In a season that could have been borrowed from a movie script, the Manhasset Indians captured the Nassau County Class C/D Boys Lacrosse Championship for the first time since 1995. The team went on to be crowned Long Island champions and prevailed in the New York State East Region before being edged out by a goal in the New York State Lacrosse Championship final.

A championship season seemed improbable, if not impossible, on the night of March 31 when the team suffered a devastating 20-8 defeat at the hands of Garden City in the second game of the season. What followed is as classic an example of perseverance, dedication, and redemption as can be found in athletic competition. Though shaken by their early defeat, the team vowed to regain respect and to make it a special season. Their coaches, Alan Lowe and Robert Rule, assured the team of their continued confidence. Only a week after the Garden City defeat, the boys were scheduled to play nationally ranked Darien, the eventual Connecticut state champion. That's when a very special friend and mentor, Frank Bice, became part of the team and inspired it to an unforgettable season.

Frank Bice is an outstanding son of Manhasset who has kept close ties to the community for many years. An exceptional lacrosse and football player, Frank suffered a spinal cord injury while playing collegiate football. In the years since, he has been an inspirational example to others, particularly to young people, in overcoming adversity. He proved to be exactly that to the varsity lacrosse team, leading a motivational discussion at the pre-game pasta party and traveling to Darien to be with the team as they played. It proved to be the turning point, with Manhasset downing the heavily favored Darien, 11-9.

The C/D Conference games ahead with highly regarded Bethpage, Lynbrook, and Cold Spring Harbor were critical to a playoff seeding. Having won games against lesser conference teams, the Indians were building on the confidence they had gained against Darien. That confidence was reinforced by the presence of Frank Bice at every pasta party and at every game.

The road to the Nassau County Championship began with a 15-9 victory over Bethpage on May 2, avenging a loss a year earlier. The Indians hit a bump in the road a week later, when they lost 14-8 to Lynbrook, the toughest competition in conference C/D. The Lynbrook game also marked a season ending injury to key attackman Ward Bitter. On May 12, Manhasset defeated Cold Spring Harbor, 10-9, to end the regular season with a 13-2 record, far better than anyone would have predicted on March 31.

The injury-plagued Indians faced Bethpage again in the Nassau County semi-finals and emerged with a 12-11 victory to earn a rematch against Lynbrook. Given the result of the first game, it would require a special effort to take the Nassau County championship from the defending champion. As he had all season, Frank Bice provided special motivation to the team that he had become an integral part of. On May 30, the fired-up Manhasset Indians took to the Hofstra University turf and defeated Lynbrook 14-10, bringing home the Nassau County title. The comeback was now reality. Manhasset, however, continued its victorious ways, defeating Shoreham-Wading River 15-8 for the Long Island championship, and Section 1 champion, Somers 11-7, for the East Region championship. The New York state championship, played at Syracuse University on June 9, barely eluded the Indians, who suffered a 9-8 loss to Penn Yan Academy.

Frank Bice could not attend the state final in Syracuse due to his stepdaughter's graduation. However, he sent a letter to his team, which was read to them in the locker room before the game. He said,

First of all, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you guys for being the great young men that you are.

When I was asked to speak at your homes this spring, I thought that you guys would not want to hear what I had to say.

After that first night, and all of the other nights of being a welcomed guest in your homes, I began to realize what an incredible group of young men that you are.

Never in my life have I seen a group of athletes pick themselves up after a devastating defeat, strap on your helmets, and go out and have the type of season that you've had. Most teams would have given up and quit. You guys did just the opposite. You took one game at a time and showed the lacrosse world how tough you are and how much heart that you have.

The game that showed me what an outstanding group of players that you are was when you beat Lynbrook in the playoffs. You guys totally dominated Lynbrook by being so aggressive on the defense and getting the ground balls. Lynbrook didn't know what hit them because you controlled the ground balls.

Twenty years ago I walked onto an athletic field to put my heart and soul into a game because I understood something that each and every one of you understand. You and I know that who we are as human beings can be defined by how much we are willing to sacrifice for our teammates. You can look me in the eye and I'll tell you that I have no regrets because I know in my heart that I gave everything that I could. Today, you will win this game because you will give everything that you have. You are the greatest group of young men that I've ever met in my life. Every single one of you has so much class, and heart, and pride. I'm proud to know you guys. Win this game today. Win it for your families, your teammates of Manhasset, and for yourselves. Be a part of history. God bless you and get the ground balls.

The Indians took Frank's advice and gave it everything that they had. With an 18-3 season, a Nassau County championship, a Long Island championship, and a New York state finalist award, they gave Manhasset a season befitting the Manhasset lacrosse tradition. It was as inspirational as it was improbable and the 2001 team ultimately proved itself to be one of the best.

This article recaps an entire season and could not begin to highlight the stellar contributions made by individual team members. The Manhasset lacrosse tradition will continue, but the following seniors who will graduate on June 22 are now part of its history: Matt Belz, Ward Bitter, Matt Bognacki, Mike Breslin, Denis Cole, Sean Denihan, Greg Emmanuelidis, Andrew Giaimo, Dan Jagenburg, Jim Judge, Mike Kennedy, Mark Klein, Will Lawrence, Yi Ying Liu, James Maimone-Medwick, Ryan Miller, Bob O'Connor, George Papadopoulos, Dan Ross and Scott Zaremba.