Will play lacrosse at Manhattan College
WMHS SENIOR Brandon Grinnell (front row) signed his letter of intent to play lacrosse at Manhattan College next fall. In the back row (from left to right) are WMHS Principal Richard Metropolis, K-12 Director of Athletics, Health, and Wellness Brendan Kent, Ann Grinnell, Chad Grinnell and WMHS Boys’ Lacrosse Head Coach Andrew Lavalle. (Jim Southmayd Photo)
Published in the December 7, 2015 edition.
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The boys’ lacrosse season doesn’t begin until March but for Warrior senior standout Brandon Grinnell, he already has his college choice locked up.
Grinnell recently signed his letter of intent to attend Manhattan College in the fall of 2016 and he can now concentrate on his final season with Wakefield Memorial High School with the knowledge that choosing a college is now behind him.
Grinnell is a standout attackman with the Warriors and he scored 71 goals and had 31 assists last spring. He also had 45 ground balls that he scooped up. Grinnell, a Middlesex League Freedom division All-Star last spring, was the team leader in goals and assists for the M.L. Freedom division champion Warriors.
Grinnell recently had a letter of intent signing ceremony with his parents, Chad and Ann Grinnell; his lacrosse coach, Andrew Lavalle; K-12 Director of Athletics, Health, and Wellness, Brendan Kent; and WMHS Principal Richard Metropolis.
“I chose Manhattan College because it was the only school that had a strong engineering program,” said Brandon Grinnell. “They have a new coach and they are starting up new.”
Drew Kelleher is in his first season as Manhattan’s head men’s lacrosse coach. Prior to his arrival in Riverdale, he was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston University for two seasons. BU was one of the schools that was recruiting Grinnell.
Manhattan College is a Div. 1 school and the Jaspers play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Grinnell was also being recruited by UMass Lowell and Sacred Heart.
But when the senior visited Manhattan College and saw what the school had to offer in terms of academics and athletics, he opted to attend there. He gave his verbal commitment on Aug. 1 and just signed his letter of intent.
Now Grinnell can concentrate on helping the Warriors to another successful season this spring.
