By Molly Tow
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/18/11
Malvern Prep rising senior midfielder Graeme Weaver has made a commitment to play Division III lacrosse at Washington and Lee University.
Weaver was a Gait Fab 40 selection in 2010 and 2011 at the Philly Showcase, and helped Malvern Prep place second in the Inter-Ac League with a record of 5-3 (14-6 overall).
Weaver, who plays club lacrosse for HEADstrong, is also in the National Art Honor Society at Malvern Prep, and is a co-captain for the 2012 lacrosse season.
Weaver plans to major in Business at Washington and Lee, which went 9-8 overall this year as a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
“I chose Washington and Lee because it was the perfect fit for me,” said Weaver. “I knew I did not want to play Division I, and I wanted a prestigious academic school with a highly competitive lacrosse program.
“Coach [Gene] McCabe, Coach [Nat] St. Laurent, Coach [Mike] Kruger and all the players really made me feel like I was part of the team when I visited. The facilities are incredible, and I knew I wanted to go there as soon as I stepped foot on the campus.”
Other Malvern Prep players that have made commitments to play college lacrosse are midfielder P.J. Finley and defenseman Jack Sheridan (Notre Dame), midfielder Russell Atkinson and LSM/defenseman Kevin Samolsky (Navy) and defenseman Eddie Morris (Johns Hopkins).
The Friars reached the Inter-Ac Invitational championship, but endured a one-goal loss to the Haverford School. Weaver is disappointed with result, but feels that it was the coaching staff that pushed the team to go as far as it did.
“The 2011 season was overall a success,” said Weaver. “Coach [David] Metzbower and the rest of the coaching staff really allowed us to compete at the highest level all year long. The loss to Haverford in the championship was heartbreaking, and all the returning players took that feeling with us going forward into this year.”
Falling to Haverford was a trying experience for Weaver, who was sidelined with injury. But for a true competitor like Weaver, the frustration fueled him to come back even stronger for his senior year.
“It was especially difficult for me because I broke my arm in practice two days prior to the game,” said Weaver. “Watching that loss from the sidelines only gave me more drive for the 2012 season.”
“Our goal in the 2012 season is to win the Inter-Ac,” added Weaver. “An Inter-Ac title is the only thing on our minds, and we certainly have the talent and will to do it.”
Weaver wished to thank Metzbower and former Malvern Prep coach John McEvoy for helping him through recruiting, and his parents for the opportunities and support they have given him through this process.
