FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High lacrosse grad Paul Walter's college path has taken some very interesting turns with the former lacrosse goalie just completing a year of study in Valencia, Spain getting in some club lacrosse reps and now returning to the area to work his biology degree at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville with a possible medical school next on his study list.

"My mom's side of the family all live in Spain and the opportunity to go to school there and play lacrosse just kind of happened," said Walter, noting his mom Maria Loures, working on her masters' degree in Spain, and dad Mike Walter have traveled to Spain to watch his games. "I spent a year in Valencia two years ago, then returned to Tallahassee for my sophomore year. I also played lacrosse on the Florida State University men's lacrosse club. I've been back and forth to Spain my entire life, and hopefully I get a chance to be with the Spain team for the World Games and the Olympics."
Walter, 20, and part of the 2023 Golden Eagles lacrosse team that finished 8-10 and with a district semifinal exit to St. Augustine, was credited with 213 saves for the season, took his next level of play to Florida State where was to pursue a degree in biology with an aspiration of medical school.
"FSU has a small campus in Valencia with housing, and it's somewhat like being at FSU in Florida," said Walter, who has had visits to Italy, Prague and the Netherlands. "They have similar fraternities, but I didn't get into the fraternity thing over there. I haven't decided yet where I will pursue medical school."
As a freshman, Walter chose to travel abroad to Valencia, Spain, where he had family in the area and where the Valencia Eagles had a lacrosse team.
After completing his sophomore season on the FSU campus, Walter was named in April as the lead goalie for the Valencia team with a chance to play in the European Men's Lacrosse Championships (EMLC) in Wroclaw, Poland, on July 11. Walter may see a familiar face at the other end of the field as another Fleming Island High lacrosse goalie, 2016 grad Jason Kunnath, may be playing for Team Poland. Kunnath, who as a senior had a year mentoring Walters at Fleming Island, who was a freshman at the time, played at Monmouth College in 2017, then Flagler College in 2018 and is now a player for the Jacksonville Armadillos in the Florida Lacrosse Men's League out of Ponte Vedra Beach.
The European Championships feature 25 national teams, with more than 100 games, and seven teams qualifying to play in the World Championships in Japan in 2027.
"The sport of lacrosse in Spain varies as to the talent level and the ages of the players," said Walter. "There are some NCAA Division I-level guys doing their studies, there are some men there from the area who may have played soccer once, and there are guys who could probably be professionals in the USA. I've met players from Maine, Texas and Washington, DC."
Lacrosse in Spain began around 2010 with the establishment of a national league of play, with Valencia founding a team in 2011.
"The fan base is a little bigger than I thought, but not quite like a Fleming Island High game," said Walter. "It's growing there, though."
Walter received some playing time while at FSU-Valencia with the Valencia Eagles and was also offered a tryout for the Spanish national team.
"So far, I'm the number one guy at goalie in Spain," said Walter. "This upcoming year will be my first official season as a starting Spain player."
Now back in Florida, Walter plans to continue his studies at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee while also continuing his play as goalie for the FSU Men's Club Lacrosse Association team, which competes in the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC). The SELC comprises 10 Division I teams, including FSU, Central Florida, Florida, and Auburn in the South Division, plus notable teams like Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Vanderbilt in the North Division.
In the South Division, FSU finished with an overall record of 10-6 and a division record of 2-2, with rival Florida at 13-4 and 4-0, leading the division ahead of Auburn at 3-1 and 7-8. Walter is credited with 15 games played with nine saves behind senior starter Sayre McMahon, from New York and American Heritage (Delray Beach) High, who is credited with 195 saves for the season.
At season's end, FSU advanced to the MCLA Division I National Championships in Round Rock, Texas, but got beaten in their first round game by Arizona State.