Will Shipley makes a catch at the high-school field during an event sponsored by the Premier Lacrosse League.
While he’s most well known for his football career with the Eagles, running back Will Shipley made an appearance at Haddonfield Memorial High School’s turf field on Aug. 20 for an event centered on lacrosse.
In a session sponsored by the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) with professional lacrosse players Michael Sowers of the Philadelphia Waterdogs and Connor Shellenberger of the New York Atlas teams, Shipley took to the field with the duo for a skill session.
Before Shipley played football at the collegiate level, he was also a five-star lacrosse recruit and a state champion at Weddington High School in North Carolina.
“It was good just getting back to my roots of lacrosse out here with two of the best in the game,” he enthused, “and the ability to come out here and ultimately celebrate what we’re doing for the PLL (league) championship series.”
The borough visit was the first time Shipley returned to a lacrosse field since his high-school days.
“We’re going to test out Will Shipley’s lacrosse skills, see if he’s still got it,” Shellenberger said kiddingly. “And it’s really cool of him to come out. I know training camp, I think, just finished up for those guys (the Eagles). So for him to take the time to do this is pretty cool.”
The lacrosse league held the event in an effort to engage the Waterdogs – a newer team in the region – with the local community in the lead-up to its semifinals, which were to take place at Subaru Park in Philadelphia on Labor Day.
“We’re just out here throwing the ball around with Philadelphia Eagle Will Shipley, which is super cool,” Sowers noted. “I grew up North of Philadelphia, so I’m a huge Eagles fan and watch this guy every single Sunday.”
In addition to having Shipley, Sowers and Shellenberger on the field, the lacrosse league also donated 100 tickets in Shipley’s name so local youth could attend the PLL semifinals.
“Being able to give 100 tickets back to inner-city youth to be able to go catch the games and just, ultimately, have a great time and learn the game of lacrosse is great,” stated Shipley, who lives in Cherry Hill, in close proximity to the borough, and had attended Eagles practice earlier that day.
“So it’s great to be back out here for sure.”
After completing interviews for local news stations and the league, Shipley, Sowers and Shellenberger picked up their lacrosse sticks, headed onto the school field, and tossed the ball between the three of them. Not surprisingly, they ended their visit with a football catch.
