This past week Bay Shore High School hosted the American Boy Project’s Fall Brawl, the special event featured scrimmages between the St. John’s, Marist, and Fairfield men’s college lacrosse teams. In addition to these three competitive matchups between the Division I programs, local youth lacrosse players had the opportunity to participate in a clinic, where they worked on their skills alongside the college athletes.
The American Boy Project provides scholarships for treatment programs to individuals seeking recovery and sobriety. The money raised during the day's event are set to be used to create a scholarship in memory of Bay Shore resident Joe Walser. The Bayshore minded day also celebrated three players with strong ties to the Bay Shore–Brightwaters community: Luke Walser (Marist), Cole Kluepfel (St. John’s), and Will Snyder (Fairfield).
The American Boy Project was originally founded by the Megale Family following the loss of their son and brother, Matt Megale. Matt was a lacrosse player who struggled with addiction. During the event, Shea Megale, Matt’s sister, joined her parents Larry and Megan in speaking to the players about their family’s journey and the mission of the foundation.
“One of the things you don’t often think about when you lose someone, as one of the children,” Shea said, “is that I’m grieving the loss of my brother, yes. But I’m also grieving every ounce of happiness that it takes away from my parents — and how I can’t fix it. I can only be one kid; I can’t be two. And I know that there’s one missing.”
She then made a heartfelt request to the players in attendance: “I’m asking you guys, would you help me take just one ounce of the grief from the parents behind me — off their shoulders? Just for today, will you be their sons for me?”