By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/24/11
Berks Catholic senior attack Sawyer Butto, who also plays for the Phantastix club team, has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Sacred Heart University.
Berks Catholic was formed this year when Reading’s Holy Name and Central Catholic schools merged.
Sawyer Butto log:
High School: Berks Catholic
Graduation Year: 2012
Position: Attack
College Choice: Sacred heart University
Club Affiliation: Phantastix
Major lacrosse honors: Four-year starter, 70 career goals, 2nd Team All-Berks in 2011.
Academic honors: Honors and AP classes, Yearbook Student Life Editor and Assistant for Ads/Marketing, Senior Berks Encore Volunteer, Volunteer for John Paul II Learning Center for the Disabled, Organized tutoring program for students with disabilities and at-risk students.
What will you major in/study? Pre-law
Why did you choose school? “SHU has an excellent pre-law program and academics is No. 1 for sure. Then, of course the lax program. It had everything in a team and coach I was looking for: a comprehensive training program. This is a team with a lot of heart; girls who were serious about their class work, coaches that really took the time to care who I was and what I could bring to the team and would push me to that next level of play. I love the fact it is a medium size school and yes, that it is based on Catholicism. It’s all I ever knew and I have had great experiences both academically and with the sports I have played.”
What is your HS team’s outlook for next year? “That’s easy … to go all the way and have a blast doing it. We have worked really hard for the past three years to become a highly respected competitor among Berks County. Since this my senior year I want to go all out and create memories that will stay with me and all of my teammates!”
Other comments: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank my Mom and Dad. My Dad put my first stick in my hand, bought me a net and took me to a team just learning the game. Since that season, It has been a whirlwind of teams and tournaments. My Mom, well we are best friends. She has taken me on so many road trips and hotels and good times. I will miss that part of this journey. But the discipline, the camaraderie, the dedication to become a real player has defined who I am today. And I have to thank both of them for indulging me with every piece of lax wear and gear I just had to have (I am a lax junkie). They just never said no. Oh, and cannot forget my lax bro (literally), McCale. He taught me how to catch and throw on the beach day after day; no sympathy. And thanks to my younger sister who is in eighth grade and has a harder shot than I do. I had to keep getting better just to keep up with my siblings!
“I also thank my Dad, Mike Butto and Dave Waligurski for going through all the obstacles and craziness to start the first boys’ and girls’ youth, middle and high school programs for Holy Name Lacrosse (now Berks Catholic). They were not going to stop until we were on a field and in that uniform!
“I also have to thank my high school coaches Andi and Josh Ditsky for giving me the push to have solid and attainable dreams in lacrosse; more amazing goals than I ever thought possible. They gave me the opportunity to become such a better player under their direction, kindness, and long chats about my playing ability, teamwork, and developing as a person, not just a player. They made me truly fall in love with Lax and all it could offer to my life.
