Playing lacrosse at a higher level may be a whole different ball game, but for Brian Lang, this is something to be proud of. Lang, a sophomore at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, was named 2013 Brine National High School All-American. He was selected to represent the Long Island North Team at the 2013 Brine National Lacrosse Classic held in Boyds, MD from June 30 to July 3 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
The Brine National Classic consists of the top high school players all over the country and is brought together in one venue, where regional teams compete to be named 2013 National Champions. A collection of high school players from around the country qualify to compete in regional tryouts as it comes down to who has shown the best potential to represent their region. These players will be selected to compete in the events at the Classic. This event brought the attention of 3,000 people and is attended by NCAA lacrosse coaches from every division as they come down to check out and recruit some of the most talented players in the country.
With 500 high school boys participating on 20 teams, there are two from Long Island with 25 players from the Long Island North Team and 25 from the Long Island South Team. At this stage, the players will be playing at a high advanced skill level and will be facing off against teams who are selected regionally from the same part of the country for the national championship.
“These kids will do their best to compete in front of scouts and coaches” said Joel Franklin, national director of National Lacrosse Classic. “They will compete well and represent their region, school and hometown.”
Lang was one of those competitors who tried out for the team as it was narrowed down to 100 players. Eventually, he secured his spot as one of 25 top players suiting up for Long Island North.
Lang, a midfielder and face-off man started playing lacrosse around age four. Then he got more serious when he played in third grade while attending Hicksville’s Lee Avenue School. Lang enjoys the passion he has for the sport.
“Scoring goals and winning championships is the greatest feeling ever” said Lang. “Assisting teammates and just being around it is what makes it perfect.”
Lang feels that being named All-American is a great honor and is thankful for his friends on the field, his coaches and his parents Dave and Maggie Lang, who inspired him to play the game of lacrosse.
“They always pushed me to play sports and to be the best at doing things” said Lang. He felt the young squad at Holy Trinity could have had a better season. However, with two years left in high school and Lang leading the way as the captain, backed up by a good coaching staff at the helm, these guys will be back stronger and better than ever. The challenges that he faced on the field are adapting to the speed level and playing against kids who are two years older.
So far in his young career, Lang’s biggest accomplishments to date are being named to Holy Trinity’s Varsity team as a freshmen and being named captain this season as a sophomore. He has also just accepted a verbal commitment/athletic scholarship to play Division 1 lacrosse at Ohio State University.
“My next goals are to become All-American in high school, win many championships and do great things to help my team out,” stressed Lang.
With the tremendous honors and achievements he has gotten so far, Lang isn’t done yet. His future goals and aspirations are not to become All-American in high school, but to be named All-American in college, where he hopes to reach out and establish more friendships and contacts with players and coaches. “My expectations are to improve and develop as a player, put up impressive stats, wins some games and hopefully the state championship” stated Lang.
Keep an eye out for this young rising star.
