School: Abington
Lacrosse
Favorite athlete: DeSean Jackson
Favorite teams: Eagles and Flyers
Favorite memory competing in sports: Our New Zealand Chant before each game to get us pumped up and also our celebration chant in the locker room after every win.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: My teammate had to go to the bathroom so bad that he couldn’t run to school so he went next to a tree.
Music on iPod: All rap and some pop. All Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, Meek Mills, Drake, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, and Wiz Khalifa
Future plans: I’m going to Cabrini College and will play lacrosse there. I’m majoring in Criminal Justice
Words to live by: ‘God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it into its nest.’
One goal before turning 30: To have a successful job and be married
One thing people don’t know about me: I have a Special Needs Little Sister.
By Alex Frazier
Peer pressure often carries negative connotations.
But in the case of Anthony Greco a little peer pressure turned into his life’s passion.
Back when he was six years old, Greco’s friends signed up to play lacrosse for the Abington Lacrosse Club.
And because his friends were going to play, he went along for the ride.
And what a ride it’s been.
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be playing,” he said. “I love lacrosse. I play it every day, out with my dad having a catch or out with my friends.”
Greco also tried soccer and T-ball for a while, but quickly left them in the dust.
He also picked up football and basketball. He stuck with football until ninth grade.
He probably would have stuck with basketball all the way through high school if it didn’t get in the way of lacrosse practices. As it was he played CYO ball through this year.
“I love basketball,” he said. “I didn’t want to play for school because of off-season workouts. I play year round lacrosse. Every summer almost every weekend I’m down in Maryland playing lacrosse, so I couldn’t go to any basketball workouts.”
Greco played attack through seventh grade and then tried defense in eighth grade.
When he arrived at the high school, there was a need for long stick midfielders.
Voila!
He had experience at both ends of the field so he was a perfect fit.
“I wouldn’t change that position for anything,” he said. “I love it. You have to be the most fit. You’re running the whole game. I have to be in shape. You get a chance to play both sides of the ball. You can go on defense or you can take it down on offense and score.”
Greco has scored two goals and has a couple of assists.
“I’m getting the best of both worlds,” he said.
Scoring with a long stick isn’t that simple. Greco practices a lot in his backyard.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “You can get some real fire on it.”
Not a big kid, Greco still manages to get the job done. His timing and anticipation make up for his stature, especially on defense.
“He’s the leader of our man-down,” said Abington coach Randy McNeill. “He knocks down a ton of passes and in all our big games he’s been averaging eight or nine ground balls.”
He is also a two-year captain of the squad.
“I love being a leader,” he said. “I love taking charge of everyone and making sure everybody is doing everything right. Last year I was the defensive captain. This year I’m just the leader of the team.”
“He’s been a great leader on and off the field for the guys,” said McNeill. “He works hard, leads by example, but he speaks when he needs to speak.”
“I’m not a screamer,” said Greco. “In my past, a lot of captains I went through talked down to you if you did something wrong. I’d rather show them by doing things right. Yelling doesn’t get anything done except getting them mad at each other.”
Last year he was selected to the first team all-National Conference.
Hardly a moment goes by when Greco isn’t thinking about or playing lacrosse.
“I’m either coaching it or playing it,” he said.
Besides playing, he also helps coach third and fourth graders for the Abington Lacrosse Club.
“When I played youth, I was coached by high school players,” he said. “Now I’m coaching youth players. I’m giving back for what people did for me.”
And he’s more than happy to do that.
“I love helping little kids with the knowledge and make them love the sport the way I do,” said Greco.
Next year Greco will be playing lacrosse at Cabrini College.
“I went for an overnight and just loved the campus and the guys there,” he said. “I loved the coaching. Every guy there was cool. It was like a big family. I fell in love with it.”
An added benefit was that it was close to home so his parents could watch him play.
“I wanted to stay close,” he said. “My dad and mom love watching me play. They’ve supported me my whole life. I didn’t want to take that away from them. They come to every single game.”
He plans on majoring in criminal justice. He comes by his interest naturally. His grandfather was a cop and his second cousin is a state trooper.
He isn’t sure what aspect of criminal justice he’ll eventually pursue, but if he takes it as seriously as lacrosse, he’ll be very successful.
