Langley 2006 graduate Robbie Maclay's impact is still fresh in the minds of lacrosse fans, players and coaches in the Northern Region. Maclay just graduated from Langley after having competed in 12 seasons of sports and after becoming the first athlete to do so in 10 years at the McLean-based high school. He also shattered records while with the Saxons lacrosse team.
Maclay, who will continue his lacrosse career at Div. I University of Vermont next year, was selected as a US Lacrosse All-American this past season after leading the Saxons to the consolation round of the Northern Region tournament.
"For a long time now, lacrosse has been my life," said Maclay, who will attend Vermont on a full scholarship next season.
"This guy never missed a day of picking up the stick and throwing the ball," said his mother Meredith.
MACLAY HAD several options to choose from between his eighth grade year and his freshman year of high school.
"Robbie has left a legacy with our younger players," said Langley lacrosse coach Earl Brewer, "that you don't always have to be the fastest or strongest player, but you have to work hard. You can't just pick up your stick in February and put it away and June."
Already a standout of the lacrosse field, Maclay turned heads from an early age and put himself in an elite class of players that could most likely "make it" at the private school level at such D.C. Metro area powerhouse lacrosse programs as Bullis and Landon.
Had Maclay made the decision to try his luck at the private school level, the Northern Region would have been robbed of one of the most exciting lacrosse talents it has seen to date.
"I love practicing lacrosse. It never felt like work," said Maclay, who graduated this past week as Langley High School's all-time career goal-scorer (151 career goals). Maclay followed a junior year in which he set the school record for single season goals (60) with a senior year in which he catapulted the Saxons (14-4) into the semifinals of the Northern Region tournament with 58 goals and 23 assists. Langley lost an 8-7 decision to eventual AAA state champion Robinson.
Maclay was named Langley's Most Valuable Player and he was also recently named Langley's Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. Maclay was also selected, as one of only five players from Virginia and 300 players throughout the country, as a High School All-American by US Lacrosse.
"We have only had three other All-Americans in our lacrosse program," said Maclay. "It was always something I shot for, but I never thought it would really happen. It helped me that everyone on our team was so good. Everything clicked in the past two years."
Maclay lettered nine times while at Langley. He was a utility player for the Saxons 4-6 football team and spent time with both the track and wrestling teams. Maclay was the first athlete at Langley in 10 years to play 12 seasons of sports.
MACLAY WILL play Div. I lacrosse at the University of Vermont. The Liberty District's Player of the Year and first team all-region selection will have to start from scratch. "Its just going to be that much more intense," he said. "I am going to have to practice that much more in the offseason. I just can't wait. I know it's going to be a lot of work and a huge commitment, but that's what I have been looking forward to."
Robbie Maclay is 89 in a survey of the area's Top 100 Athletes by Connection Newspapers in 2000.