By Michael J. Lewis
“We can’t all be heroes,” the famous writer and humorist Will Rogers once said, “because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by.”
On a sun-splashed holiday Monday afternoon, the newest heroes of Manhasset heard applause from hundreds of residents standing on the curb as a parade honoring them drove through town.
The Manhasset boys and girls lacrosse teams, fresh off their June 11 state Class C championship wins, were honored by Nassau County and the Town of North Hempstead with a pull-out-all-the-stops parade and celebration.
Riding in the flatbeds of four trucks from the high school parking lot, down Plandome Road and past local landmarks like Orlando’s Deli and Gino’s Pizza, the victorious players soaked in the love from little kids, senior citizens, and everyone in between.
“You dream about that moment since you’re a little kid,” said senior Hunter Panzik, who was leaving the next day after the parade to start life in the Air Force Academy. “To have it all happen and so many people came out and cheering, it was so great.”
Everywhere you looked there were signposts of Manhasset’s love of lacrosse, its past here and its future. Along with the four trucks carrying the players, there were bagpipers, fire engines and police cars, sirens blaring, the only thing louder than the cheers.
There were seven young boys, flanked by girls head coach Meg Clarke and boys head coach Keith Cromwell, carrying a banner down the street that read “Titletown.” Future Manhasset Indian lacrosse players, in all likelihood.
There were members of older generations, talking about former Indians lacrosse superstars like Vinnie Sombrotto.
And there were dozens of community members wearing Manhasset lacrosse shirts with the numbers 4 and 44 on the back, along with the initials RK, MF and JF, honoring the three young men and former Manhasset lacrosse players who were killed in a car accident last summer, Ryan Kiess, James Farrell and Michael Farrell.
As the trucks rolled through town, most of the players on both teams had wide-eyed expressions on their faces, soaking in the moment and looking a little shell-shocked as their friends and neighbors honored them. Every player wore a state championship T-shirt and whooped and hollered and pointed at people they knew in the crowd.
The celebration of the teams’ accomplishments was the second sports parade in town in 2022, following the celebration of the state-championship-winning boys basketball team in March.
“Weren’t we just here a month and a half ago?” joked Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who presided over a short ceremony, along with other dignitaries like Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena, following the parade that saw the players get official county citations for their achievements.
Later, Blakeman, with the players on both teams sitting behind him, reminded them to take a moment and thank all those who helped them get there.
“You had a parent, a sibling, a teacher, a coach, a mentor that took part in your success,” Blakeman said. “So when we conclude today, take a moment out and say thank you, because if it wasn’t for their support, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
For the players, Monday’s celebration was one final get-together of the 2022 season, one more chance to be with their brothers and sisters who they’d sweated with through long practices for months and months.
And also, it put an exclamation point on an incredible sports year for the town, following the tragedy last summer that touched so many.
“It’s so special,” said junior Alexandra Schneider. “The sport of lacrosse is so important here, and to have them do this for us and give us a chance to celebrate is really great.”
“It’s good to get back with all the boys and celebrate,” said Manhasset junior Cal Girard. “We’d been talking about this all season, about being brothers and getting to this point. And having a day like this, it makes you definitely hungry to win another (championship) next year.”
