DeMeireles Taking Syosset Memories to Ivy League

The next time lacrosse defenseman Alirio DeMeireles steps on a lacrosse field, he’ll be a Bulldog, not a Brave.

After spending four years as a starter on the varsity team at High School, DeMeireles will be taking his talents next year to Yale University to play for coach Andy Shay. Although he’ll have on different colors, his heart won’t ever be far from the white and red jersey that he made his name in.

There was no adjustment period for DeMeireles at Syosset - success came early and never let up. While this may have intimidated some freshmen, he took it in stride. Before he took his first high school final exam, DeMeireles found himself playing for a state championship. He now speaks fondly of that championship run, calling it his best memory as a Brave.

“We had lost our last regular season game to Oceanside by 12 goals and we were expected to lose to them in the quarterfinals,” DeMeireles said. “Somehow, we ended up beating them and so began our championship run.

Syosset went on to beat West Islip and Yorktown, and even though they lost the championship to West Genesee, he said "those memories will be with me for my entire life.”

The experience of playing for coach John Calabria will also be something that will stick with DeMeireles for his entire life.

“I learned as much about life as I did lacrosse,” DeMeireles said. "Coach (Calabria) is one of the best motivators I have ever met in my 18 years; he knows how to get his players to always put forth their best effort.”

One of Calabria’s main objectives is to build a team that thrives off camaraderie. His focus on trust and brotherhood not only helps the Braves on the field, but leads to friendships off it. Despite all the wins and personal accomplishments, DeMeireles said that he will miss his teammates most of all.

“You can’t really understand the bond you form with your teammates unless you have played a varsity sport,”  DeMeireles said. “There is simply nothing like it.”

Many of those teammates will be back next season, as Syosset returns thirteen juniors from a team that lost in in May. DeMeireles has high hopes for the 2012 Braves Lacrosse team.

“Syosset has several high caliber players returning, as well as a large pool of talented underclassmen,” DeMeireles said. “That, coupled with the fact that the usual powerhouses (Farmingdale, Massapequa) graduate the majority of their star players puts Syosset in a very promising position.”

But as the Braves try to find their way back to a state championship, DeMeireles will be trying to make his name in the Ivy League. Last season, Yale finished 3-3 in league play and 10-4 overall.

Success came quickly at Syosset, and DeMeireles can only hope for the same result at Yale.