The annual James C. Metzger Leadership Award for Nassau County high school boys' lacrosse was presented to one player on each of the four teams that competed in the June 16 finals of the 2021 Section VIII Nassau County high school boys' lacrosse championships.
The recipient for Cold Spring Harbor High School is senior midfielder Ben Bruno. Along with the other award winners, Bruno reflects the tenacity, honesty, commitment and positive attitude required in Nassau lacrosse. Each recipient also possesses the ability to inspire others on and off the field.
Bruno has committed to play at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
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“I would love to play all four years I am at Amherst,” said Bruno. “I know that is a difficult goal to accomplish. But if I put the work in and grind every day, I think I can do it. A team goal is to win a National Championship. Amherst came very close to winning a couple of years ago. The other recruits and I have made it our goal to put Amherst back in the national championship game and win.”
The leadership awards were presented by 1970s Long Island lacrosse star and local lacrosse benefactor James C. Metzger, who set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his days at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, including All-American honors and the 1977 Lt. 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. Following high school graduation, Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra University. An All-American, Metzger is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. He is the founder and CEO of The Whitmore Agency, a leading insurance services and estate planning company in the New York metropolitan area that is headquartered in Garden City.
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In addition to the leadership presentations, Metzger provided the funding for the most valuable player awards presented at the championship games.
The results of the games held on June 15 and 16:
- Level A – Syosset versus Farmingdale with Syosset the 13-7 winner.
- Level B – Garden City versus H. Frank Carey with Garden City the 11-8 winner.
- Level C – Manhasset versus Cold Spring Harbor with Manhasset the 10-8 winner.
- Level D – Friends Academy versus Oyster Bay with Friends Academy the 13-7 winner.
The winners of the Nassau County championships will compete against Suffolk County teams on Saturday, June 19.