Lakeland-Panas Lacrosse Player, Robbie Caffrey, to Represent Hudson Valley in Empire State Games

To some, the notion of revolving you entire summer around lacrosse may seem a bit much.

For Robbie Caffrey, who missed the first two tryouts for the Empire State Games (as Lakeland-Panas' banner season extended into the state playoffs) but still managed to make the team, it's simply a springboard to success.

Caffrey staked his claim as one of the most prolific scorers in Section I this season. A blink-quick 5-foot-8 middie, Caffrey's penchant for leaking out in transition, ability to knife through defenses with an array of tantalizing mano-e-mano moves, and quick-strike rips helped catapult Lakeland-Panas to the Section I/Class A championship.

Now, Caffrey will have the opportunity to play on a star-spangled squad, representing the Section I/9 regions of New York State (Hudson Valley), in one of the more prestigious prep lacrosse events along the eastern seaboard.

"Tryouts were grueling," said Caffrey, who estimates that about 90 players were in attendance for the multiple day tryouts.

"Players from Section 1 and Section 9 were competing, fighting hard for a spot. There were actually some college coaches at the practice, like five or six. After they made the second set of cuts, there were only about 50 people left. It's a really big deal to make it."

Caffrey wanted to separate himself from the rest of the players.

"I was either going to the goal and shooting or making a play around the net," the Rebels' rising senior said. "I also hustled, tried to get ground balls, and just bought into the things that coaches want players to do. That's what I was trying to do. I was trying to make things happen and stand out and get myself on the team."

The Empire Games, which are back after a one-year sabbatical due to budget issues, will take place in Buffalo starting July 21. Caffrey's season with Hudson Valley has already begun, as they've been playing against local competition in the Sound Shore summer league.

"It's definitely a nice accomplishment," said Caffrey, of being chosen to play alongside a bevy of the county's elite.

"I definitely want to represent Section I on the bigger stage. You always want to defend the home team and home turf and beat out-of-area opponents. This is something even bigger than that, and we know it's going to be some top-level competition."

Playing against collegiate players, former professionals, and older teams with more established players in Sound Shore (which includes teams throughout Westchester and Putnam County) has helped Caffrey and the Hudson Valley prepare for the intense, top-tier teams they'll be matched up against at the Empire State Games.

"We know the competition we're going up against right now is going to help us down the road," Caffrey explained. "It was definitely hard to get in [to Empires], it's kind of like the Olympics for New York State. So just witnessing how hard it was here and how competitive the team is gives me an idea of what those hotbeds and big lacrosse schools in other parts of the state will look like."

Caffrey's game has already garnered attention from schools such as Gettysburg, Wesleyan, Trinity, and Division-I Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. With a "who's who" of college coaches and scouts projected to be in attendance, Caffrey's performance in Empire State Games could potentially provide him some more college exposure.

If Caffrey performs the way he did in the state playoffs and during the Rebels 8-7 overtime thriller over Yorktown in the 2010 Section I championship when he implemented some dizzying moves, blasted two goals and contributed the game-winning assist, he could be sifting through a few scholarship offers by the end of the summer.

The player wants to string together wins and leave Buffalo with a nice shiny souvenir.

"The group of guys I have with me are really hard workers," said Caffrey of his teammates. "It's definitely a good mix of guys, all of whom play together all year around. That's going to be good for communication and team chemistry. The guys play all around all year and are familiar with each other."

Lacrosse has absorbed Caffrey this summer.

In addition to playing for Hudson Valley in the Sound Shore league (the team holds morning practices at Horace Greeley high school in Chappaqua two times a week), Caffrey plays for Somers-based West Rock on the travel team circuit. Recently named to the coaching staff at West Rock is Lakeland-Panas high school coach Jim Lindsay, who helped guide Caffrey and the Rebels to the New York State Final Four this year.

"Robbie's best in the open field and he has the ability to get open," Lindsay said. "He capitalizes on all the other guys' work moving the ball around."

Caffrey evolved into one of the top juniors in the state this season, scoring at will. He scored five goals or more multiple times this season. One of the more memorable performances occurred when Caffrey exploded for eight goals and three assists during a thorough dismantling of Warwick in the state quarterfinal.

"I'm ready for the challenge," Caffrey said. "There's nothing like being able to represent the area on a big stage like this."