Front: Joe Amato (Army), Eric Groleau (Army), Garrett Warren (Army), Pat Hine (Army)
Middle: Andrew Givens (Army), Tyler Prasnicki (Army), Ty Trobridge (Army)
Back: Gage Snowbarger (Air Force), Dan Ferrel (Navy), Rory Dillon (Army).
Not Pictured: Eric Alter (Marines)
LEXINGTON, Va. - In advance of its season opening game last weekend at the United States Naval Academy, the Virginia Military Institute men’s lacrosse team issued patches to its cadet-athletes who will be commissioning in a branch of the military upon graduation.
Eleven members of the team received patches, representing Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force, to be sewn on the team’s game uniforms. The other members of the team not commissioning will sport Wounded Warrior Project patches on their uniforms, a cause near and dear to the program.
Receiving their patches for the United States Army were senior captain Rory Dillon, juniors Eric Groleau, Tyler Prasnicki, Ty Trobridge, sophomores Garrett Warren, Joe Amato and Pat Hine and freshman Andrew Givens. Senior director of lacrosse operations Eric Alter received his patch for the United States Marine Corps while freshman Dan Ferrel got his for the United States Navy. Sophomore Gage Snowbarger will join the United States Air Force upon graduation.
Over the summer, two members of the team, Dillon and Prasnicki, attended training sessions at LDAC (Leader Development and Assessment Course) at Fort Lewis in Washington state, and Airbone School at Fort Benning in Georgia, respectively.
Located in the team’s locker room are boards with the names and class years of former lacrosse players at VMI who have gone on to serve in the armed forces.
The Keydets return to action this Saturday when VMI welcomes the United States Military Academy to Post. VMI and Army face off at noon on Drill Field #2, located at the Institute’s North Post.