Sean Lulley Caps MVP Season

After a standout and comeback season and capping an outstanding high school boy’s lacrosse career, senior Half Hollow Hills High School East attackman Sean Lulley has been honored with the school’s seventh annual prestigious James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award for a boys’ lacrosse player. The award was presented during the June lacrosse team dinner for coaches, players, parents and school administration at the conclusion of the season.

The Thunderbirds finished the season 14-4, with two losses to eventual Long Island champion Ward Melville High School.

“We qualified for the final four tournament for the first time since 2002,” said Thunderbirds Coach Gordon Hodgson, “only to eventually lose to Ward Melville. This is the fourth consecutive year that the team has been recognized as a division champion by the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association.”

Junior defenseman Mike Gomez (committed to Johns Hopkins University) and senior defenseman Reed Bresky (headed to Manhattan College) were named All-County players. Drew Martin (headed to the U.S. Airforce Academy), received All-County honorable mention as a junior midfielder.

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Photo: Left to right, Half Hollow Hills High School East Coach Gordon Hodgson, James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award recipient Sean Lulley, and school director of the youth lacrosse program and school board trustee Eric Geringswald.

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Lulley’s Senior Year Return

During his high school lacrosse career, Lulley netted 50 goals and gathered 41 assists as a four-year varsity starter. He served as team captain and was named most valuable player during his senior year. Lulley was named All-County during his sophomore year. Injured midway through his junior year, Lulley returned mentally and physically prepared for his final season. He will attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

Lulley is a certified PAL lacrosse referee and a lacrosse trainer. He played varsity basketball during all four years in high school that included Half Hollow Hills East’s first Suffolk County championship. Lulley also played for the school’s volleyball team.

Off the field, Lulley was one recipient of the school’s Principal Medal of Honor. During his four years at the school, he was a high honor roll student and a co-founder of the broadcasting club. He also was a nominee for the Dellacave Award that is presented by the school’s physical education department for academics and leadership.

Besides success in academics and athletics, Lully is a volunteer for the Kids 4 Karing program through St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church in Dix Hills. The program supports less fortunate families on Long Island. Lully also has been a member of the school’s Peer Ambassador club that requires nominations by two faculty members. The club provides a positive influence for fellow students and adults.

James Metzger Award

The James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award for boys’ lacrosse is named for and endowed by a leading Half Hollow Hills High School East benefactor who also was an All-American student athlete at the school during the 1970s. Metzger is the founder and 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.

Metzger set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his high school playing days, 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 University. 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.