Lead Domino media, powered by MDP Lacrosse, feels for the lacrosse community during this uncertain time in our lives. We especially feel for the members of the class of 2020 who have had their high school lacrosse careers end abruptly and unexpectedly. Our ‘Letters to Lacrosse’ project aims to give Senior lacrosse players a chance to pen a love letter to the sport they love and the sport that has given them so much.
Our second letter comes from Commack Senior Attackman and Team Captain, Evan Bove. Evan will be attending SUNY Maritime in the fall and will be continuing his lacrosse career.
Dear Lacrosse,
As many young kids I liked every minute of playing pee wee sports like baseball, football and soccer, but it wasn't until I picked up a lacrosse stick in third grade that I truly felt like I loved what I was doing out there on the field. In the third grade my dad introduced me to lacrosse by having catches with me and my brother in the backyard. I learned the basics and I picked the skills up pretty quick. By that time I was still playing soccer but I knew that lacrosse was my main sport, the sport that I loved. I played for the town lacrosse team and then joined the Outlaws, a travel team, and spent every spring and summer season playing, practicing, and improving my game. I knew that lacrosse was my sport because I loved the physicality, aggressiveness and speed of the game. Most of the season I had bruises all over but I loved every minute of lacrosse. My coach even told my parents that I had so much potential. As time passed and I finally hit my growth spurt, I knew that I wanted to play lacrosse in high school and hopefully go on to play college lacrosse as well.
Playing lacrosse in high school has been so important to me. Through the years I have made so many friends that I hope I will maintain for a lifetime. I learned to always work hard during practice and keep a positive attitude on and off the field. Being committed to lacrosse and working hard is what I have been doing since I picked up the lacrosse stick. In fact, I always look forward to practice after school because I enjoyed being with my teammates, the same kids that I have been playing with since I was in third grade. By practicing and sharpening my skills I saw improvement in my game and when I started going to the gym and lifting I got really strong and my speed increased as well. I knew that this year was going to be a great year for my team and we were going to do awesome.
It is unfortunate that we did not have a lacrosse season. We were all disappointed when we learned the news that Spring Lax was cancelled. My school year was instantly ruined and I was crushed. This was the time for seniors to prove themselves to college coaches and for juniors and sophomores to get noticed. My college coach from SUNY Maritime was going to catch some of my games. I know that I will continue to push myself, practice and work out and hopefully I will have a chance to prove myself and play at Maritime. It is my dream to play lacrosse in college and do what I love to do.
One thing I will never forget is when I was pulled up from JV and having our first practice. The team was doing ground ball drills and I went in to get the ground ball and I got laid out by Logan Tobias, who was huge. This made me realize how different the JV and Varsity teams were. The varsity team was all about physicality, speed and ball movement and I realized I had to step it up if I wanted an playing time on this team. I knew what I had to do and I was determined to be an important part of my school team.
If it weren't for my father having lacrosse catches with me in the backyard, I would not be half as good as I am now. And even though I put at least 20 holes in my dad's fence trying to practice my shot, I know that watching me play lacrosse is one of his favorite things to do.
Thank you lacrosse for helping to shape me into a strong, confident and determined young man. I hope that I can live out my dreams and play lacrosse and accomplish everything that I set out to do.
Sincerely,
Evan Bove #9