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05/21/2024 11:18 AMFor Alex Gaetano, the mentors and peers around him have truly ignited his passion and love for lacrosse within the North Haven community. Now, in his final foray stepping into a stewardship role, he has more than paid it forward by giving so much back to the Nighthawks as a profound and influential leader.
The Nighthawks senior captain and midfielder actually grew up in Branford before moving to North Haven. Playing soccer throughout his life and also some hoops, he was introduced into the sport of lacrosse around fourth grade via his friends, and he has been hooked ever since.
From his freshman year, Alex has been part of North Haven’s steady ascent within the SCC and state ranks. This spring, he helped lead the Nighthawks to a 9-7 regular season mark, while he has collected 34 goals, 14 assists, and 32 ground balls.
“I started to develop a profound passion for lacrosse my sophomore year because of my head coach [Justin Blood],” says Alex. “It ignited a flame in me for lacrosse and opened up so many doors for me. One thing that has helped my success is just being constantly in prayer and giving glory to God. He has always been there for me, and I would not be the person I am today without him.”
With his tier of the turf, Alex sees a great deal of action on both sides of the ball. While he notes making the switch on the fly can create some tenacious moments, he loves when he can help the offense function freely and fire at will to the net.
“I love when it comes to playing midfield being on the offensive side of the ball and working it around. It is so much fun to create space to lead to a goal,” Alex says. “What can be hard about it is transitioning from defense to offense and when it comes to clearing the ball.”
Through various personal triumphs across his several seasons with North Haven, Alex has assumed a certain swagger about himself. He details it is not a bravado that is a bad thing but rather a boastful life skill for any challenging endeavor.
“My mental game has improved with the confidence I have built into myself,” says Alex. “Without confidence, when you are set to do anything in life–whether sports or anything else–you definitely will not perform as well. If your head is in it, it will contribute to your well-being.”
Alex assesses that he needs to become a little more efficient when it comes to trying to be elusive to other opposing defenders. He adds that whenever the Nighthawks are ready to take flight on a fast break, he can make moves with the best of them with the ball in his hands.
“I have mastered passing and catching the ball fast I believe, and I feel I can do it effectively,” says Alex. “One thing I need to work on is split dodging, especially when I am going from my left side to my right.”
Becoming a leader has been a new journey that Alex has seemingly taken on effortlessly. It is due in large part to his genuine love and affirmation for every last one of his colleagues and hearing their total input before cementing any final decisions.
“My experience as a captain has been a smooth one. I have taken my leadership role very seriously,” Alex says. “I encourage my team and teammates as much as I can. I try to engage with them, make them feel comfortable, and I do not do anything or make a decision without asking them beforehand.”
Blood explains that the NCAA Division II Newberry College commit has been a cornerstone of the Nighthawks’ rebuild to success. He adds that Alex is an individual who has only upped his skill level as a player and a person.
“Alex is a tremendous player and person. He brings a positive energy to all those around him on the field and off. Over the last three years, he has grown to become one of the best midfielders in the state and has excelled in the overall improvement of his game,” says Blood. “As a captain, he is vocal and influences his team in a positive light. He keeps the team organized with the help of his fellow captains and the coaches. He is truly a joy to be around, and his hard work and dedication to the North Haven program will continue on after he has left. He has been part of the construction of a winning culture here in North Haven, and we look forward to continuing our successes.”
Quite often an early preseason shellacking can serve as a benchmark for a team and a barometer for how they have grown to handle the pressure by season’s end. Alex says the Nighthawks have certainly answered the call and have grown in grit, both individually and collectively, as they look to push deep in the playoffs.
“This team has improved 100%. We played Stamford in a scrimmage at the beginning of the year and got our butts handed to us. Yet we have faced a lot of adversity this year, and we went through a losing streak towards the end of the regular season,” says Alex. “Two or three years ago, the program was not too good. But we have something special this year. We have a great group of guys here, and we feel we can go far in states.”