During the 2020-2021 school year, the Comsewogue Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team took home the Suffolk Class B crown championship win- the first win for the team since eleven years ago, back in 2010. Such success was a major impressive feat, considering all the hard work and dedication needed.

Matthew Sparhuber, a returning starter from last year’s roster, is very proud of his team. He thought that their success was because “Our team from last season had a very strong senior class; they were playing together since they were in kindergarten, and they grew up as best friends all throughout their lives. So, they all knew how each other played.”

The head coach of the team, Pete Mitchell, couldn’t agree more. “The kids played together for a really long time all through the youth league; they had tremendous chemistry. The team worked hard in the off-season as well.”

Many of the players were on the varsity team since freshman year. Many of the players were, and still are, good friends out of school, not just on the field. However, the most important part of a team, according to Matthew, is “how closely knit the group of guys are.” Coach Mitchell thinks it is “To be unselfish, to believe in a common goal, and to play with the attitude: there is no ‘I’ in team. And then getting all the players to buy into a team concept. And also we have a saying: ‘Respect all, fear none.’ To play the game the right way. We’ll play anybody as hard as we possibly can.” Wise words.

However, as the 2021-2022 season approaches closer and closer, a big majority of previous players won't be out on the field. This will definitely cause some changes. However, Coach Mitchell thinks of this as not a big problem at all. He thought, “Well, I do have a lot of returning players that played with that group and therefore learned from them how to leap to take responsibility. This year, our leaders/captains will be Matt Sparhuber, Kevin Radmann, and Michael Katz. For example, we were very successful playing against some of the top teams with a very young team we have this year. Very impressed with the boys on how they competed and worked so hard. I’m looking forward to a very successful season.” Matthew commented, “I think it is definitely going to be different for the remaining players. Us three returning starters from last year will now have to lead the team with the stuff we learned from the seniors last year.”

Optimism is key, as well as confidence. Matthew said that the team, “now knows what it takes to win. We have been through the playoffs, and we now know how hard we have to practice and prepare for each game.” As the old saying goes, practice does make perfect. They have years of experience.

Being a Coach, Mr. Mitchell says he holds heavy responsibility on the kids, both on and off the turf. He believes that “The first thing that comes to mind is to have the boys be disciplined in and out of the classroom. Instilling a hard work ethic, and I'm basically holding the team accountable for their grades in school, and how they act when not on the field. This and, at the same time, caring about each individual player and treating the team as if they were part of my own family. Discipline organization is the key to being a successful coach.”

He also believes that it is important to be role models to the younger, ambitious players. “Anytime your team is successful, all the youth league/younger players will want to strive to be like those guys. Their example was very good; they were excellent role models. It helps younger teams because they now know what it takes to see the hard work, and what it takes to be successful.”

Best of luck for their upcoming season. It is not an easy task to win the Long Island, or even State, championship. But one thing is for certain- “We have to keep the seniors legacy.”