Kentucky Lacrosse

	Written by Trey Adams According to the Kentucky Lacrosse Association Saint Xavier team page, Junior Chase Carraro, #23 in the gold and green, scored 45 goals, accomplished 13 assists, and picked up 93 ground balls for his team in just twelve of his total varsity lacrosse games this season. A young man with an incredible passion for the game, Chase claims that the spirit of teamwork, camraderie, and sportsmanship that defines the Saint Xavier program has been the greatest contributor to both his personal and the team's universal success this season. But, Chase remarks that he wasn't born with a stick in his hand and the sport found him through the tutelage of his older brother. "My brother played lacrosse before I did. I can remember in the 7th grade--we would catch and throw--he with his stick and me with my baseball glove. I played on an AAU baseball team that year." Chase's curiosity with the sport of his older brother quickly progressed from using a baseball glove to his brother's old lacrosse sticks and eventually a stick he could call his own. He recalls playing in a summer league in middle school and scoring three goals and how the excitement and adventure of those first games secured it for him; there was no going back to baseball. He was a lacrosse player. Chase credits Tom Bresnahan and the KLA Mohawks with his first solid coaching and team experience. "That was my first year of organized lacrosse." While he learned his early footwork and stickwork "on-the-fly" or self-taught in the front yard, Chase remembers how much fun his first team experience with the Mohawks was and says it helped him develop an understanding of what it means to be on a team and the challenges teams face. "Lacrosse takes time; it's about trial and error," Chase asserted. Coach Tom Bresnahan recalled a large team of 31 players--all of whom were vying for playing time, "All the kids wanted to play all the time, but I consistently asked them to be unselfish, think of their teammates and work with me to help us be better as a group. Among that team were a handful of natural leaders, and Chase was one of our top two or three. He was a tremendously unselfish player. He was an eager listener and learner." The team went on to complete a winning season--losing only twice to Louisville Collegiate. The new competitions proved to be too enticing an adventure to give up as Chase transitioned to Saint Xavier High School where this season he was recognized as the teams Most Valuable Player. When notified of Chase's success as a player, Coach Bresnahan commented, "it doesn't surprise me in the least that [Chase] has reached such a high level of performance; he is a young man that is capable of going as far as he is willing to push himself." The "team concept" is one that is close to Chase's heart and guides his actions. "There are lots of games and goals and memories that I have about our competitive season, but the Spring Break trip is my favorite memory of the past year." This year Saint Xavier's lacrosse team traveled to Virginia Beach and Charlottesville, Virginia to play several competitive teams in the pre-season. They lost to the Virginia state champions, St. Anne's Belfield but downed both Norfolk Collegiate and Bishop Sullivan while playing outside of the state. And, even though Chase was a scoring leader for those games, he most recalls the team dynamic. "We became very close as a result of that trip. Freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior, we are all like a family." This concept translated to Chase's performance on the field as he worked within his team as a member of a unit as opposed to isolated figurehead. He supported his team as they supported him. Coach Scott Howe states, "Chase respects the history and nature of the game. He plays hard, and he lets his play do the talking. His work ethic sets a tone for others to aspire to, and the coaches point to it as an example." About the championship game against Lexington Catholic High School, Chase remarked, "Every goal brought it together--closer to our goal for the season, but we only played well this year because we believed in each other." Receipt of the US Lacrosse All-American Honor as a senior is a feat, but as a junior it is nearly unheard of. Chase Carraro accomplished this honor but willingly and determinedly shares this moment with his Saint Xavier team--an extended family. A young man of talent, integrity, and heart, Chase should be proud of his accomplishments as the Kentucky Lacrosse Association takes pride in his success and that of Coach Howe's team. While Chase plans to spend his summer participating in the Gait Lacrosse Cup and the Jake Reed Nike Blue Chip Camp among others, he has hopes for taking his lacrosse adventures to the next level and playing for a Division I school one day. "Sure, I'd love to play at Ohio State or other division one school, but there's something about being in front of a home town crowd at Bellarmine that would be equally as exciting." Final thoughts for those who aspire to be All-Americans? Chase says, your team comes first and have patience. "You can be as good as you want to be in lacrosse. It just takes time. Every chance you get, pick up your stick. Every day or almost every day you have to play the game. Players who love the sport get better because they practice." Coach Howe said, "Chase is an intense competitor who never stops working to get better. I have to drag him off the field after practice as he wants to continue shooting and working with our goalies. He's usually the last guy off the field each day. Any drills we do he will usually do two for everybody's one go, and he can run all day." To be Chase? Love lacrosse, love your team, and most of all, love the work brings them both together. Congratulations to Chase Carraro, 2008 US Lacrosse All-American and Saint Xavier High School, the 2008 KLA Division I State Champions!