September Halftime Report - Joey Porchetta

Growing up in New Jersey, a state that is home to many powerhouse high school lacrosse programs, Joey Porchetta was introduced to the sport fairly early. While he tried most sports, lacrosse was always his favorite. It was fast-paced, required agility and strength, and it was fun. Decades later, Porchetta has moved a few states south, but his love for the game, the lessons it taught him, and the relationships he has built through it remain driving forces as he steps into his first season as Head Coach of the CCES Varsity Boys Lacrosse program.

 

Joey marks the 2nd grade as his first year of organized lacrosse and before long, he was spending every free moment practicing with his twin brother, Anthony, and their group of friends. On the weekends, they would drive to Long Island, NY and watch Hofstra play. Their parents did not have a background in lacrosse, but jumped right in, going to games and supporting the two as they played a sport they loved.

 

Anthony played goalie, while Joey was on the other side of the ball as an attackman. Over the years, the two have spent thousands of hours practicing lacrosse, working on their individual skills, and at the same time, pushing one another to be better. Joey and Anthony went on to play together at Seton Hall Preparatory School, one of the premier lacrosse programs in the state, under the leadership of Dave Giarrusso, whom players affectionately called Coach G.

 

Coach G recalls the sweet relationship between the two brothers on the field and the different aspects of leadership they brought to the team. He calls them the “perfect combination” when trying to establish the team’s culture of community. Where Anthony was more serious in tone, Joey brought tons of energy. He says, “The two of them truly connected with all players and always pushed their teammates to be the best versions of themselves.”

 

Coach G believes those same characteristics that Joey displayed in high school will lead to success as a head coach. Joey understands the bigger picture of developing players’ character through the game of lacrosse, and Dave is confident Joey will pass on those invaluable lessons to his players and their families. “Culture is what Joey cares about, and community will be what he builds [at CCES].”

 

Almost from the get go, Joey’s goal was to play at the collegiate level. He loved the structure that playing a sport provided and believed that would help him in college, academically and socially. He went on to play for three seasons at Franklin and Marshall College in PA before transferring to High Point University in North Carolina in 2015.

 

Stephen McCullogh, teammate and good friend at Franklin and Marshall, describes Joey as “the nicest guy,” someone who just loves people and loves life. Stephen and Joey put in hundreds of extra hours together as they tried to earn more playing time on the field. Some of Stephen’s favorite memories are going to the playground to push tires and getting kicked off the local high school field because they were wearing it thin with all the time they spent shooting. Eventually, Stephen got in some games and was able to score a few goals. In those moments, Joey was the first guy off that bench to congratulate his friend and teammate. Stephen says, “Joey wasn’t getting playing time, but he was still so excited for me. You can’t fabricate that, being so selfless that you’re genuinely pumped for a friend because you’ve put in the work together.”

 

During that time, Anthony was playing lacrosse at High Point, and it was hard for the two brothers not to be there for one another in person. But despite the distance, they remained in constant communication. Anthony says, “It was so great to have each other. We were going through similar situations and could turn to each other for support. I rarely went a day without hearing from Joey.”

 

The first game Anthony started was against Drexel, with the game being played in Philadelphia. He was excited to have his family there, but knew Joey wouldn’t be able to make it with his conflicting game schedule. However, during the game, he heard a voice shouting his name -- a voice that sounded a lot like Joey. Sure enough, Joey had figured out a way to make it to see his brother’s first collegiate start. High Point lost that game, but Anthony calls it “the highlight of my career to have Joey there with the family.”

 

When Joey transferred to High Point, he joined the program that Anthony had been instrumental in helping build. Anthony had joined the team in its first year, a time when there were only 13 guys and most people he told didn’t even know where it was, confusing it with West Point. Coach Jon Torpey believed then and still believes that a program is only as good as the quality of people in it. He was looking to bring in players that were authentic and had strong values first and foremost, over whatever they brought on the field. He calls the Porchettas a “phenomenal family” and says that he was always looking for guys like Anthony. So when Joey reached out about transferring, Jon immediately brought him in as a manager, where Joey helped with anything and everything.

 

Jon hopes that his program instills values in all players that will translate to coaching if they want, but says Joey has always had the “midas touch” of making an impact “everywhere he goes.” He calls Joey a natural leader -- one who has a great sense of connecting with others, but who isn’t afraid to admit when he’s wrong. “Joey loves the sport of lacrosse, but more importantly, he loves people.” He is confident that Joey’s authenticity and heart for others will lend itself to success in loving and leading well, both on and off the field.

 

Coach G and Coach Torpey are two on the long list of coaches who have had a lasting impact on Joey throughout the years -- people who have shaped him as a person and who have been an inspiration throughout his coaching journey. Joey has served in multiple assistant and coordinator capacities on several different teams, but is excited to step into his new role as Boys Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach this year. While he wants his team to be “the most competitive program in the state” on the field, he also wants to develop his players as “men of integrity” in all areas of life. His vision is one of service, hard work, and inclusivity -- one where “upperclassmen lead by example, where teammates build one another up, to lead and love well, and to dream big.”

 

As someone who knows Joey better than almost anyone else in the world, Anthony is more than confident in the future of the CCES Boys Lacrosse program under Joey’s leadership. Anthony notes the delicate time that high school can be for students and the importance of positive role models in their lives. He says, “Joey is supportive of and cares for anyone and everyone he meets. He has one of the biggest hearts out of anyone I know and CCES is in great hands with him.”