While Luke Caldwell, Jacob Sanderson and Ryan Foret are earning the headlines as high-powered scorers for the Hopewell Valley Central High lacrosse team; a brother tandem is also helping to energize the Bulldogs engine in different ways.
Through HoVal’s 9-5-1 start, senior midfielder Mike Meissner led the team with 107 faceoffs won and 78 ground balls. He also chipped in 17 goals and five assists, and has been playing stellar defense in front of his freshman brother Dean, who took over in goal when Hopewell lost its expected senior starter at that position.
The two consider themselves wrestlers first and foremost. Mike will be going to The College of New Jersey to wrestle next year, and Dean hopes to follow him there and do the same thing.
They both bring a wealth of athletic skills to lacrosse.
“They’re definitely into a lot of different things athletically,” coach Matt Foret said. “They played hockey when they were young. They wrestle, they surf in the summertime; they do a bunch of different things. It’s something we, as a coaching staff, preach to our kids. We want them to be involved in more than just lacrosse. We think it makes for a more all-around athlete and helps on the lacrosse field.”
Each brother is thrilled to be playing with the other. It was a pleasant surprise when Dean became the starting goalie.
“It’s a great experience,” Mike said. “Before our goalie left, I didn’t think I would be able to have him play on the roster with me. But it’s been great, having him at practice every day.”
The veteran is quick to point out he doesn’t have to look out for his little brother during a game. “He’s a dog, he scraps for himself,” Mike said. He added with a laugh: “He’s the one who starts the trouble. He’s always in it.”
Asked if he enjoys having one year to play with big bro, Dean said, “Absolutely. On the car ride home he’ll say, ‘You did this well today but you gotta call your slides,’ things like that. Just getting advice from a senior is amazing.”
In assessing their personalities, Foret feels Dean makes himself the more visible player on the field.
“Mike has that quiet, lead-by-example quality to him,” the coach said. “Dean’s a lot more vocal, a lot more energetic player. He gets excited when he’s having success. Sometimes it’s hard to get young players to be vocal, but he really strives to be the vocal leader of the defense for us.”
Despite his youth and slight stature, the freshman has no problem being heard.
“I know I’m small, and don’t present myself as a very loud person, but I love talking,” Dean said. “I’m not afraid to not shy away from conversation, whether it’s good or bad, on the field.”
The two come from an athletic family. Their mom and dad, Anne and Jim, were both rowers in college, and Anne also played lacrosse.
“My mom played at the collegiate level, and we always had a stick in our hand,” Mike said. “We played baseball, but that was always too slow for us. We wanted to come out and play something where we can run and work off energy.”
Anne has also become a pretty energetic fan.
“At games you hear my mom absolutely screaming, whether it’s bad or good,” Dean said. “She’s a huge influence. They’re both amazing, they’re great athletes. Even my dad, he didn’t play lacrosse but just being around athletes he tells us things to do.”
Mike was the first to play lacrosse, starting in the Hopewell rec league in third grade. He began wrestling a few years later. Dean was a wrestler first but dove into lacrosse due to Mike’s influence.
“He’s a big part of the reason why I play,” Dean said. “I like doing everything with him, it’s really cool. Even out here when I’m making saves and I pass him the ball it’s an amazing feeling.
“I didn’t start as a goalie, I just did it because we needed one in rec, and I stuck with it. I love goalie. The feeling you get when you make a save is awesome.”
The two were fairly awesome on the wrestling mat this past winter. Both finished second in the Mercer County Tournament, Dean won a district title and Mike took second in districts.
Prior to that, they spent the summer and fall surfing in Brigantine, where the family has a shore house. Dean also surfs in the Eastern Surfing Association which he says features “some high level surfing, but with all the sports we do we can’t attend to it as much now.”
By keeping so active in different areas, the brothers felt ready to roll when lacrosse season came around.
“It helps us not get burned out and we always have a love for the season,” Mike said. “Whenever we’re in a season we’re like ‘Oh this is our favorite sport’ and then we transfer and we love it the same. I think keeping the variety and disciplines that cross over really helps us.”
Dean added that, “It keeps you staying fresh. I love wrestling but at the end of the season I’m burnt out ready to go on to my next adventure. With surfing, it keeps you fresh, and it’s really relaxing. It’s good for your mental attitude.”
And that strong mindset has led to solid physical play on the field. Foret quickly points out that Mike does more than just win faceoffs.
“He’s a very well-rounded midfielder,” the coach said. “He’s capable of playing offense, which he does for us this year. He’s capable of being effective defensively, which he’s done for us in the past as well. He’s a very multidimensional lacrosse player which is good for us.
“He’s also one of our captains. He shows every day, works hard. Doing faceoffs, you get dinged up a lot, and he doesn’t ever want to take any reps off in practice. He always shows up for his teammates.”
Then there is Dean, who has had several multi-save games as he learns the rigors of varsity play on the job in his first year.
“He’s shown a lot of improvement since the beginning of the season,” Foret said. “It’s a hard position to master. Compared to hockey, there’s a lot more to it than just stopping the ball. You have to stop the ball but also communicate to your defense, you have to be involved in the clearing game. He’s growing in all facets of the game throughout the season.”
Dean gives credit to the entire program for helping ease him into the varsity pressure cooker.
“I wasn’t planning on being our varsity starter this year, and coach Foret was very accepting and the whole team was accepting in giving me this job,” Dean said. “I love it. We have a family here. Hopewell is an amazing organization on and off the field. They made me feel welcome. It’s awesome.”
And there is, of course, the family within the family. And with that comes good-natured brotherly trash talk.
If Dean makes a save on Mike, the older brother says, “He’ll let you know about it.” If Mike scores, “I’ll let him know about it.”
How often does this go on?
“All day,” Mike said.
When it comes to brothers, that sounds about right.