Male Student-Athlete: Falk, Upper Darby held heads high despite hard knocks

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/31/08

In his four years as a starter at Upper Darby, Peter Falk and the Royals won just four games in the powerful Central League.

But he will graduate in two weeks with only fond memories of his scholastic lacrosse career.

“I haven’t seen a guy give up all season,” said Falk, the Laxzilla/Phillylacrosse.com Male Student-Athlete of the Week. “That’s amazing, especially considering the teams we play. We could get blown out, but everyone keeps working hard.

“All it takes is hustle, and that’s what we do. We’re able to keep up with the teams in our league and that is an accomplishment.”

Falk, a two-year captain, will graduate June 12 with many accomplishments. He is ranked 43rd in a class of 857 and is walking on at Division I power Drexel where he will major in engineering.

A member of the national Honor Society, Falk also played three years of varsity soccer and gave freshmen tours for the Royal Orientation program. On the field, he was an all-Central League second-team pick the past two years at midfield.

“Basically my job as a captain was to support the guys,” he said. “Whenever they made a good play, I called them on it. This was something I learned from the captains before me.”

What did Falk learn in his four years at Upper Darby, a school recognized for its diversity?

“Lacrosse-wise, I learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover,” he said. “Some guys walk in and don’t look like anything and then end up being the best goal scorer or the best defensive player. You never can tell what people can do when they work hard.

“Academically, it’s a great school. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Not only do you learn in the classroom, you learn in the hallways.

“You can see a kid and not understand a word they are saying. Then you see them on the field and they are working hard and helping you out.”