BAY CITY, MI – Derek Taylor was a late-joiner and late-bloomer.
But he’s been the right player in the right spot for the Bay City Central lacrosse team.
Although he never played the sport until his sophomore year, Taylor has taken to his new game with vigor. And, since growing into a good-sized athlete, he’s created his niche as the go-to player for the Wolves.
“He played freshman football for me, and he was a short, little, stout kid who didn’t play a lot,” Central coach Eric Anderson said. “When he came out (for lacrosse) this year, I said ‘Geez, look at you, Derek!’ He sprouted up to 5-11 and a good 200 pounds.
“He’s able to use his body and box players out, a lot like in basketball. Teams have a hard time moving him off the offensive line. He gets his shots because he’s so big and handles the ball well.”
Taylor’s dedication to his new team and new sport helped earn him the MLive Bay City Athlete of the Week in a poll of online readers. The attacker garnered 4,183 votes, good for 29.3 percent of the 14,302 ballots cast.
He outdueled Pinconning baseball player D.J. LaBean for the honor. All Saints’ Alex Czyzewski, Standish-Sterling’s Addison Vallad and Akron-Fairgrove’s Emma Britton all had strong support with more than 1,200 votes.
Taylor led the charge, much like he’s leading the Wolves on the lacrosse field this season.
He decided as a sophomore to give lacrosse a shot and dove into the new challenge. His learning curve was hampered a year ago when the spring sports season was wiped off the calendar by the coronavirus threat.
After a solid senior season on the Central swimming team – he ranked second in Bay County in the 100 breaststroke and was among the top-6 in the 100 butterfly and 200 medley relay – he returned to lacrosse looking like a new athlete.
Still a relative newcomer himself, he is among the most experienced players on the Wolves. And, in the homestretch of his high school days, he has filled a vital leadership role for his team.
“He shows a ton of enthusiasm for the game,” Anderson said. “He comes to practice every day and puts in the work, and he’s really good with his teammates. Our team is half full of kids who had never played before, so he’s being a leader for them.”
The team captain has led by example on the field as well, leading the team in scoring and assists.
“He’s a solid attack man with a really nice right-handed shot,” Anderson said. “He shoots the ball well and handles the ball well. He pretty much sets our offense, he’s the point of our attack.”
Taylor had a memorable performance last week in a thriller with the Saginaw Bay Wildcats at John Glenn. He scored three goals, including a dramatic shot with 1:36 left in the game that drew Central within one. The Wildcats ended up answering for a 9-7 win, but Taylor proved himself to be a rise-to-the-occasion player.
MLive player polls are non-scientific ventures, designed to promote fun, fandom and discussion. The winners receive no prize and the results have no bearing on postseason awards.
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