Episcopal Academy senior defenseman Craft feels a connection to UMass

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, posted 10/6/09

Episcopal Academy senior defenseman Bryson Craft has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts.

Craft plans to major in sports management and perhaps become a college coach.

“The coaches there were great and there was something with the players and coaches I hadn’t experienced in any other school,” said Craft, who earned Honor Roll as a junior at EA. “Immediately, I felt connected.”

Craft noted that the UMass hometown of Amherst is known as the “Five-College” area with Smith College, Amherst, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire College all nearby, was a draw.

“Amherst was voted the No. 1 college town,” he said. “That came out right after I committed.”

Craft played at the Westtown School as a freshman and transferred to Episcopal as a sophomore. Last year he hoped for a big season, but broke his fibula and tore a muscle in his ankle the day before the season began during a fluke practice collision.

He missed all but the final seven games of the year and was not 100 percent when he came back, but was pleased to help EA compete in the inaugural Inter-Ac League championship tournament.

Later, in June, Craft played in the Philly Showcase at Haverford College and during the summer he played for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club, helping the team win a fourth straight Champ Camp crown.

Craft is playing soccer and also rehabbing his ankle to regain the fast twitch muscle. He used to wrestle, but will take off in the winter to train for the lacrosse season.

Craft is optimistic for the 2010 campaign. He expects the Churchmen to again contend in the Inter-Ac; last year they placed third with a strong 5-3 record, which included wins over co-champions Haverford School and Malvern Prep.

“I am excited for the season to start,” he said. “We have a lot returning on defense. We lost an amazing goalie (Matt Lerman, a freshman at Syracuse), but I feel like we have the potential.”

Seniors can sign a National Letter of Intent during the early-signing period Nov. 11-18.