Tim Trenkle knows his Stony Brook men's lacrosse team has great expectations for the 2011 season, and the former three-sport player for Commack High School promises he will give his maximum effort.
Trenkle, a senior midfielder, scored two goals in the fourth quarter at Saturday's game, but the Seawolves lost 11-10 in overtime at home against top-ranked Virginia.
"This is my last year; so I really have to leave everything out on the field," said Trenkle. "That is what goes through my head."
Trenkle, who has started 33 consecutive Stony Brook games, has proven himself a valuable, versatile contributor for a team ranked among the top five in two preseason national polls and a strong favorite to win the America East Conference championship. He recalled the 2010 season (a school-best 13-4 record) when the Seawolves advanced to the NCAA Tournament, beating the University of Denver in the opening round, but losing 10-9 on their home field against Virginia in the quarterfinals.
"Coming off last season, with almost everybody coming back, we are expecting to go far and pull off some big wins," said Trenkle. "As a team, we want to go farther and go the Final Four."
Stony Brook reinforced its national respect by scoring six goals in the fourth quarter to rally against Virginia. Coach Rick Sowell's team wiped out a three-goal deficit and forced overtime against a perennial national power. "This was a big opportunity to prove that Stony Brook is the real deal," said the 6-3, 165-pound Trenkle. "We are here to do some damage and win."
Trenkle started playing lacrosse when he was seven years old for the Commack Warriors. After attending Christ the King Elementary School, he played for Commack Middle School and then bcame a four-year starter for the varsity Cougars. A 2007 Commack graduate, he scored a school-record 103 career goals for the Cougars, including 32 his senior season. He was also the starting quarterback for the 2006 football team and a starting guard in basketball. As a senior, he was named the team MVP for all three Commack varsity sports. "(Lacrosse) is the one I am the most athletic in and I have played all my life; winter, summer, spring," said Trenkle. "I pretty much play lacrosse year round."
His family gives him steady support and encouragement. His older brother, Bobby, also played for Commack High and moved on to play lacrosse for Stony Brook. His parents, Joan and Bob, and his two brothers attended Saturday's close game, including C.J., who attends Commack Middle School. They joined the crowd of 4,312 inside LaValle Stadium. After the overtime loss, his parents helped diminish his disappointment. "They said to 'keep your head up'," said Trenkle.
While Trenkle was not selected in the 2010 draft for pro lacrosse, he wants a chance to play for pay. "I am hoping to get drafted," he said. "I hope to continue to play. If not I want to go out with bang." Trenkle and his SBU teammates aim to bounce back next Saturday when they travel for a game at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.
