The 2009 US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase -- an all-star event featuring the nation's top high school boys' lacrosse seniors representing North, South, East and West regions -- is this weekend at Bryant University in Providence, R.I. Check back to LMO for coverage all week and from the event.
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NSS Profile: Storybook Ending Is Just Wright
by Paul Ohanian | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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| Hofstra-bound Austin Wright led Kilbourne to its first Ohio state championship in boys' lacrosse. He'll play for the North Saturday in the USL National Senior Showcase. |
There's not much that midfielder Austin Wright didn't accomplish
on the lacrosse field in 2009.
He was selected as an All-American, recognized as an All-Ohio
first team player, and chosen as one of the nation's top seniors to
compete in the US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase on Saturday at
Bryant University in Providence, R.I.
But Wright is proudest of something he couldn't achieve alone -- a
first-ever state championship for the Worthington Kilbourne boys'
lacrosse team.
The Wolves began playing lacrosse in 1992, and despite successes
that included three state runner-up finishes and several state
semifinal berths over 17 years, they had never beaten Ohio
powerhouse Upper Arlington and were never the last team standing.
Until this year.
Spurred by Wright's man-up goal that jumpstarted the team's third
quarter comeback in the state final, Worthington Kilbourne defeated
nemisis Upper Arlington 7-6 to claim the 2009 championship.
"That was a big goal for us," said co-head coach Jon Ewert, who
helped lead Kilbourne to a 21-2 finish. "It started the run."
Upper Arlington was the five-time defending Ohio champion and had
defeated Kilbourne 11-3 in last year's final. But with renewed
confidence spurred in part by a 10-8 win over UA during the regular
season, the Wolves believed that the outcome in the final could be
different this time.
"It was almost like a storybook ending," said Wright. "Beating UA
twice was great."
And chances are, if the versatile Wright hadn't initiated the
championship comeback with a goal, he would have found some other
way to change the momentum.
A four-year varsity letterman and three-year starter, Wright
filled many roles for the Wolves throughout his career.
He served as the team's number one faceoff man each of the past
two seasons, and rotated between playing on attack and midfield,
depending on the team's needs. He's got the ability to drive to the
cage from up top, and is equally adept at setting up teammates as
he is in creating chances for himself.
He also stays just as busy off the field as the team's designated
stick doctor. Some nights, he takes as many as four teammates'
sticks home to be reworked. That's if he has time in between giving
pointers to the younger neighborhood kids who congregate at his
house.
"He's been a great leader for this team," said Ewert. "He takes
great interest in helping the younger kids."
For the first time in years, Wright did not indulge his other love
this past winter -- ice hockey. Instead of spending time on skates,
he spent countless hours working with junior goalie Cole Horwatt,
repeatedly showering the new starter with shots to get him
acclimated to the varsity game. In the process, Wright further
strengthened his own shooting skills.
"All that shooting definitely helped me as well as helped him,"
said Wright. "We plan on getting back to that routine this
summer."
Now that the storybook high school ending has been written, Wright
is eager to begin work on the collegiate chapter. He realizes that
there's still work to do before he arrives at Hofstra in the
fall.
"I think I'm a good offensive player, but I know there's still
room for improvement," said Wright. "I'm still working on my
off-hand and on getting stronger."
While he proudly boasts that the caliber of play in Ohio is
improving -- Wright is one of six Kilbourne players headed for NCAA
Division I programs -- he's also eager to test his skills against
the quality players gathering for this week's NSS All-Star
Game.
"I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun," he said.
