Colton Teilelbaum Wins James C. Metzger Lacrosse Award

The annual James C. Metzger Leadership Award for Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse was presented to one player on each of the six teams that competed in the finals of the 2019 Section VIII Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse championships.

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.

One of the six award recipients is Colton Teilelbaum, Locust Valley High School senior goalie. Teilelbaum is committed to Loyola University and will major in business.

“I chose Loyola,” said Teilelbaum, “because of its academic and athletic reputations. But, in the end, the coaching staff was the real catalyst in my decision.”

The lacrosse championships were held on Tuesday, May 28, at Hofstra University. The participating high school teams were:

• CLASS A – Massapequa versus Syosset with Massapequa the winner 11-8

• CLASS B – Manhasset versus Garden City with Manhasset the winner 6-5 in double overtime

• CLASS C – Cold Spring Harbor versus Locust Valley with Cold Spring Harbor the winner 15-9

The awards were presented by 1970s Long Island lacrosse stars James C. Metzger and Vincent J. Sombrotto.

Metzger 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. 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 is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.

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.

Sombrotto attended Chaminade High School in Mineola and was a Hofstra University All-American midfielder. He was named to the 1982 All-World Team and is a member of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Sombrotto is a senior vice president at The Whitmore Group.