Blanketed by sunny, 75-degree weather, the Emerson men’s lacrosse team honored six seniors ahead of their Senior Day game against Coast Guard Academy: Jack Burns, Alex Menendez, Benson Offit, Elijah Turbow, Jared Valluzzi, and Grant Wilson.
Head coach Matthew Colombini reflected on the class of 2025’s impact on the program.
“They’ve been pivotal to everything we do,” he said. “They were freshmen on the first playoff team here. In a year that a lot of things haven’t gone our way, they’ve stayed the course, and have continued to build a culture to make sure they leave it better than when they got here.”
“They’re willing to play hurt and tired and injured, and they’ve always competed and they want to get better and learn,” Colombini added. “They just do things the right way.”
Burns, a co-captain who transferred from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) as a sophomore, said he’ll remember the team’s uplifting atmosphere the most.
“When I transferred here, I was struck by how much of a brotherhood it is and how welcoming everyone was,” he said. “All the goals, all the games, that’s not really what I’m going to remember. I’m just going to remember having fun with my teammates.”
When it comes to stories about his fellow upperclassmen, Burns highlighted the work of senior Grady Berhorst. The former midfielder had to medically retire after suffering a concussion last year. However, he’s continued to make his presence felt as one of the team’s commentators on Emerson Athletics broadcasts.
“He was an absolute warrior,” Burns said of Berhorst. “He ended his career … but he’s still showing up to every game now as our commentator. And that’s what it is here—people are doing anything they can to stick around because it’s a great group of guys, and we’re all best friends.”
Berhorst echoed the team’s “unbelievably tight-knit” nature, which is enhanced by the Lions’ group of 23 players compared to the Div. III average of 34.
“So much of sports is chalked up to winning and losing and stats and all that jazz,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a more loving group of guys that are here for each other all the time. That’s what it’s really about, so I’m unbelievably grateful.”
Valluzzi said the team has meant “absolutely everything” to him.
“This team, obviously we don’t have a lot of guys, but it’s such a family,” he said. “The on-the-field stuff is great. We’ve had some big wins here. Last year against Springfield was special.”
Still, Valluzzi wants to remember the little things the most.
“It’s getting dinner with the guys. It’s coming to practice early just to hang out,” he said. “All that stuff has meant so much to all of us, so the fact I’ve been able to do it all four years, it’s just been so special.”
The Lions ultimately fell to the Coast Guard Academy Bears 12-4 Saturday, with Burns tallying a team-high three goals. Despite the result, Colombini has reminded his players to “stay the course.”
“Trust in one another, try and execute the plan,” he said. “We have to start doing some things better if we want to turn this thing around.”
Burns said the message from the seniors has focused on effort.
“As long as you play hard every single game and give it 100%, then that’s all you can do,” Burns added. “We haven’t had the most successful season, but it’s not for a lack of caring and it’s not for a lack of effort.”
“I’m so proud of these guys,” he continued. “They’ve given their all every single game, and that’s the moral of the story.”
Valluzzi touched on other areas of adversity he and his fellow seniors have faced.
“Us as seniors, coming into this year, we lost some really, really good players last season,” he said. “[There’s] just a lot of grit and determination is kind of been the story throughout. Playing Emerson lacrosse, we have to walk 20-plus minutes to the field, … playing in the freezing cold from the beginning of January, those types of little things and the bonding have created so many stories within itself. It’s been a blessing, for sure.”
He also credited Colombini with the group’s growth in their time as Lions.
“When we stepped foot as freshmen, and we’re leaving now, we’ve all grown so much on and off the field,” Valluzzi said. “That’s something that I know my parents are happy about, but we’re all super happy about. It’s a good ending right now, hopefully, we get an even better ending next week.”
The Lions wrap up the regular season at Clark University on Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m.
