Sachem North boys lacrosse is no stranger to college lacrosse commitments and signings. The program has sent more student-athletes to college for its sport than any other in the Sachem Central School District over the last decade.
The last three seasons, however, have seen an uptick in the amount of Division I signees coming out of Sachem. James Avanzato is the latest to commit to a major Division I program. He’ll take his talents to the University of Maryland, a perennial contender for a national title and Big 10 power.
Avanzato, who plays football and basketball at Sachem, was also considering Hofstra and Penn State. As an incoming sophomore, he is the youngest athlete currently in Sachem to make a commitment to a college.
“James is a very good athlete with a high skill level,” said Sachem coach Jay Mauro. “He plays three sports, which I believe always helps a lacrosse player, and he’s a good kid who plays the game with great energy and hustle.”
He chose Maryland because of its strong academic standing, “and a chance to win a national title every year.”
Maryland’s coaches liked Avanzato’s versatility to play both attack and midfield, which will increase his chance to get on the field.
With three years of varsity lacrosse still left in his career, he hopes to guide Sachem in its cause to win more Suffolk County, Long Island and New York State crowns.
He learned a great deal as a freshman from a number of graduating seniors, especially Penn State-bound Mike Aronow.
“He is the definition of a leader and was our hardest worker,” he said. “Joe Caridi and Jimmy Hoffman also expressed their faith in my ability as a lacrosse player and encouraged me to be my best.”
With Avanzato headed to Maryland, current Sachem goalie Jacob Giacalone verbally committed to Johns Hopkins, Hoffman en route to West Point, and a number of Division I talent flying through the Sachem roster, the program is seeing an influx of highly talented individuals.
“We think with all the high profile signings, if you want to call it that, it shows how far the program has come in 10 years since the split,” Mauro said. “The hard work of everyone involved has really paid off.”
Mauro doesn’t care what level the kids play at, he said, as long as they’re happy and enjoying four years of college lacrosse – if they choose – while getting an education, which is most important.
“We get the same feeling in our stomach when a kid tells us he is committing to a place,” he said. “We don’t care the level, just that he’s happy! This game has done it for us and we believe as a program we owe it to the kids who are coming through. Hopefully we can keep it going and eventually get to our ultimate goal of winning a state championship. We won’t stop until we reach our goal and once we do, which we will, we will continue to work to stay at that level!”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro