by Dan Ninham, Contributing Writer
Mason Homer is a Snipe clan member of the Onondaga Nation.
Homer’s top athletic accomplishments include being the high school state championship leading scorer, a team member of the GLVC D2 conference championship at Lindenwood University, and a bronze medalist with the Haudenosaunee Nationals at the U21 World Games in Ireland.
“I have always been taught to be proud of where I come from and who I am,” said Mason Homer. “Growing up on the reservation and going to our nation school gave me a strong cultural connection. We have a smaller community but when it comes to anyone in our community doing big things or making an impact they are a hundred percent behind them.”
“Lacrosse is a huge part of our community and I was raised from a young age to play. I have had so many men in my family play like my grandfather and dad, they are who I look up to in the game,” said Homer.
“The biggest obstacle I think I’ve faced is my learning disability,” said Homer. “I have to have extra help in all my work at college and needed it in high school as well.”
“Mr. Greg Scott has helped me academically, and mentally, and so much help with my learning disability and never let me think I couldn’t do college,” said Homer. “He helped me get into my travel team for lacrosse. He would take me to tournaments if my parents couldn’t and always checked on me even now to see how I’m doing. As a coach in high school for lacrosse and football he pushed me when I needed it and gave confidence on the field.”
Greg Scott was a high school teacher and coach of Homer. He said, “Mason was always the first one to practice and last one to leave. He had great leadership skills and took the game over when he needed to. He was the first one to help his teammates and was a total team player. I have not coached any other kid like Mason in my career.”
“The reason for this is because he’s more selfless and not selfish. I would recommend Mason for any leadership role. I have known him since he was in grade school and have watched him progressed over the years. It’s an honor to have coached him and to call him my friend,” added Scott.
“Louie Geswaldo is a coach and friend,” said Homer. “He also helped me through high school lacrosse and would mentor me in how I play, what he knew I could do and was capable of. He gave me friendship and advice on college and checks on me all the time. He is a person I can tell and share things with without being judged.”
Louie Geswaldo was Homer’s lacrosse coach at LaFayette High School. Coach Geswaldo reflected on one his top athletes leadership on and off the field and said, “Mason’s leadership skills grew into something great. When he first started on varsity, he was quiet. With more playing time and time in the system he started completely taking over in all facets of the game.”
“What separated Mason from the pack was that he was on our man down defense line and he was using a long stick. The long stick was an extension of his body equally to his short stick. He is a coach’s dream,” added Coach Geswaldo.
“In 2019 our program won its third State Championship,” said Coach Geswaldo. “With a very small roster and not many subs we had to ask a lot out of Mason. It was extremely hot that day on the turf. We had talked prior to the start of the game about our game plan, and all of the roles he had. The weight put on his shoulders would have crushed most kids before the game even started.”
“I started getting in his face motivating him and he just smiled cool and calm like always. What he did that day was amazing. Mason caused turnovers on defense, while guarding some of Briarcliff’s best middies. He played long stick on man down defense knocking down passes. Mason was also our high scorer with three goals. This kid ran all game and barely came off the field. He consistently led our team all season through the ups and downs without wavering,” added Coach Geswaldo.
“The LaFayette Lancers got their third ring, and Mason Homer was a huge part of that history,” said Coach Geswaldo.
Homer has carried his team first qualities from high school to college. By being mentored in a positive direction in and out of school he is continuing to make others better along his journey.
Jimmy Lange is the Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Lindenwood University where Homer plays Division 1 lacrosse.
“Mason shows up to practice every single day and leads by example,” said Coach Jimmy Lange. “No matter what is going on in his life off of the field, when he has a stick in his hands he is happy and gives the game his all.”
“Mason switched from offense to defense in his junior year because we needed a boost on that end of the field. He did it without hesitation and became a starter and leader for us on the defensive end and was a great threat in transition at the same time,” added Coach Lange.
Mark Burnam coached Homer with the Haudenosaunee Nationals at the U21 World Games in Ireland. He said, “I watched Mason as a high school player and now a college player develop and he has definitely showed a great improvement. Mason is a very athletic multidimensional player and can play offense or defense at the midfield position.”
“Coaches enjoy players like Mason who do whatever is asked of them,” said Coach Burnam. “Mason is the type of young man who takes pride in his role whatever that may be and you can bet he will tackle it at 100% and is joy to coach.”
