Lacrosse player to compete at college level: Brian Czerwonka earns Division 1 scholarship after strong prep career

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THE OLDHAM ERA

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Oldham County native Brian Czerwonka signed his letter of intent to play collegiate lacrosse on Nov. 16, joining Robert Morris University in Moon, Pa., as a goalkeeper.

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Crestwood native Brian Czerwonka signed a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 16 to attend Robert Morris University to play lacrosse.

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Brian Czerwonka made his college choice official on Nov. 16 signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Pennsylvania’s Robert Morris University to play lacrosse.
Czerwonka, a senior goalie for Western Reserve Academy in Ohio, chose Robert Morris because of the emphasis lacrosse coach Andrew McMinn places on defense, as well as the school’s strong nursing program.
“I decided on Robert Morris because I like the coaching philosophy and I wanted to go somewhere new,” Czerwonka said. “The way they play gives them a really strong defense and, as a goalie, I like that.”
At WRA, Czerwonka is a student ambassador and a prefect with academic interests in math and science plans to study to become an anesthesiologist in college.
He has earned several athletic honors, including being named to ESPN’s High School Watch List for 2013; being named a 2012 Brine National High School All-American, earning a spot on the Ohio Midwest Regional team in the Brine National Lacrosse Classic and being an honorable mention selection to the 2012 MSLCA team.
Czerwonka began playing the sport as a sixth grader for coach Stan Lott at Christian Academy of Louisville and made the move to the goalbox his seventh grade year.
After playing for South Oldham during his freshman season, Czerwonka made the move back to CAL as a sophomore.
He stayed there until shortly after his junior year, when the opportunity to attend Western Reserve Academy arose.
After attending a summer lacrosse classic the summer of his sophomore year, Czerwonka met Western Reserve coach Kevin O’Brien, who was coaching the national team.
“Towards the end of the tournament, he asked me what I thought about boarding school,” Czerwonka said. “I really didn’t know much about boarding school except that it was really expensive. He asked me how my grades were and he said, ‘I’ll get in contact with you later, just stay open to the idea.’”
That eventually led to an offer to attend the school during his junior year.
After arriving at the Hudson, Ohio, school in 2011, Czwerwonka repeated the 11th grade and began playing for Pioneers’ lacross squad the following spring where he was named to the All-American National Lacrosse Classic and earned an invite to 2012 Max Elite 100 Lacrosse Camp.
“In lacrosse, every team needs at least a good goalie. Fortunately for WRA, Brian Czerwonka is a great goalie, making our team competitive with the best in the Midwest,” O’Brien said. “Brian is not only talented, he will out work anyone and absolutely loves the game. A coach can’t ask for more, especially in goal.”
More than just strong play on the field, his parents Jim and Mary say they’re just happy to see him get this chance.
“It’s nice to have this done,” Mary said. “With all that behind him, he can focus on his schoolwork and really enjoy (his senior year) and not be stressed. I can’t say how proud we are of him. He’s characterized by a strong work ethic and then along with that, several things have fallen into place. Hard work pays off.”
The Robert Morris lacrosse team posted a program-record 11 wins in 2012 and went undefeated in the Northeast Conference.

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