Although senior midfielder Gavin Serafini only started playing lacrosse during his freshman year of high school, his hard work and dedication led him to become a captain of the team his senior year.
Baldwin boys lacrosse struggled last year, finishing with an 0-17 record. Serafini’s goal has been to make serious improvements this year.
“I want to be able to stay in more games so we can eventually come out with some hard-fought wins,” he said.
It was very hard to stay motivated as a team last year, but Serafini and other teammates did not want it to happen again.
“We continued working hard to build for a better year, and although the record doesn’t show it, we have made giant improvements from last year as a team,” Serafini said.
The team is 1-11 this year and hopes to close out the year on a high note.
“I hope we can win our last few games so the rest of the seniors and I can end our lacrosse careers with a good taste in our mouths,” Serafini said.
Serafini has helped the team by scoring four goals so far this season and facilitating offense as a midfielder. Another thing that makes Serafini stand out is his natural skill, his teammates say.
“His skill in general makes him stand out. He has only played for four years but is one of the best players on the whole team,” senior Cenzo Pacella said.
Serafini’s friends are the real reason he got into lacrosse and why he has stuck with it through high school.
“My friends who played in middle school told me to play in high school, so I guess they are the ones who really got me into it, and I should thank them for all the fun I have had playing,” Serafini said.
Those friends and teammates are the reason he is still playing.
“Coming to practices and games every day and making more memories with my teammates is what keeps me loving the sport,” Serafini said.
Some of Serafini’s best moments have come from his club team, Drifters.
“My favorite memory was when my club team made it to the championship round, even though we did not win. It was a great feeling making it that far in a tournament,” Serafini said.
That club experience has made him a more versatile player.
“I play attack for my club team and midfield for Baldwin. I think that gives me a better understanding of the game,” Serafini said.
There are also qualities that Serafini has that make him a great leader in the locker room as well as on the field.
“He has excellent communication skills and an ability to unite the team. He can motivate the team and he has a really strong, positive influence on us,” junior defenseman Evan Szpara said.
Szpara said Gavin is really dependable as a leader.
“Gavin as a leader is strong and always there if something doesn’t go our way. Whenever we are down, we can always look at him to bring up the team,” Szpara said.
Serafini does not plan to play lacrosse in college but is satisfied with the connections and memories he has made along the way.
“I do not plan on playing at the next level, but I am very proud and happy I played for Baldwin all four years of high school,” he said. “I made some of my best friends and best memories playing high school lacrosse.”
