Post date: Mar 26, 2018 6:03:23 PM
High school is a time for kids to do some self-discovery, learn what they love, and participate in activities, whether they be clubs, sports, or service trips. However, for a very small population of high schoolers, it is a time to prove to colleges why they belong on one of their elite sports teams.
Max Persico, a senior at Iona Prep, is currently committed to play Men’s Division 1 lacrosse at Bryant University. Starting at the age of eight, and playing ever since, Max has proven himself worthy of attention both in the classroom and on the field.
Recruited in 8th grade to play at Iona by Coach Trizano, Max immediately stood out as a must-watch player who could defend against nearly every opponent who came at him, earning him a spot on the varsity team as a freshman.
For the past three years, Max has continued to impress all of his viewers, steadily improving his already exceptional skillset. “I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside a lot of Division 1 talent since my freshman year, and with the schedule we’ve played, I’ve had the opportunity to match up against and guard a lot of talented players, which has helped me develop a lot,” explained Persico when asked how his high school experience has allowed him to grow.
Luckily for Persico, Coach Trizano worked hard to get him to Iona, a place where Max has felt he has been able to grow and develop in ways he couldn’t previously have imagined. Named varsity captain for the second straight year, Persico has taken on the role of a leader, and has therefore been put in a position to succeed, as well as to learn about the team around him, so that he can help them improve.
Additionally, Max believes that his time as a varsity athlete has enabled him to develop off the field. Stressing the importance of skills such as paying attention to detail, holding himself accountable for mistakes, and working with people who have different personalities and attitudes, Persico understands that he has grown as a person and will continue to do so with real life application of these tendencies.
However, the road to success did not come easily. He admits that both he and his parents had to sacrifice a lot of time, energy, and effort to get to where he is today. Furthermore, Max, although talented, is considered small for his position and sport. Coming in at around 5’8”, he is at a strong disadvantage when facing typical Division I athletes who are around 6’1”.
Despite all this, Max has managed to prove his worth, and he believes that his story is one to be learned from. When asked if there was anything someone could take away from his journey, Persico responded, “If someone could take one thing from my lacrosse career this far...probably that size is not imperative to success.” He furthered explained that if you are willing to work as hard as you, you can accomplish practically anything. However, if you complain about being disadvantaged, and make excuses, you will not get anywhere.
“If you work hard you can overcome anything” said Persico; his journey is nothing but proof of this.
--Quinn Degen '20