Jake Martini Wins 2024 James C. Metzger Lacrosse Leadership Award

The annual James C. Metzger Leadership Award for Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse was presented to one player on each of the eight teams that competed in the finals of the 2024 Section VIII Nassau County high school boys’ lacrosse championships.

Each award recipient reflected the tenacity, honesty, commitment and positive attitude required in Nassau lacrosse. Each player also possessed the ability to inspire others on and off the field. One of the eight award recipients is senior midfielder Jake Martini of Wantagh High School. He also plays varsity football for the school and lacrosse with Legacy Lacrosse LI. Martini is committed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The lacrosse championships were held on Thursday-Friday, May 23-24, at Hofstra University. In the Class C championship game, Wantagh defeated Island Trees High School of Levittown 13-4.

The award for Martini was announced by 1970s Long Island lacrosse star James C. Metzger, a three-sport athlete at Half Hollow Hills East in Dix Hills. He received the 1977 Lt. Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points and received All-American honors. An All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University, Metzger is the founder and chairman of Whitmore – The Agency, an insurance and financial services firm in Garden City now known as Acrisure.

The award was presented by Metzger and Vincent J. Sombrotto, another 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.