Michael Melkonian Wins James C. Metzger MVP Lacrosse Award

South Side High School of Rockville Centre defeated East Islip High School 12-9 in the Class B 2024 Long Island Boys Lacrosse Championships at Hofstra University on Wednesday, May 29. South Side senior Michael Melkonian, winning 21 of 24 faceoffs, received the game's James C. Metzger MVP Award. Less than one week ago, Melkonian won one of eight James C. Metzger Leadership Awards at the Nassau County championships.

A 1970s Long Island lacrosse star and now a lacrosse benefactor, James C. Metzger received the 1977 Lt. Ray Enners Award as outstanding Suffolk County player and then was an All-American at Hofstra University. A member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, he is founder, chairman and CEO of Whitmore – The Agency, an insurance and financial services firm in Garden City now known as Acrisure.

The award was presented by Vincent J. Sombrotto, a 1970s Long Island lacrosse star who attended Chaminade High School in Mineola and was a Hofstra University All-American midfielder. He was named to the 1982 All-World Team and is a member of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame.