
Dad Tim Bomberry said: “Tyson is the epitome of perseverance. He simply refuses to quit. I seen it when he was 2-1/2 years old and we were walking up the hill behind our house to sleigh ride. The snow was deep for me and practically covered Tyson to his waist. He refused to let me help him even though he fell at least fifty times. We finally got to the top of the hill and he looked up at me and said ‘see Dad? I never quit!’ I found it crazy that such a young kid would even talk that way. But it gave me an early glimpse into Tyson’s attitude in absolutely everything he does. I coached Tyson ever since he started playing organized lacrosse at age 3-1/2. I coached him his minor career with our Six Nations Minor Lacrosse program. I’m pretty sure the majority of our coaches are fathers of one or more of the kids on any team. I now get to coach him again with our Major Team the Six Nations Chiefs. Tyson has always loved playing lacrosse. Very respectful, coachable and a high lacrosse IQ that continues to develop to this day. He constantly strives to learn more and to get better at what he does. He not only leads by example and is also very vocal as a leader on any team that he has ever played on. Tyson plays with an aggressive edge and he hits like a freight train. If you get caught on the tracks you don’t want to cut the middle if Tyson is on the off-ball side. His work ethic is in every aspect of his life.”
“We have a gym in our basement and many family members and friends lacrosse players and otherwise have worked out at ‘The House of Pain’ over the years and anyone who has worked out here knows the meaning of the nickname. Tyson takes those work outs to a new level of crazy. I am very proud of the man Tyson has become. A very proud father and coach!” added Tim.
“Jason Johnson was another coach that has really impacted my life as a lacrosse player,” said Tyson. “Jason was one of my first field lacrosse coaches. Jason’s in-depth knowledge about the game helped me develop my field lacrosse game to a level where I believed that I could play at the collegiate level. His coaching helped me follow my dreams to play lacrosse, graduate from Syracuse University and I can’t thank him enough for helping me get there.”
“Coach Leland Rogers, Syracuse University defensive coach, was one of my favorite coaches that I have had in my lacrosse career,” said Tyson. “I really enjoyed him as a coach because he allowed me to play my style of lacrosse and not all coaches allow their players to do that. He didn’t confine me to a specific role but allowed me to grow and blossom as a player and as a leader for the team. He always demanded hard work and going the extra mile to be a better player and I thank him for pushing me to be the best player that I could be.”
“When your life is lacrosse and you love the game, being the best is easy to do,” said Coach Leland Rogers. “Tyson’s knowledge of the game is equivalent to that of some of the best minds in the game. Many coaches use this quote ‘Know the game’. When you know the game the rest of it is easy. Tyson’s love and upbringing for the game of lacrosse is unlike most normal players. He embraces the game and because of this he will also be a great player at any level, whether it be physical or just plain knowledge of the game. His work ethic and dedication to the game is unlike most players in the game today…thus his success. Tyson knows how to survive and his perseverance and love for the game of lacrosse will always allow him to out do his competition. He is a coach on the field!”
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is the premier professional box lacrosse league. According to its website, it was founded in 1986 and ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA.
The NLL has suspended game play until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tyson recently moved back to Canada from Long Island.
Tyson Bomberry was selected 10th overall by the New York Riptide in the 2019 NLL Entry Draft on September 17, 2019. In the press release announcing Tyson’s contract signing, Riptide Head Coach and General Manager Regy Thorpe said, “Tyson is a tough, fierce defenseman with great leadership ability. We were incredibly excited to get him at No. 10 in the draft. He has a high lacrosse IQ and I believe that the people of New York are going to love his toughness and grittiness.”
The Major Lacrosse League (MLL) Boston Cannons selected Tyson in the fourth round of the 2019 MLL Draft. The MLL is the premier professional field lacrosse league. Tyson was directing youth lacrosse camps in San Diego last July and didn’t compete with the team. He may be playing in the future.
“I hope to continue my lacrosse career in both the NLL and the MLL and have a long prosperous career,” said Tyson. “I would also like to start getting into coaching and start giving back to the game that has given me so much in my life. I would like to do the same thing that my coaches did for me and give the next generation of lacrosse players a chance to have the same experiences and opportunities that the game has given me.”
“There is a lot of opportunity in the game of lacrosse,” said Tyson. “Lacrosse has given me opportunities that I never would have imagined I would have imagined growing up. Lacrosse has taken me to an all boys’ boarding school in Connecticut (Avon Old Farms), Syracuse University, Finland, Israel, and all over the USA and Canada. The game of lacrosse is only getting bigger and with that so will the opportunities that come with the game. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for myself, and the next generations of lacrosse players.”
“My advice to young student-athletes is to give your best effort in everything that you do,” said Tyson. “There are many things in life that you can’t control but something that you are always in control of is how much effort you give. You don’t want to look back on your academic career or athletic career and think I wish that I tried a little harder. By giving your best in everything that you do you never have to ask yourself what if I did something more. Control what you can control and give your best in everything that you do.”
Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre
Proud of your game #14