By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/19/09
Unionville face-off specialist/midfielder Grady Stevens has signed a letter of intent to
play next year at Johns Hopkins.
Stevens, a first-team All-Ches-Mont League pick last season, will be a third-generation Blue Jay.
“My father and grandfather both went to Hopkins,” said Stevens, a second-team All-Phillylacrosse.com choice in 2008. “Since I was a little kid, I knew about Hopkins and I always wanted to play there,
“When I went to a tournament this fall, coach (Dave) Pietramala saw me and then contacted me and it just worked out.”
Stevens plans to major in philosophy and psychology and perhaps become a college professor.
“I love the campus,” he said. “You’re in the city, but when you’re on campus you feel so isolated. Plus, there is so much to do in Baltimore.”
The main thing Stevens will be doing in Baltimore is taking face-offs. Last year he won over 75 percent of his draws and was recruited to do just that.
“The fact that I’m a wrestler helps me out,” he said. “I listen to the whistle and have good anticipation. I also have the understanding that you need to have more than one move to go to.”
Stevens said he’s been taking the face-offs for years, but never dreamed he could parlay that talent to make it to Division I lacrosse.
“Yeah, I guess pretty much have taken face-offs my whole life,” he said. “I never really thought about doing that as my ‘thing,’ until my sophomore year when I figured I had the knack for it.”
Stevens also is excited about his final year at Unionville. The Indians, he believes, are capable of challenging for the Ches-Mont League crown and making some noise in District 1.
“This is probably going to be the year,” he said. “We have two great returning defenseman in (Jon) Gill and (Joe) Lisicky (both headed to Lynchburg) and our midfield has so much depth that we haven’t had in recent years.”
