Alexandria's Gazette Packet

T.C. Lacrosse's True Titan: Ray Fitzgerald
Coach Juris says the senior "Changed the culture of our team."

By Rich Sanders June 23, 2006

Ray Fitzgerald grew up playing such sports as baseball, soccer, and basketball at the youth level. But it was lacrosse he fell in love with once he got into high school."I like the whole contact thing and thought [lacrosse] was something I could excel in," said Fitzgerald.Fitzgerald, a team leader and part of a Titans lacrosse squad which captured the Patriot District title this spring, credits T.C. coach Charlie Juris and his coaching staff with teaching him the basics of the game."[Learning the game] was a challenge my first year," said Fitzgerald. "It's a whole different game. Charlie Juris and the assistants made it easier, made my transition easier."Fitzgerald played on the Titan varsity both his junior and senior years when the program was evolving into one of the top teams in the district. This past season's magical moment came when the Titans defeated Hayfield, 8-7, for the program's first-ever district crown."It was awesome," said Fitzgerald, a midfielder. "There were definitely people who didn't believe in us. There were times we didn't believe in ourselves. We lost some major players from last year [to graduation]. Last year we had a lot more stars on the team. [This year] we were better team players."Fitzgerald, who often played in pain this season with a high ankle sprain, said he did not have as good a season on the field (10 goals) as he would have liked. Still, he earned All-District Honorable mention accolades and, according to coach Juris, the youngster's leadership and emotional contributions came through loud and clear."We would not have won the Patriot District without Ray Fitzgerald [encouraging] everybody and energizing everybody the way he did," said Juris. "He really tried to adapt his game to help the team. He played hurt and he hobbled most of the season."Prior to the start of the playoffs, Juris said Fitzgerald helped get the Titans into the proper mindset."Ray is the one who went to the team and said, `We've got to pick it up,'" recalled Juris. "He did that just before the playoffs."During one particularly bad day of practice in which Juris was not pleased with his club's play earlier this season, Fitzgerald approached Juris afterwards."Ray came to me and asked `What do we have to do to make things right?'" recalled Juris. ..."The difference between this year's team and [last year's] was Ray Fitzgerald."FITZGERALD ALSO EXCELLED in football at T.C. where he played outside linebacker on the Titans' varsity the past two seasons. Fitzgerald, who credits coach Greg Sullivan with T.C.'s overall improvement on the gridiron in recent years, said he loved getting in on the defensive action."I like defending the run and getting in there and messing [plays] up," said Fitzgerald, who made Honorable Mention All-District his senior season.One of Fitzgerald's favorite hobbies is oil painting. He has created oil paintings of such figures as actor Robert Dinero and music icon Bob Marley. Ray said his parents — Ray Fitzgerald III and Lillian have always encouraged him and attended his athletic events. He said his dad has been an outstanding role model to him."He's a hard worker but doesn't ever complain," said the youngster. "That's who I model myself after."Fitzgerald said a profile on him would not be complete without mentioning the friends he has made over his four years in high school."I've made some great friends in all my sports," he said. Fitzgerald, who took numerous honors classes and finished with a 3.6 GPA his senior year, will be playing lacrosse collegiately next school year at Christopher Newport (Norfolk) where he plans to study engineering.Juris will never forget what Fitzgerald brought to his program."He's the closest thing T.C. Williams lacrosse has had that's a team captain," said Juris. "He changed the culture of our team and did it for the benefit of the team. This kid is a true Titan and he cares about the school."