Jack Farrell ’26 first began playing lacrosse in first grade. He now leads Boys Lacrosse as a defenseman and Co-Captain.
Farrell shared that his leadership style is rooted in positive experiences with the Co-Captains in his Lower and Upper years at Andover. He added that as a leader, he aims to stay grounded, open to giving a helping hand to his younger teammates and never holding himself higher than them.
“I try to model how I lead based on my previous [Co-]Captains. My [Lower] year and last year, I had some really good [Co-]Captains. First one in and last one out, hard work, and being there for the team, that’s what I’ve tried to stress the most. Not making the [Juniors] carry the balls. I’ll pick up the bucket every once in a while and just try to be there for the guys rather than holding myself higher than them,” said Farrell.
Brayden Ko ’28 emphasized Farrell’s balance of work ethic and approachability, which positively reflects onto the team.
“He leads by example. A lot of the actions that he does I really look up to. He’s always super caring, [and he is the] first one on the field and last one off. He’s super hardworking, [he] really gets all the boys dialed, and he’s someone you can really trust and know that he’s got your back. That makes you and the people around you want to have his back as well,” said Ko ’28.
Farrell’s leadership, notably through strong communicative abilities with coaches and his Co-Captain, has been especially impactful for new players who are adjusting to team culture and norms. Ko mentioned Farrell’s ability to create a welcoming environment for him and others.
“Without hesitation, he instantly gave me a place where I felt comfortable. He helped me get to places, learn about the team, and get settled. At practice, scrimmages, or preseason, there were times people were unsure about things, like what time the bus was leaving, but Jack always took the initiative. He was always the guy to step up, whether that was asking coaches, making decisions, or talking with [Co-Captain Nick Norris ’26] and the team,” said Ko ’28.
As a defender, Farrell shared that he employs physicality strategically, also noting his occasional excursions into offense.
“I like to try and bring physicality when I can, but it’s more technical. I’m not just going around and trying to take people’s heads off. I’m trying to take people’s heads off at the right time and, even though I play defense, I like to have the ball on my stick. I like to push transition, play[ing] a little offense whenever I can,” said Farrell.
From a player’s perspective, Daniel Ko ’29 praised Farrell for his defensive capabilities.
“He’s a pretty patient defenseman. He’s good at reading the body. He’s really good with his stick, especially… As an attacker, it’s very uncomfortable having him guard you,” said Ko ’29.
Next year, Farrell plans to compete for Wesleyan University’s Division III Men’s Lacrosse program.
