B-R's Grill named CN Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year
Coming into this season, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School boys lacrosse team had quite the target on its back.
Last season the Panthers went undefeated and won the Tournament of Champions final, so this season, even though the expectations were high, Bridgewater-Raritan tried its best to stay low key and take things one game at a time.
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Senior defender Nick Grill was pivotal in that game plan, as he stepped into a leadership role to try and help his teammates trust the coaches, the process and each other. Grill helped to anchor a defense that allowed only 106 goals this season, an average of just over five a game.
Bridgewater-Raritan ended up finishing 19-1, won its second straight Somerset County Tournament title, the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title, the NJSIAA North Group IV title and the Group IV final.
For his efforts, Grill is the Courier News Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year.
"He’s very intense, he’s very smart in the way he plays, he has great footwork and he’s a terrific athlete and he has a great stick, he’s able to play the bigger kids and the smaller fast kids, he can cover anyone," Bridgewater-Raritan coach Chuck Apel said. "He’s really the lynchpin of our defense, he makes everything go."
READ: PINGRY'S WEBSTER NAMED CN COACH OF THE YEAR
According to Apel, Grill would cause opposing offenses fits, as teams would sometimes refuse to send their best players against him. Grill was a big reason why the Panthers won a game against Montgomery back on April 27, as he caused a turnover at midfield that led to Bridgewater-Raritan scoring the game-winner with two seconds remaining.
"Just being really close, we all are really good friends and we hang out outside of lacrosse, and we just really enjoy playing with each other," said Grill of Bridgewater-Raritan's success. "We have really good chemistry on and off the field, and we love playing with each other and seeing each other’s success."
The defense didn't allow a team to score in double-digits this season as Bridgewater-Raritan stretched its winning streak to 42 games. The Panthers had the streak snapped in a loss to Pingry in the Tournament of Champions semifinals.
"Being with such a close team and having that target on our backs, other people might not like it but getting everyone’s best shot meant something to me, it made us feel respected," Grill said of the streak. "It was just really trusting the coaches and playing and enjoying the game. A lot of the seniors played a lot since sophomore year, so just accepting and trusting the process and enjoying the game and enjoying playing with each other."
Grill hopes that his leadership and dedication to his team rubs off on the players next year, as he will be at Marquette University to begin his college career.
"The competition in the Big East should be really exciting," Grill said. "I just love the competition level and DI should help me with that, just competing at the highest level should be really fun."
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego
Courier News Boys Lacrosse Final Top 10
1. Pingry (17-4)
2. Bridgewater-Raritan (19-1)
3. Montgomery (16-4)
4. Westfield (11-9)
5. Hunterdon Central (12-6)
6. North Hunterdon (12-7)
7. Ridge (10-7)
8. Bernards (15-8)
9. Delaware Valley (15-5)
10. New Providence (13-7)
10. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (13-6)