Jason Gabak The Citizen
AUBURN -- It has been a long, hard fought season for the Auburn boys lacrosse team.
But standing behind all 22 team members the whole way have been co-captains, midfielder Jack Redmond and defender John Mauro.
"They're picked by their teammates and by the coaches," Auburn head coach Steve Crosby said. "They have done a great job and they have kept the team focused. Where we are is a credit to them as leaders."
Both Redmond and Mauro believe that they have each brought something unique to their roles.
"I try to keep everybody working hard," Mauro said. "One of our mottos has been 'go hard or go home' and that is the way I try to play. I think my job has been to help keep the team focused in practice and on the field."
Redmond, a three year varsity veteran, believes he and Mauro form a strong unit, one capable of leading a team through good times and bad.
"It helps that he's a defender and I'm on offense," Redmond said. "Each group has someone to look to and help them. I think that really helped the team come together, that offense and defense has someone they could look to."
Crosby never had to question his co-captains' intensity. While Redmond leads the squad in points, Mauro has led a defense that has shouldered much of the load all season.
"Jack on offense is strong up and down the field," Crosby said. "He has always been a big player for us. And the defense has been outstanding, they have really been the cornerstone for us, they've taken care of the ball a lot for us and John has been a terrific defender and has helped the defense come together."
For their hard work, both Redmond and Mauro were first team all-league selections, an honor both cherish, especially in their senior seasons.
"It is a great compliment to all the hard work we put in," Mauro said. "But we both know that no two players can do it all. This reflects on the whole team that has helped us get where we are."
This marks the second consecutive year that Redmond was selected as a first-team all-star.
"I knew it was going to be tough," Redmond said. "To get it two years in a row, it felt harder but it is a thrill to do it again and a real honor."
Out of the gate, Auburn was struggling, going 2-8 and losing their fair share of close games. But after a team meeting, Redmond and Mauro got the team fired up and the Maroons won five of their last seven to make the Section III playoffs. They begin the postseason Friday at West Genesee.
"We were sick of losing close games," Redmond said. "We knew that we had to get more focused and practice harder and after that we started coming up on the better side of games."
Mauro said that, while it wasn't the kind of season they all wanted, it may have served as an inspiration.
"I think it made the team bond together," Mauro said. "We rode all that emotion and we knew that we had to start winning and I think that might have made us play our best lacrosse."
Both players said that to make it through such a tough season and still make sectionals is a vindication.
"So many doubted us," Mauro said. "People thought we were done halfway through the season. But it shows that all 22 players on the team were willing to tough it out and prove all those people wrong."
Heading into their first round match against the always-dangerous Wildcats, the Maroons have been hard at work practicing and fine-tuning their game. Despite an 8-3 loss to West Genesee last Friday, the players and coaching staff believe they have a true chance at an upset.
"I think we can make a big run," Mauro said. "I think we have a great chance against (West Genesee) and we are going to show them what we have."
But standing behind all 22 team members the whole way have been co-captains, midfielder Jack Redmond and defender John Mauro.
"They're picked by their teammates and by the coaches," Auburn head coach Steve Crosby said. "They have done a great job and they have kept the team focused. Where we are is a credit to them as leaders."
Both Redmond and Mauro believe that they have each brought something unique to their roles.
"I try to keep everybody working hard," Mauro said. "One of our mottos has been 'go hard or go home' and that is the way I try to play. I think my job has been to help keep the team focused in practice and on the field."
Redmond, a three year varsity veteran, believes he and Mauro form a strong unit, one capable of leading a team through good times and bad.
"It helps that he's a defender and I'm on offense," Redmond said. "Each group has someone to look to and help them. I think that really helped the team come together, that offense and defense has someone they could look to."
Crosby never had to question his co-captains' intensity. While Redmond leads the squad in points, Mauro has led a defense that has shouldered much of the load all season.
"Jack on offense is strong up and down the field," Crosby said. "He has always been a big player for us. And the defense has been outstanding, they have really been the cornerstone for us, they've taken care of the ball a lot for us and John has been a terrific defender and has helped the defense come together."
For their hard work, both Redmond and Mauro were first team all-league selections, an honor both cherish, especially in their senior seasons.
"It is a great compliment to all the hard work we put in," Mauro said. "But we both know that no two players can do it all. This reflects on the whole team that has helped us get where we are."
This marks the second consecutive year that Redmond was selected as a first-team all-star.
"I knew it was going to be tough," Redmond said. "To get it two years in a row, it felt harder but it is a thrill to do it again and a real honor."
Out of the gate, Auburn was struggling, going 2-8 and losing their fair share of close games. But after a team meeting, Redmond and Mauro got the team fired up and the Maroons won five of their last seven to make the Section III playoffs. They begin the postseason Friday at West Genesee.
"We were sick of losing close games," Redmond said. "We knew that we had to get more focused and practice harder and after that we started coming up on the better side of games."
Mauro said that, while it wasn't the kind of season they all wanted, it may have served as an inspiration.
"I think it made the team bond together," Mauro said. "We rode all that emotion and we knew that we had to start winning and I think that might have made us play our best lacrosse."
Both players said that to make it through such a tough season and still make sectionals is a vindication.
"So many doubted us," Mauro said. "People thought we were done halfway through the season. But it shows that all 22 players on the team were willing to tough it out and prove all those people wrong."
Heading into their first round match against the always-dangerous Wildcats, the Maroons have been hard at work practicing and fine-tuning their game. Despite an 8-3 loss to West Genesee last Friday, the players and coaching staff believe they have a true chance at an upset.
"I think we can make a big run," Mauro said. "I think we have a great chance against (West Genesee) and we are going to show them what we have."
