Trevor Baptiste ’14 is one of the greatest faceoff specialists the game of lacrosse has ever seen. He has captured an NCAA Division 1 National Championship, won an Olympic Gold Medal, earned Professional Lacrosse League MVP honors, and set numerous professional and collegiate records. Baptiste didn’t develop a true passion for the sport, however, until his freshman year at Morristown Beard School. In fact, when he entered MBS, his main sport was swimming, not lacrosse.

For him, Morristown Beard School was truly a place of possibilities.

“I played a little lacrosse before high school, but my love of the game grew as I progressed through the MBS program,” said Baptiste. “Coach Sal Tromonda and Coach Kevin Meany were extremely instrumental in getting me to where I am today and helping me find myself in the game.”

MBS coach Bill Rentiers was also extremely influential and suggested that Baptiste should learn how to take faceoffs during his freshman season. “We had a great starter in Ryan Martin ’12, but we needed some more depth, so Coach Rentiers—who also took faceoffs when he played lacrosse—started teaching me the position.”

Baptiste put in long hours and worked hard to develop his technique. By the time he was a senior, he was the top player in New Jersey at his position, earning First Team All-State honors, winning 80 percent of his faceoffs, and leading MBS to a stellar 19-3 record and the number 17 ranking in the state.

Throughout his time at MBS, Baptiste still found time to compete as part of the swim team all four years, and he also hosted Morning Meetings as a senior—an activity that helped him branch out and develop confidence.

“MBS prepared me for college in so many ways,” he said. “One thing that really sticks out to me was having the freedom to manage your time. The scheduling of classes was similar to college, and it gave students a little more freedom – and responsibility. There was always help for anyone who needed it, yet similar to college, you have some space to figure out what you need to do to succeed.”

After MBS, Baptiste enrolled at the University of Denver, where he led the Pioneers to an NCAA Division 1 National Championship in his freshman season and earned All-American First Team honors for four straight years. Additionally, he was a four-time All-Big East First Team selection and a four- time Tewaaraton Award nominee. He finished his NCAA career as a record- holder with more than 1,100 faceoff wins and a .714 win percentage.

In the summer of 2018, Baptiste helped lead the U.S. men's lacrosse team to its first world title since 2010 as Team USA captured the championship following a thrilling 9-8 win over Canada in Israel.

Professionally, he was the drafted first overall by the Boston Cannons in the Major Lacrosse League. He now plays with the Philadelphia Wings (National Lacrosse League) and Atlas Lacrosse Club (Professional Lacrosse League) and was recently named the PLL’s Most Valuable Player.

His advice for today’s MBS students is simply to seize opportunities and be yourself. “You’re in one of the best environments to have an amazing high school experience. Make sure you take it all in,” he said. “All of the amazing experiences might be missed if you spend too much time focusing on trying to be something or someone you’re not. Just be you because you’re all great the way you are.”