By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/7/15
Conestoga 2016 defenseman/LSM/face-off Sam Bouhdary has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Michigan.
Sam Bouhdary ledger:
Sam Bouhdary
High School: Conestoga High School (Proud attendee)
Graduation Year: 2016
Position: DEF/LSM/FO
College Choice: University of Michigan Men’s Lacrosse
Club Affiliation: NXT LC 2016
Major lacrosse honors, All-Star teams: 2014: Philly Showcase 2016 MVP; 2014: Baltimore Summer Kickoff all-star; 2014: Philly Showcase Camp Fab 40 All-Star; 2014: Maverik Showtime attendee; 2013: Philly Showcase Fab 40 All-Star; 2013: Legacy Lacrosse Invitational all-star
Academic honors, service projects: First Honors, NAHS (National Art Honors Society), Mudders Club President (Ceramics CLub @Conestoga)
What will you major in/study? “At the moment, it is kind of up in the air. As a student, I have a very broad range of interests, which include Math, Science, Ceramics, Painting/drawing/, writing, philosophy, and more. To me, it seemed like Architecture would be the best, but as a lacrosse player at a D1 program, it will be tough studying such a rigorous major. But going to a school like Michigan that offers over 260 majors will be best for me because I will have flexibility in my schedule.”
Why did you choose the school? “There is a plethora of reasons why this school fit me best. Freshman year after talking to my parents, friends, brothers, and coaches, I realized the most important things to me are location, academics, strength of program, and size. As far as location goes, I wanted a school that was further away than the typical East Coast lacrosse school. My brother attends the University of Colorado at Boulder, and it was the first college I really saw. After seeing such a beautiful campus and amazing lifestyle, it was kind of hard for me to consider small schools along the East Coast, unless we’re talking Florida because there is something to be said about perpetual warm weather! When it came to academics, I really wanted to go to a school that I probably couldn’t get into on my own. When the University of Michigan came along, essentially all the planets aligned. The school is absolutely astonishing in terms of academic offerings and alumni base. On top of that, Ann Arbor was a city that is free natured and beautiful, something I hadn’t seen in a campus since I moved my brother in at CU Boulder. Lastly, Big 10 lacrosse is some of the best lacrosse out there. And at a big school like Michigan, being a student-athlete is unique due to the school’s long history and legacy with sports.”
Highlights from 2015 HS season? “To be completely frank, there isn’t anything i’ll forget about my past season. I am so close with so many of my teammates that is crazy to think that a lot of them will be gone this year. This year, we overcame a multitude of adversities, and it seemed like every game we played came down to the last 10 seconds, and in some cases, the last .2 seconds (Upper Dublin game). I could sit here and tell you all about the feelings I experienced in all of our crazy games, but at the end of the day, our 2015 Conestoga Lacrosse season is something that only me, my teammates, coaches, and certain religious attendees will ever truly understand and remember. At this point, all I can really say is that I wouldn’t have wanted to go to battle with any other guys.”
Thank You: “I really owe all of this to my parents, brothers, coaches and friends. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without the superb coaching from (Brett) Manney, (2016 assistant coach George) Castle, (2016 assistant coach Bill) Derrick, (NXT LC Director Marty) Kupp (rion), (NXT President & CEO Andy) Hayes, (NXT LC faceoff coach John) Bodnar and the rest of the NXT guys. I also have to give a huge shoutout to Coaches (former Conestoga coach and current Villanova coach Brian) Samson, (Conestoga coach Brody) Bush, (Craig) Gratton, Billy Davis, (Ryan) Sankey and (Steve) Long for molding me into the player I am today. I also have to thank my trainer at Topspeed, Nick Sita, who’s consistently teaching me how to be a great athlete. ‘None of this would have been able to be accomplished without the unconditional support and love from my parents. My older brother Alex, who’s a personal trainer, has helped me mature in the gym and my little brother Jake never fails to crack me up. All of my friends who have always been there for me and never stopped pushing me also helped me be the person I am today.”
Maplezone Sports Institute, the official sponsor for Phillylacrosse.com boys’ recruits, congratulates Sam Bouhdary. MSI is located on Conchester Highway (Rt. 322) in Garnet Valley, offering Offering private, group, and team training. Training programs are made for each individual skill set and player. Please contact Cory Malampy at cmalampy@maplezone.com 610-358-5500 ext 21