In the January magazine, we highlighted three individuals making an impact.

ADELAINE HOLLANDER
EVERGREEN, COLORADO

A graduate of Conifer High School, where she was a four-year member of the lacrosse team and two-year team captain, Hollander was named a recipient of the Michael Breschi Scholarship. Established in 2007 to honor the life and memory of Michael Breschi, son of North Carolina men’s lacrosse coach Joe Breschi, the scholarships are awarded annually by USA Lacrosse to two high school seniors who plan to attend college and are the son or daughter of a coach who serves as a full-time employee of an educational institution.

Hollander has served as a volunteer youth coach with Mountain Lacrosse and Denver City Lacrosse and was president of her school’s DECA (Distributive Education Club of America) club. She’s now at Franklin & Marshall.

TRAE IKA
DRAPER, UTAH

Also a recipient of the Michael Breschi Scholarship, Ika graduated from Loomis Chaffee School and was a four-year starter on the lacrosse team and an honor roll student. In addition, he received recognition on multiple all-star teams and all-tournament teams. He now plays at Saint Joseph’s.

Joe Breschi noted that his family was delighted to recognize the deserving recipients of this year’s scholarships.

“These are two amazing individuals who exemplify the spirit of Michael through their hard work and perseverance on the lacrosse field and in the classroom,” Breschi said. “We are honored by USA Lacrosse’s commitment to the scholarship and thrilled for Adelaine and Trae as they continue to add to the legacy of great student athlete recipients.”

HANA HAGAG
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

Local lacrosse leaders had implored the Virginia Beach School Board to sponsor the sport at the varsity level for years to no avail. That was until Hagag, a Bayside High School student and Hampton Roads Lacrosse League product, presented a compelling case at a board meeting in October. Hagag and a few teammates said board approval would help increase access to a largely white sport at predominantly Black schools like Bayside.

“I started out not knowing how to hold the stick,” Hagag said. “Now, I’m looking to play at the collegiate level. This just goes to show how much the [Hampton Roads] program helped me and helped so many other girls and boys.”

The board voted unanimously at its Nov. 9 meeting to add lacrosse as a varsity sport starting in spring 2023.