PAINT IT BLACK: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Owen Black heads upfield in recent action. Last Monday, senior star and Villanova-bound Black helped Hun defeat the Shipley School (Pa.) 14-8 in the opening round of the Inter-Ac Challenge. Two days, earlier, Black enjoyed a big Senior Day, scoring three goals to help Hun defeat Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) 16-4 and clinch its second straight Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title. Hun, now 11-6, will face Lawrencville in the Inter-Ac quarterfinals on May 18 in Conshohocken, Pa. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Owen Black has devoted more than a third of his life to playing lacrosse at the Hun School.

Starring as a Hun middle school player for three years, Black moved up to varsity in 2013 and immediately made an impact for the Raiders.

Over the next four years, the flashy midfielder has helped Hun win the state 2015 Prep A title and advance to the Inter-Ac Challenge title game last year as it ended up ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Last Saturday, when Black was honored with his fellow classmates on the program’s Senior Day before Hun hosted the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.), he had decidedly mixed emotions.

“It is bittersweet knowing that a lot of us are moving on to the next chapter of our lacrosse careers and our lives here at Hun,” said Black, who is headed to Villanova where he will be playing for its men’s lax program along with older brother, Brendan, a former Hun star.

“It has been a great seven years here. I love playing with these guys and I hope we can pass something down to these young guys and instill the same sense of character that the older guys instilled in us when we were younger.”

For Black, the program’s rise to national prominence is something he will always remember.

“Looking back it is just amazing to see where we started and where we have ended up as one of the better programs around,” said Black.

“Coming from humble beginnings, appreciating every single win, and just what we have done.”

After the pregame ceremony, Black scored three goals to help Hun cruise to a 16-4 win over Mercersburg as it clinched a second straight Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title in the process.

“We started off a little slow but once we got going everyone was moving the ball well and we got our feet moving,” said Black. “We played a pretty good game there towards the end. It is a good way to go out. It was nice to have some success late in the season on our home field in front of our fans on Senior Day.”

Hun felt very good about defending its league title. “Winning the MAPL means a lot,” said Black.

“We did it last year but we fell short in the states this year (losing 13-6 to Lawrenceville in the Prep A final on May 9). It is nice to have that MAPL win and getting towards the Inter-Ac
Challenge. It was good to just get some things out of our system and work on our newer plays and newer aspects of the game and be able to take them into the Inter-Ac.”

It has been nice for Black to develop a connection with post-graduate teammate Luke Prybylski, who will be also be playing at Villanova.

“Playing with Luke this year has been awesome,” said Black of Prybylski, who had two goals and six assists in the win over Mercersburg.

“I am definitely looking forward to going into the next four years with him. I am happy he came this year so we could form that bond and relationship early and be able to use that for our next four years together.”

Hun head coach MV Whitlow has enjoyed his four years with the Hun seniors.

“This is a group of seniors that I came in with; they were freshmen in my first year with the program,” said Whitlow.

“Owen, Chris Andrews, and Pat Brake, guys that had been with Hun as lifers. It is a special day to honor them and their parents.”

As expected, the Hun seniors stepped up on their day. “Luke Prybylski having six assists was big for us and the play of Owen Black; he is always our leader,” added Whitlow, whose group of seniors also included Michael Farnish, Matt Schleicher, Kyle Horihan, Alex Semler, Charles Nestlerode, James Campbell, and Jon Levine. “The senior leaders were the leaders.”

Whitlow liked the quality of play he got across the board in the win over Mercersburg.

“They played well as a team, they were sharing the ball well as a team,” said Whitlow.

“Everybody was looking for each other, looking for assists, and looking to move the ball.”

Building on its MAPL title, Hun will be looking to make another run in the Inter-Ac Challenge.

“It is always an honor to win the MAPL regular season championship,” said Whitlow, whose team defeated the Shipley School (Pa.) 14-8 in the opening round of the Inter-Ac last Monday to move to 11-6 and will now face Lawrenceville in the quarterfinals on May 18 in Conshohocken, Pa.

“Now we enter into the Inter-Ac tournament and hopefully put our best foot forward there at the end of the season. There is great competition in that tournament and we have got to take one game at a time. We have to play a very high level of high school lacrosse, winning face-offs, taking care of possession, and playing team defense.”

Black, for his part, believes that Hun’s success in 2015 at the competition should give it confidence. “I think last year’s run helps to encourage this year’s team to try to do the same, if not better,” said Black, who tallied four goals in the win over Shipley. “We can use last year to fuel what we are about to go into this year and maybe being able to play Lawrenceville another time.”