By Bridget Letukas
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/20/11
Senior All-American long stick midfielder Brian Karalunas will pretty much try anything.
Whether it’s sports, food, community service or a career choice, the affable Villanova standout keeps an open mind when it comes to just about everything.
Karalunas’ willingness to give things a go has resulted in a multitude of diverse honors and experiences for the Phillyllacrosse.com Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
After being named the 2010-2011 American Eagle Outfitters Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the 2010 Big East Scholar-Athlete Excellence Award Winner, Karalunas opens up his final year as a Wildcat as a 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Candidate, as well as a 2011 All-Big East Preseason Team pick.
But Karalunus’ successes extend far off the lacrosse field, where he has helped his team get off to a 7-1 start and national ranking of 15 (expected to move up this week).
In fact, the Honors Philosophy Major spends one day a week at Graterford Prison, where he works with inmates a part of a restorative justice class.
“It’s been a great experience,” says Karalunas. “I’ve learned so much.”
As a top-notch student and outstanding athlete who has a strong interest in community development, Karalunas has learned is to balance his active calendar.
“I think in general, I try to look at things with an even head,” said the Jamesville-DeWitt (N.Y.) graduate. “If you focus on one thing at a time, things work out.”
For the 2010 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and his squad, the focus right now is the team goal of winning the Big East Conference and reaching the NCAA Tournament in May.
Karalunas, whose interests range from being a “big backyard football guy” to reading, movies, and “good food”, has confidence in the group that is also willing to give anything a try ~ including blaring techno music in the locker room.
“We’re definitely a strange crew,” he laughs as he discussed his close-knit Wildcat teammates. “But it works. We get along really well.”
