How traveling and top coaching led Lakeland's Ian Hobson to lacrosse All-America selection
Ian Hobson was at a friend's house when he found out the big news.
Immediately, Hobson, a Lakeland Dreadnaught lacrosse player, stopped what he was doing and phoned his parents. Hobson found out he made the New Balance All-America South Region lacrosse team. This team comprises players from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
"I was surprised and excited that my hard work paid off," Hobson, who helped the Dreadnaughts go 14-6 with a trip to the first round of regionals for the first time in school history, said. "Some things that came to mind were all the days of practice, throwing off the rebounder in the backyard, and catching with my brother helped this to happen."
The assistance from his brother helped Hobson rack up 77 ground balls, which also cemented a place on The Ledger's all-county team.
To get to this point, it's taken Hobson nine years of traveling for lacrosse all over the country, and of course his experience with Lakeland played a huge part.
"High school practices and True Florida team trainings has made it possible for me to keep my skills sharp, along with the numerous tournaments up in New York, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania," Hobson said.
Over the summer of 2023, Hobson's True National team won the Legends Eastern Invitational championship in Richmond, Virginia. And last week, his True Florida team competed in the Liberty Lacrosse Classic championship game in Wilmington, Delaware.
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Coaching boosts Hobson's lacrosse acceleration
It just wasn't the experience that helped Hobson accomplish an All-America selection; it was the coaching as well. When Hobson was in second grade, Dalton Jernigan was the first coach to give the Lakeland junior a chance to play lacrosse on a travel level team in Texas, which then opened up so many opportunities for Hobson to play lacrosse all over the country. Jernigan is now a lacrosse announcer in Texas.
Another coach in Matt Cassalia introduced Hobson to the True program, and he hasn't looked backed since.
And of course, current head coach Zach Brownlee also showed Hobson the ropes.
"(He) is helping to mold me into a leader on and off the field," Hobson said. "He has shown me that there is always room for improvement to keep working on my skills and that hard work pays off."
Additionally, Hobson gives credit to his brother, Zach Hobson.
"I would not be where I am without my brother...," Hobson said. "He is the one who pushes me to be the best and not settle for less as he made his dream come true of playing lacrosse at the college level."
All of this training by some key figures has led to Hobson earning a team MVP for defense in 2023, as well as Honorable Mention (2022) and second-team all-county honors.
But he couldn't be more euphoric about the All-America selection.
"I am excited and honored to represent the South Region at the All-American tournament in Maryland at the end of the month," Hobson said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's Ian Hobson nabs lacrosse All-America selection
