Former Essex lacrosse star contributing at the professional level
ESSEX, Vt. (BVM) — Brendan Gleason has been known around the Essex area since his time at Essex High School. Gleason, who was a multi-sport athlete for the Hornets, has taken his lacrosse game to the highest level since his high school days, partaking in an experience he didn’t know if he’d get the chance to have.
Gleason was drafted by the Redwoods of the Premier Lacrosse League in 2019, but was left off their roster for the league’s inaugural season. With another opportunity this season, Gleason would be left off the initial 22-man roster, before being called up right before the tournament.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeX9rQnDHK/
The Essex native would play in six games, totaling four points from three goals and one assist. Gleason would help the Redwoods as a midfielder but would see the team come up short in the single-elimination tournament. The Redwoods would lose their semifinal game in overtime against the Whipsnakes in the Championship Series.
He grew up playing the sport of lacrosse, in part to his dad’s passion for the game. Gleason’s father helped grow the sport in the area, helping start the youth program in Essex.
The 5-foot-10 attacker would garner attention during his time at Essex from many major college lacrosse programs around the nation. The Hornets midfielder led the team in scoring as a junior and senior and earned MVP honors in both seasons.
Gleason was a three-sport athlete playing lacrosse, football and hockey during his high school career. Captaining all three teams he played on, Gleason would bring home a hockey state championship in 2015.
After graduating high school, Gleason attended the University of Notre Dame where he would receive All-ACC honors twice. The decision to go to Notre Dame was helped by the close ties Gleason’s family had with Fighting Irish lacrosse coach, Kevin Corrigan. Gleason’s father coached alongside Corrigan as a graduate assistant at the program, and Gleason’s cousin played under Corrigan during his college career.
On the field, Gleason played in 56 games during his four years with the Irish. As a senior, Gleason would be the team’s second leading scorer and capped off his final season with 26 goals and 12 assists.
Gleason was also selected in the Major League Lacrosse draft in 2019, being taken with the 50th overall selection by the Charlotte Hounds.