BOND OF BROTHERS: Lacrosse siblings all wear No. 6

By GLAE THIEN

THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE |MARCH 21, 2010

For Torrey Pines High freshman Lucas Gradinger, lacrosse is a game of brotherly love. That’s expressed rather forcefully when he practices with his two older siblings.

Nick and Max Gradinger have taken the kid gloves off during workouts with their little brother now that he has followed them on the Falcons varsity. In turn, Lucas is ready to learn all he can from the two college players.

“We’ve played in the backyard since I was little,” Lucas said. “It’s getting to the point that they’ll play with me more intensely now that I’m in high school. It’s like I’m fair game.”

As Lucas enters the prep scene, Nick is completing his college career at the University of Denver as a graduate student after a year off because of injury. Max is in his junior season at Vermont.

“It’s an exciting year to see all three playing (at the scholastic level),” said their father, Leo, who played football at San Diego State in 1979 and ’80. “Also, it marks the end of an era.”

An easy way to identify the Gradinger brothers is by the No. 6 each has on his jersey. Nick first wore it at Torrey Pines as a tribute to his dad, who once wore that number. When Nick started his college career at Cornell, Max assumed the number for the Falcons during his sophomore year. Lucas followed suit.

The family member who originally had a lacrosse background is their mother, Melanie, who grew up in Maryland, part of the East Coast hotbed for the game.

“My mom always spoke about lacrosse,” Nick said, “and we had no idea what it was until it started (locally).”

The brothers got their formal introduction to lacrosse thanks to the advent of a club program in Rancho Santa Fe. At the time, Nick was in eighth grade, and Max was in fifth. Lucas was not in school but had an eye on his brothers.

“I watched a countless number of their games over the years, and you just pick up so many little things,” Lucas said. “Just being around all the games, you really learn a lot.”

Nick and Max combined in their only season together at Torrey Pines to help the Falcons win the San Diego Section title in 2004. As a senior, Max led Torrey Pines to another section crown while earning Player of the Year honors in 2007.

“Being the middle guy, I’ve always liked it,” Max said. “I’ve had my older brother to make me tough, and I’ve gotten to pick on my little one.”

The two older brothers have traditionally played defense. Nick has become a 6-foot-4, 245-pound enforcer in college. At 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, Max is a finesse player.

Nick enjoyed a college highlight when Cornell reached the Final Four in 2007 before losing in the semifinals to Duke on a last-minute goal. A back injury sidelined him last season. Since he couldn’t play as a grad student in the Ivy League, he transferred to Denver to use his last year of eligibility and pursue a master’s degree.

While Nick serves as a team captain at Denver, Max has that role at Vermont this season.

Unlike his brothers, Lucas is an offensive player. To his advantage, the 5-foot-10, 140-pounder goes against his brothers on defense.

“Max and I have been able to teach him little nuances that can really help his game,” Nick said. “Also, we toughen him a little bit when we beat him up on the field.”

Of course, it’s all in the name of brotherly love.