Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Billy Snyder

Billy Snyder is a senior on the Riverview High boys lacrosse team. Snyder scored the game-winning goal with 5.8 seconds left Feb. 21 in the Rams' 9-8 road win against Sarasota High. 

When did you start playing lacrosse?

I have been playing since third grade because I grew up in Columbia, Maryland, where lacrosse is popular. I actually took a bit of a break from it. I played soccer for a while. I came back to lacrosse in seventh grade and I have played ever since. 

What is the appeal to you?

First off, I love my boys. I love my team. I moved down here during the pandemic and it was hard to meet people while wearing masks and staying 6 feet apart. The first time I got to meet people for real was with this team. They helped me feel comfortable and turned this place into a home. 

What is your best skill?

I feel like I'm a ground ball machine, especially this last game. I'm going to have quite a few bruises from running up and down the field and getting hacked the whole time, but I like doing it, even though it winds me. 

What have you been working to improve?

Definitely my shooting. I used to have a good shot, but I started focusing on other things and I feel like I lost some of that ability, especially shooting high. I'm trying to get that back. 

What happened on the game-winning goal?

Well, I got two feeds in those last 30 seconds. I'm lucky. The first one, I wasn't in the right place and the ball wasn't in the right place. It just wasn't meant to be and we turned it over. But our defense made a good play stopping the clear and I have to thank Solano (Benitez, a senior) for the second look. I actually dropped the ball off his pass, but I picked it up and I still had a chance to shoot even though a couple guys hit me. It's definitely the latest I've scored in a high school game. 

What are this team's expectations?

We can go as far as we want to go. This is a young team. We have a lot of sophomores. It's about integrity and discipline. We're learning that stuff day in and day out. We just have to keep working together. It's a mental thing. I think we have all the talent in the world to get where we want to be. 

What is your favorite food?

Any type of barbecue chicken works for me. If it's on a sandwich, if it's in a salad, it's always good. You can't go wrong with it. 

What is your favorite TV show?

I'm into "Game of Thrones" right now. I like how all the characters have good sides and bad sides. It's more complex and interesting to me than in a typical TV show. 

What are your hobbies?

I have been going to the beach a lot. I fish with my friends. I'll go boating or tubing. Since I moved down here I've been trying to do all the tropical stuff. 

What is the best advice you have received?

Keep your head up. When I moved down here, it was a tough time. But everyone goes through tough stuff, and you can learn from it and take lessons with you into the future. You just have to keep going. 

Finish this sentence: "Billy Snyder is …"

Charismatic. I may look tired sometimes, but I'm always open to conversation and, not to toot my own horn, but I think I'm a likable guy.