La Salle High star named high school lacrosse Player of the Year
A rough start didn't stop La Salle High junior Matt Wills from sticking with lacrosse as a youngster.
"I remember having a catch (with a lacrosse stick and ball) with my mom when I was like in third grade," Wills said. "She played lacrosse and was really good and I couldn't catch the ball or throw it. But I stayed with it because I liked the game. I had played baseball before trying lacrosse, but once I tried lacrosse, I knew that's what I wanted to play."
And he hasn't stopped since.
Shifted from attack to defense in sixth grade, he took to the position switch quickly and has thrived ever since.
Consider: Not only did he start as a freshman for an Explorers team that is always in contention for a PIAA title, Wills was named first-team Philadelphia Catholic League.
He garnered similar first-team PCL honors as a sophomore and this past season to go along with being named the Courier Times/Intelligencer Player of the Year.
A positive switch
"A coach gave me a long pole that defenders use and I fell in love with the position," Wills said. "And I like to hit things, and you can do that playing defense."
Doing it so early, though, was impressive.
"We don't have many freshmen that come in and start for us," La Salle head coach Rob Forster said. "But Matt has one of those motors that never stops, and he brings aggressiveness and attitude to the field, and you could see that when he was a freshman and he's only gotten better."
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Football standout, too
When he's not playing lacrosse (Wills has already verbally committed to play his college lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania), he's a starting linebacker for La Salle's powerhouse football team.
"I play football, too, and I really enjoy both sports," Wills said. "But I would have to say that lacrosse is my favorite.
"I play it as much as I can until it's time to get ready for football season. Once football starts, I try and pick up a lacrosse stick whenever I can, but it's tough because you need to devote a lot of time to football. I'm just glad I can play both sports."
So is Forster.
"Matt is just a special kid," Forster said. "He's a big-time football player, a really, really good lacrosse player and an excellent student.
"He's just one of those kids on your team that helps you succeed."
Take a look: The best Bucks County area high school athletes of 2000s features diverse La Salle foursome
Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: La Salle High's Wills nets lacrosse Player of the Year honors
