COLUMBUS: Severino excited about NBHS lacrosse program

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   After moving to the area just a couple of years ago, Brett Severino was excited to find the chance to coach Northern Burlington High School boys lacrosse team.
   ”I’m pretty excited,” Severino said. “I had a good idea what they had. Over the summer, through the select league that some of the kids play in, I was able to pop in and take a look. I did talk to the assistant. It’s a newer program. It’s only seven years old, but there’s a good amount of athletes and good lacrosse players.
   ”It’s going to be a really good year. I’m excited.”
   Severino takes over for Dennis Mallon, who led the Greyhounds to an 11-8 season last year. Severino brings plenty of experience as a coach and player. He played four years at St. Joseph’s in Metuchen before playing four years at Richard Stockton College. Following his graduation there, he spent two seasons as an assistant at his college alma mater before coaching high school.
   Severino was 17-18 in two seasons as head coach at North Brunswick before spending last year as an assistant coach to his brother at East Brunswick. Now a math teacher at Northern Burlington, he is back to being a head coach.
   ”I think this team is really breaking out this year in terms of the players developing,” Severino said. “I have a great staff that was here last year, and the players and their families have welcomed me.”
   Severino has been most encouraged by the welcome that he’s gotten from the Greyhounds.
   ”Just from the preseason, it’s how receptive the kids are,” he said. “They’re very much into it. They want to learn. There’s not one kid that didn’t take constructive criticism and try to improve themselves. Being a younger program, you’d think it’d be tough to build up. But they’re willing to learn and want to build up.”
   Northern Burlington has a good mix of talent. Seniors are: Jesse Arnold, Matthew Chmiel, Nicholas Edelschein, Matthew Grossman, Jordan Herelle, Preston Tobin and Joe Amodio. Juniors are: Kyle Antonucci, Conner Griffith, Brian Moody, Scott Patterson, Conor Ryan, Ian Traver and Ross Patterson. Sophomores are: Brendan Arnold, Ray Delfing, Colin Fitzpatrick, Todd Hoisington, Joseph Labrum, Justin Layton, Sean Mullin, Bryan Runyon, Jesse Whitbeck, Nick Hammel, Trevor Ingram and Tony Pham. Freshmen are: Patrick Carver and Zach Nixon.
   ”The strength of the group is my captains,” Severino said of Jesse Arnold, Chmiel, Herelle and Tobin. “The support form them, is very big. I have a strong defense and midfield. I have a good attack to back them up and have a really good year. We have good depth in the midfield and strength on attack and defense. I think all the pieces are coming together and we’ll be really strong.
   ”I like their willingness to take the next step. They’re working on the details that you need to build up.”
   The Greyhounds will open the season on Friday against Notre Dame, an early challenge. Last year, Northern Burlington lost, 10-1, to them. Notre Dame is part of the Colonial Valley Conference schedule that will have Northern Burlington up against some more established programs.
   ”I feel we can hold our own,” Severino said. “I think it’ll be a real good year. I can’t wait to get these guys out there playing against some of these teams and see what we have.”