WEBSTER ON LACROSSE
Born and raised in the heart of Baltimore City, I was introduced to the game of lacrosse at a very early age. Without the benefit of fields or even lawns to play on, I developed my skills in the alleys and streets of the inner city. My brother and I got our first sticks when we were barely old enough to walk. But, as we soon discovered, lacrosse was the game. Stickball, football, and basketball, each played a role in our athletic and character development, but I seem to recall not a day going by without at least a half hour of “pounding the wall,” or playing catch, or executing dodges between the curbs that served as our sidelines. A lot of balls were lost and windows broken, but the competitive fire was clearly sparked on those unforgiving pavements. What fun we had. Looking back, it’s amazing the number of All-State, All-Star and All-America lacrosse players that came from those rather humble beginnings.
Fortunate to have been a scholarship recipient at both Boys’ Latin School and Johns Hopkins University, I was able to play the game at the highest level throughout my years in school. As I think about it, the Webster family and lacrosse are almost synonymous. My brother Mick was a 3-time, first-team All-America at Hopkins. All four of our children have played the game at various stages of their lives, with Mike (Hopkins, ‘87) now coaching at The Pingry School in New Jersey and a member of the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and Dave (Dickinson College, ’88), the highly successful head men’s lacrosse coach at his alma mater in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Our daughter Beth played at Gettysburg College, while our other son Rich enjoyed the game before focusing on boxing and sailing at Navy. Nephews Jim (University of Virginia), John (University of North Carolina), and Ned (University of Notre Dame) made significant contributions to their respective programs as well. My wife Betty and I treasure the incredible memories we have of our family’s involvement with the game.
Recipient of seven coach-of-the-year awards, coach of several league and regional championship teams, coach of four high school lacrosse teams that were widely recognized as the best of the best, and, most recently, the offensive coordinator at Navy, I obviously was fortunate to have outstanding young men and talented athletes on my side of the scorer’s table. Great players do tend to make their coach look good.
Grateful for every opportunity to help deserving students on their life’s journey, regardless of their particular interests and talents, one of my goals now is to help promising young student athletes, boys and girls, continue their athletic careers at the college or university level. With the benefit of my college counseling experience and the passion that I have for sports, and with the advantage of the relationships that I have formed over the years with college admissions officers and coaches around the country, I am able through my consulting services to facilitate the highly competitive, always unpredictable, frequently stressful college admissions process.