Former baseball player finds outlet to be a better leader in lacrosse

By Erik T. Masingill ’12
THE ROUNDUP

At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 185 pounds, junior defenseman Charlie Hushek ’12 is a long stick midfielder on the varsity lacrosse team and has been on the varsity squad for three years now.

He verbally committed to play Division I lacrosse at Bryant University in Providence, R.I.

“I am really happy for Charlie and his commitment to Bryant. He is a great guy and works hard on and off the field,” said midfielder Brock Ghelfi ’12.

Even though Hushek has played lacrosse for Brophy ever since he came here, lacrosse was not his first sport he played, or even desired to play at first.

Before his fifth-grade year when he began playing lacrosse, Hushek played baseball, but did not care much for the game.

“I was tired of sitting on the bench.  None of my friends played lacrosse, it was something new and so I tried it,” Hushek said.

“I started lacrosse in fifth-grade in a Sunday league to just test the waters and see how I liked it. I fell in love with the sport and started playing competitively in sixth grade. From there I started playing on travel teams and that’s really where it took off,” Hushek added.

Hushek switched to lacrosse and enjoyed it, especially because every year he has played, his team has played in a state championship game.

“My team lost the first four championship games. Our Brophy team won one state last year, on my fifth try. Those earlier losses really made me want a championship and gave me extra drive to win,” Hushek said.

Hushek also feels that playing lacrosse has made him a better individual and role model for others.

“Lacrosse has given me an outlet to try and be a better leader and the game has taught me to be more patient. It also has taught me that hard work is the key to overcoming obstacles,” he said.

Not only does Hushek enjoy the sport of lacrosse, he loves the brotherhood he, his teammates and coaches have with each other.

“I love my team and I love my coaches. We spend a lot of time together and the team is kind of like a brotherhood. On the field we play hard and tempers may flare, but off the field we are all good buddies who love being around each other,” Hushek said.

He hopes that his teammates feel the same way about him as well.
“I hope that they look at me as someone who has their back. I’m fiercely loyal and I hope they think I’m a nice guy,” he said.

Teammates seemed to agree.

“Charlie has been a great teammate and friend ever since the eighth grade,” Ghelfi said. “I feel I can trust Charlie to do what he needs to do to win us the game.”

While playing lacrosse, Hushek experienced a moment in his life he will always cherish.

“After at tournament a mom came up to me and told me that during the game three boys in middle school had come to watch the game I was playing in, she overheard them asking where I was on the field. They had come to see me play,” Hushek said.

“This was something that was amazing to me because I remember when I was just starting and I would go to watch the older, better players,” Hushek continued. “Now it has come full circle and boys are coming to watch me play. This is something I will never forget … it was truly amazing.”

Hushek has come a far way since fifth-grade, but he expressed gratitude to those who have helped him.

“I am very thankful to my parents for all they have done for me over the years,” he said.

Hushek looks to improve his game when he plays on Bryant’s team in two years with the former USA World team assistant coach, Mike Pressler.

“I am really looking forward to taking my game to a whole new level,” Hushek said.