Newsday Athlete of the Week is Half Hollow Hills' James Bruno
James Bruno scored 106 goals, the most in a single season on LI. Credit: Jonathan Singh
Many athletes want to win a state championship for their own personal satisfaction, but for James Bruno, winning the title with his Half Hollow Hills teammates and closest friends means the world to him.
"We have been together for 13 years. Our dads coached us from kindergarten till eighth grade, and when we went to high school, we didn't skip a beat," Bruno said on Thursday, two days before Hills West played in the state final. "It's bigger than me. Hills lacrosse holds a special place in my heart, and playing with these guys is the best joy in the world."
After losing in the Long Island Class A boys lacrosse final last year against Farmingdale, Bruno was down on himself, but he couldn't let the loss get to him, so he took time during the offseason to train to get where he is now refusing to let his teammates down.
"The loss in the LIC last season drove a pain in me I never want to feel again," Bruno said. "As the fall and winter picked up, I started going to the gym a lot more. I grabbed a stick every day and worked on my shooting nonstop."
His hard work paid off.
On Saturday, Bruno scored two goals in a 15-10 victory against West Genesee to capture Hills’ first state title in program history at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva.
"Going into the season, we expected to be in this position," Bruno said. "It's my friends vs their friends, and I like me and my friends' chances anytime over anyone."
Despite the rainy weather conditions last Saturday, the senior attackman had four goals and one assist in an 11-7 victory against Section I champion Mamaroneck at Yorktown High School in the Southeast Regional final.
"He's going to do what James Bruno does, and what he does is finish the ball," coach Conor Hagans said. "You need a guy who can handle the ball, especially in that weather. Between his shooting accuracy and the strength of his shot, he is hard to stop."
In the program's first undefeated season, the Newsday Athlete of the Week scored 106 goals, the most in a single season on Long Island, passing Dean Gibbons from Garden City, who scored 101 in 2006.
"It means so much to hold a record like that, especially with the competition that Long Island has," Bruno said. "Playing against these teams has made me better over the years, but it's truly a credit to all my teammates and coaches."
"James is able to find the right spots and has a quick release to get inside," Hagans said. "I don't think we have the season we have if James isn't doing as well as James is doing.”
Bruno teaches kids from kindergarten to second grade how to play lacrosse on his off days.
"When I was little, I had older brothers who played lacrosse, so watching them, I thought they were like celebrities," Bruno said. "Now that I can be in their shoes and these kids now remind me of me, I want to be the same way for them and be able to help them so they can be successful."
Bruno has committed to playing lacrosse at Dickinson College and is excited to start a new chapter in life.
"I'm really excited to go to Dickinson, especially after the year they just had going to the national championship," Bruno said. "Coach (Dave) Webster has been running a great program for years, and I can't wait to be a part of it."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
