By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/6/16
Wilmington Friends (DE) 2016 goalie Jakob Katzen has been named the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
The award recognizes senior and junior lacrosse players that excel in academics, service and athletics.
Jakub Katzen (Photo courtesy of Larry Kuhn)
Jakob Katzen profile:
High school: Wilmington Friends, DE
Year: 2016
Position: Goalie
College choice: McDaniel College
Service: tutoring and mentoring with the Boys and Girl’s Club of Wilmington for two years and teaching lacrosse in Israel last summer. He attended the Israel Lacrosse Winter Service Trip 12/25/15-1/3/16 where he taught the game to Israeli youth (and tried out for the Israel U19 Team the last three days).
He has also volunteered for the Boys & Girls Club the past two years and served as a mentor and student tutor.
Academic honors: 4.16 GPA taking a number of International Baccalaureate classes. Teachers all remark on his work ethic.
Lacrosse honors: First Team All Conference ’14, ’15. Second Team All State last year. Made 46 man U19 Team Israel. Has a 67% save percentage this season. Delaware News Journals Athlete of the Week. Named to the 46-man Team Israel roster and will be playing in the Philadelphia International Showdown over Memorial Day weekend.
What are your future goals?
Katzen: “I plan on majoring in Communications because it will provide me with several options of potential careers or fields of interest to pursue. After college, I hope to have a career in either marketing, advertising, or journalism and to continue living in the Mid-Atlantic Region.”
On Academics, Service and Athletics:
How do you describe leadership?
Katzen: “Leadership has always been something I’ve valued and incorporated in my life. Attending a private, Quaker school has been beneficial in the sense that I have come to realize the importance of valuing others opinions and beliefs. Wilmington Friends Schools encourages every student to voice his/her opinion, which allows the student body to become closer as a result. One example of how I have been a leader during my four years at Wilmington Friends is through my participation and contribution to student lead clubs and committees. I have also applied my leadership skills to community service in the sense that I lead by example and serve as a positive figure for the community. I have mentored at the Boys and Girls Club during my time at Friends and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with the youth and serving as a mentor for them. Lastly, leadership on the lacrosse field speaks for itself, but since I am a goalie, I have a responsibility to communicate with my defense and be the vocal point on the team. The way I lead my team during games and practices determines how successful of a team we will be.”
How do you balance lacrosse, school, and extracurriculars?
Katzen: “It isn’t always easy being a member of the lacrosse team and a student at Wilmington Friends School, especially being involved with other activities outside of school. However, I am able to juggle everything and keep a fairly organized scheduled. I consider myself to be a diligent worker whether it’s inside the classroom or not and I am able to find time in my schedule to attend lacrosse practice and have enough availability for my job outside of school. I think it’s this level of maturity and ability to make these professional decisions that will serve me well in the future.”
Coaches may nominate players for the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete award by e-mailing us at golax@phillylacrosse.com. The e-mail should provide all information on academics, service and lacrosse and a photo must be provided or arranged. All weekly winners will receive a $50 gift card and be eligible for the end-of-year overall winners.