Bryn Holmes spent most of his childhood playing lacrosse in his backyard, guarding his brother Travis. Three years younger than Travis, Bryn watched hundreds of his lacrosse games from recreation leagues to his varsity career at McDonogh High.
“My brother and I played together when I was like four years old and he taught me a lot about the game,” Bryn recalled. “We practiced and developed a good chemistry with each other even back then.”
Now a senior at McDonogh, Bryn will reunite with his practice partner next season as the 6-feet-2 midfielder is headed to play lacrosse for the University of Maryland in 2007.
“I really felt comfortable going to a school that my brother was already a part of,” said Bryn, who will join his brother Travis, a junior midfielder for the Terrapins. “I had spent time with a lot of the players at Maryland and it was just a family atmosphere that I liked.”
This bond was illustrated last spring, as Bryn helped lead McDonogh to a 22-1 record and a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Conference championship.
McDonogh first-year lacrosse coach Scott Corrigan said: “Bryn is very competitive, and the strongest muscle in his body is his heart.”
Senior midfielder Kyle O?Brien, who is a four-year starter on the lacrosse team, agreed.
“Bryn brings toughness and he?s just a great leader on this team,” O?Brien said. “With Bryn on the field, we feel like we have a chance to be really competitive in our conference, and do just as well as we did last year.”
As Bryn and his teammates attempt to make another postseason run, he also thinks about what his future might hold at Maryland and beyond.
He plans to major in finance or accounting.
THE HOLMES FILE
School: McDonogh
Sport: Lacrosse
Position: Midfielder
Did you know? Holmes won the 152-pound National Prep Championship in 2005. At that tournament, Holmes was named the tournament?s Most Outstanding Wrestler after pinning all five opponents, with only one foe reaching the second period … As a senior linebacker, Holmes intercepted three passes, recovered three fumbles and led his team with 110 tackles. Offensively, Holmes rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns … Holmes is considered, by McDonogh football coach Dom Damico, to be “McDonogh?s best all-around athlete.”
