Kids & Family

Whitmore's James Metzger Presents H.S. Lacrosse Award

Submitted by Mike Virgintino

The fourth annual James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award recently was presented to Dan Bockelman at the conclusion of Suffolk County’s Half Hollow Hills East High School boys’ lacrosse season. The award is named for a leading Half Hollow Hills High School East benefactor who also was an All-American student athlete at the school during the 1970s. Metzger is CEO of The Whitmore Group, a leading insurance services and estate planning company in the New York metropolitan area that is headquartered in Garden City.

“Dan has been an exceptional player and student during his four years at Half Hollow Hills,” said Metzger, who personally presented the honor. “He is a team player, a leader and, as his numbers show, a scorer who we believe will lead him to additional lacrosse success at Cornell University.”

Bockelman had 48 goals and 30 assists for 78 points this season. His season high was seven goals against Sachem East on April 11. Metzger set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his high school playing days, including All-American honors and the 1977 Ray Enners Award for outstanding 
Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points. Metzger also starred in football and played varsity basketball as a sophomore in the Suffolk County playoffs. 

After graduation from high school, Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra University. As an All-American, he led Hofstra in assists during his freshman and sophomore seasons (1979 and 1980). His single season points per game average (4.9) ranks fourth all-time and his single season assist average (2.8) ranks eighth.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here