The second annual James C. Metzger Leadership Award for Nassau County high school lacrosse was presented to one player on each of the six teams competing in the finals of the 2015 Section VIII Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse championship. Mineola’s midfielder James Gerstner was the local winner. He recently signed a letter of intent to play men’s lacrosse at SUNY Stony Brook.
The matches were held on Tuesday, May 26, at Hofstra University. The participating high school teams were:
CLASS A—Massapequa versus Syosset
CLASS B—Lynbrook versus Manhasset
CLASS C—Cold Spring Harbor versus Mineola
Each award recipient reflected the tenacity, honesty, commitment and positive attitude required in Nassau lacrosse. Each player also possessed the ability to inspire others on and off the field.
The awards were presented personally by James Metzger, a Long Island high school and college lacrosse star. Metzger set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his days at Half Hollow Hills East High School, including All-American honors and the 1977 Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points.
Metzger also starred in football and played varsity basketball as a sophomore in the Suffolk County playoffs.
After graduation from high school, Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra As an All-American, he led Hofstra in assists during his freshman and sophomore seasons (1979 and 1980). His single season points per game average (4.9) ranks fourth all-time and his single season assist average (2.8) ranks eighth.
Metzger recently was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame. He also is the lead supporter for the new sports facility at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington Station. Metzger is the CEO of The Whitmore Group, a leading insurance services and estate planning company in the New York metropolitan area that is headquartered in Garden City.
