Joey Spallina, Mount Sinai High, Wins Lacrosse Showcase MVP Award

Attackman Joey Spallina of Mount Sinai High School, with four goals and four assists, and goalie Luke Lamendola of Northport High School, with 10 saves in the second half, were named co-winners of the James C. Metzger Most Valuable Player Award in Suffolk County’s 15-11 win over Nassau County in the Rising Seniors game of the 2021 Long Island Lacrosse Showcase. The game was held at Farmingdale High School on July 2 with the winning team capturing the inaugural Metzger Cup.

Spallina and Lamendola received the MVP awards and coaches Larry Cerasi of Northport High School and Dom Denning of Sachem East High School accepted the game cup from former lacrosse player, business owner and community contributor James C. Metzger. Cerasi (2003) and Metzger (1977) are recipients of the coveted annual Lt. Ray Enners Award that is presented to the outstanding Suffolk County high school lacrosse player.

For more than 10 ten years, the Long Island Lacrosse Showcase for boys attending public high schools has been recognized as the premier event that allows players to display their talent for college coaches. Players also compete for roster spots to represent their county at the Long Island Showcase Nassau versus Suffolk games and then regional competition.

This year, the Nassau versus Suffolk games introduced the Metzger Cup for the winning teams and the James C. Metzger Most Valuable Player awards for outstanding players. The cup at each of the four games – Rising Freshmen, Rising Sophomores, Rising Juniors, and Rising Seniors -- was presented by the lacrosse, football and basketball standout at Half Hollow Hills East and lacrosse All-American at Hofstra University during the 1970s. Metzger, a lacrosse benefactor for youth, high school and college programs on Long Island, is founder and CEO of The Whitmore Agency, one of the largest independent insurance and financial firms in the New York metropolitan area with offices in Garden City.

Showcase Format

The Long Island Lacrosse Showcase format originally was featured in the former New York Empire State Games. The Nassau County Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association recreated the format during 2009.

Players from public high schools compete during tryout rounds to determine the top players at each grade level. Fifty players in each county for each grade level are selected to compete in the Final 50 games. The players selected from the Final 50 games represent their county at their grade level at the Long Island Lacrosse Showcase Nassau versus Suffolk Games. Players for these games also earn roster spots to represent their county at the New York State Regional Championships held during the summer.