By James Joseph
WSL Senior Features Writer

When Ian Gray began playing lacrosse in third grade, he was a goalie. Gray's two lacrosse-playing older brothers pretty much decided upon his position.

“They wanted somebody to shoot on,” Gray said. “So they put me in goal.”

Gray stayed in goal until eighth grade when he decided he was sick of getting hit with the ball – “I was over it,” he said. So Gray switched to defense. But his time in goal helped him at his new position.

“I transitioned really well because playing goalie had helped me be able to see the field really well,” said Gray, now a senior at Chaparral. “I was able to pick up the slides in middle school when most kids were trying to figure out what was going on.”

The field vision Gray developed while playing goalie, combined with his size (an athletic 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds) and tenacious play have helped him develop into one of the top defenseman in the country. Gray is ranked No. 2 among high school seniors in the Western United States, according to the WSL Elite 25 selection committee.

Gray lists his ability to gather ground balls and push the ball up the field as some of his strengths as a player. He said he needs to work on his foot speed.

Gray already has committed to play NCAA Division I college lacrosse at UMBC. But first he has a title to help defend at Chaparral.

Last season, Gray scooped up a team-high 50 ground balls, sparked the Firebirds’ transition game and helped lead them to the Arizona Youth Lacrosse League Division I state title, toppling two-time defending state champion Brophy Prep.

Another title is the goal this season for Gray and Chaparral.

“We’re looking to win it all,” Gray said. “We had a coaching change, so it’ll be different, but I feel like this team has enough talent that we’ll be able to go very far.”