For the Spallinas, lacrosse is a ‘family affair’
MOUNT SINAI, N.Y. (BVM) – The Spallina family has a wide reach across the lacrosse world, from former professional ties to top high school recruits. For a family so entrenched in the game, lacrosse has become more than just a sport for them, it’s become a lifestyle.
“All the kids have grown up with lacrosse not just part of their life, it’s in-bred in them,” Mount Sinai High School head coach Harold Drumm said. “Every aspect of their life is involved in lacrosse which is something they all embrace… it’s really a family affair in terms of how they play and live their life.”
For the Spallina children, a connection to the game started early on. Between their father, Joe, who has been a long-time lacrosse coach – currently coaching the Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team and formerly heading the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse – and their uncle, Brian, a former seven-time Major League Lacrosse champion, the siblings have been brought up around the game.
Four of the Spallinas, Joey, Jake, Brett, and their younger sister, Alexa, play lacrosse at the high school level, all starring on the Mount Sinai lacrosse teams. Joey, the oldest, is currently the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2022. He officially committed to Syracuse back in November, kicking off the family’s opening to the program. His younger twin brothers, Jake and Brett, both joined him to start their junior seasons, announcing their verbal commitments to play for the Orange back in September and this past January, respectively.
With Joey being the oldest, the early introduction to the game has put him on the radar for many around the sport from an early age. The senior midfielder once cracked ESPN’s Top-10 plays as an 8 year old during the MLL’s Freestyle Competition.
With all eyes on him entering high school competition, Joey’s play has lived up to the hype. He became not only the first freshman All-American in Long Island history, but the first attackman of the year in Long Island history as well.
“You’ve known about Joey for a long time,” Drumm said. “You always heard about him being this really good player and he’s so young… [in] eighth grade he came up to varsity and did outstanding.”
For the Spallinas, expectations have come with Joey’s rise through the ranks. Both Jake and Brett have found their own success at Mount Sinai with Jake making the varsity team his freshman year as a faceoff specialist. For the trio of brothers, playing together growing up has helped them develop a different sort of chemistry at the high school level.
“Joey is really that big brother and really looks out for them in all aspects of lacrosse, which is very endearing and something you don’t see all that often,” Drumm said. “Joey really looks out for them to the degree of [he] will listen in on our defensive meetings so he can help Brett here or there or help [out] Jake.”
The extra time studying and working on the game has helped push Mount Sinai to an elite level. After missing out on the canceled season last year, the three have hit their stride as upperclassmen. With Joey arriving at the school first, his impact has been felt from the very beginning. So far in his senior season, he has eclipsed not only 200 career assists, but topped 400 career points as well.
“Joey is just a generational type player,” Drumm said. “He is one of the main reasons we have gotten recognized nationally… But Joey, the level player he is, has just been able to bring Mount Sinai to the forefront and help us get over that ledge and get on that national stage which has been fantastic for all the kids.”
With all three of the Spallina boys set to attend Syracuse in the future, they have set themselves up to be next in line for the program. With the Orange lacrosse program known for their past family connections like Gary – current Syracuse lacrosse coach – and Paul Gait, who won three championships with the program, and the Powells and Hardys, the Spallinas will be looking to add their name to that historic list.
Great day up North with the family visiting @CuseMLAX with the Boys and Livi pic.twitter.com/TI30KoYLLO
— Joe Spallina (@JoeSpallina) September 5, 2021
With the future top of mind, the Spallinas still have some unfinished business at Mount Sinai. As Joey currently finishes his final high school season, his coach has seen a changed perspective in his final run. With so much attention the last couple of years, he’s made sure to take in his full senior experience.
“I think Joey is really trying to enjoy his last year as a high school lacrosse player because he’s been forced to grow up on the lacrosse field faster than most have been,” Drumm said. “There’s always been so much pressure on him so I don’t know if he’s really been able to enjoy every year… But I think this year, he’s trying to enjoy every minute of it and he’s playing with a lot of fun.”
Following a successful last couple of seasons, Joey and his brothers are hoping to lead Mount Sinai farther into the postseason. After winning the Long Island championship last year, the team would be unable to go any farther with the state tournament cancellations the past two seasons. With the tournament happening in 2022, Joey will finally get the opportunity in his final run at the high school level.
“Last year we had a phenomenal year… [but] there was that little thing though that you couldn’t go further because there was no state tournament,” Drumm said. “So, that’s every player’s goal… we definitely have our sights set high.”
