This week, Back Of The CAGE caught up with the #23 ranked senior on Long Island and from North Shore High School, Dominick Genzale for our weekly Senior Spotlight series interviewing a new senior each week.
Dominick Genzale is a 2x All County selection who would have been a 3x All County selection if it weren't for the cancellation of the 2020 season and that is because he is a multi-positional lacrosse player who can play anywhere on the field and is a defensive general. Due to his merit which is clearly evident by his peers, the coaches associations, college scouts and media outlets, Genzale signed his letter of intent to play division 1 lacrosse 45 minutes away from his home town in Glen Head to Stony Brook University. The 4x varsity starter had a superb high school career collecting more than 220 career ground balls and helped shutdown opposing teams best midfielders or attackmen and we caught up with him as he is now training to become an official Seawolve this coming Fall. Check out what the senior, now graduate had to say:
Q&A w/ Dominick Genzale
Back Of The CAGE (BOTC): When you found out last year that the season was going to be canceled, what was your initial reaction and how did you deal with it and keep your spirits up? Dominick Genzale(DG): When I first found out I was upset and was questioning if I’d ever play another season because no one knew what was going to happen. I kept my spirits up by working out n focusing on my footwork. My dad helped me out a lot by working out with me and pushing.
BOTC: What is your favorite saying from your Coach Aaron? DG: My favorite thing coach Aaron said was “Next groundball”. It’s my favorite because everyone always says next play but what gets plays started is ground balls. Ground balls are key in the sport of lacrosse.
BOTC: Having missed out on playing last year, how much extra motivation (if any) does it give to you personally and to your teammates in the short amount of time that you guys have been practicing together?DG: It gave me a ton of motivation. Made me wanna work harder during practice in the weight room and on my footwork. Everyone had the same mindset this year. We all worked 100% at the roles we were given by coach this year.
BOTC: Although you missed last season, how much more will you treasure this season as this will be the last time that you will be playing high school lacrosse before going on to play at the collegiate level? DG: I made sure every time I stepped onto the practice and game field to leave everything out on it. Plenty of great memories with my teammates were made this year.
BOTC: What made you choose to attend Stony Brook University, and what other colleges were you considering? DG:: What made me choose Stony Brook University was Coach Gilardi. When I got the phone call on September 1st he had so much energy on the phone that it felt like I was already apart of the team already.
BOTC: Are you superstitious and do you have any pre-game rituals?DG: I am not superstitious but I do re-tape my sticks before every game.
BOTC: What's on your playlist before games?DG: Popsmoke, Young boy, Lilbaby.
Rapid Fire Q & A's:
- Favorite Food? Pizza
- Favorite Movie? Fast and Furious
- Favorite Sports Team? Giants
- Favorite Athletes? Mike Tyson
See some of Dominick's career athletic accomplishments below: 2x All County, 220 Career Groundballs, 4x Varsity Starter, Multi-Sport Athlete (Wrestling & Lacrosse), NYSR Nassau County Team Member
