Reed Tansill Wins James C. Metzger Lacrosse Award

The third 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 last week in the finals of the 2016 Section VIII Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse championship.

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 was Locust Valley High School senior defender Reed Tansill, whose strengths include speed, hustle, aggressive ground ball play and good open field vision.

The matches were held on Tuesday, May 31, at Hofstra University. The participating high school teams were:

• CLASS A – Syosset versus Massapequa with Syosset the winner 18-12

• CLASS B – Garden City versus Manhasset with Garden City the winner 7-5

• CLASS C – Locust Valley versus Cold Spring Harbor with Cold Spring Harbor the winner 17-9

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 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. He also is the lead supporter for the recently dedicated new sports facility at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington. 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.