Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Max Sleeper (Boys Lacrosse)
Leominster High School senior Max Sleeper has made a significant impact on the boys lacrosse program, an impressive achievement for someone relatively new to the sport.
“I started playing lacrosse my freshmen year,” Sleeper said. “Me and my buddies all wanted to give it a try and signed up together.”
Now in his senior season, Sleeper is in his third year as a starter and serves as a team captain while leading the team in goals and points. He opened the season with four goals in a win over Doherty Memorial High School and followed that with five goals, including the game-winner, in an overtime victory against North Middlesex Regional High School. He added another game-winning goal in a 5-4 win over Groton-Dunstable Regional High School.
“Max is our go-to guy on offense this year,” said varsity head coach Colin Davis. “He has really stepped up as a leader and as a player and improved all aspects of his game. He is a huge reason why we are 4-2 and off to our best start since 2021.”
“I have learned from coach Davis over the years that success doesn't only come in the form of individual achievements and goals,” Sleeper said. “Rather, it also comes in setting up everyone else around you to succeed. It’s important to make whatever impact you can to achieve the biggest goal: winning games as a team.”
Sleeper says his favorite part of the program is the bond he shares with his teammates.
“Our team has a very strong bond, and we don't turn on each other even if we have a bad game or practice,” Sleeper said. “We are a big family that always have each other's backs no matter what on and off the field.”
After graduation, Sleeper plans to attend UMass Amherst to major in accounting, with the goal of becoming a certified public accountant and pursuing a career in corporate finance or personal accounting.
Outside of lacrosse, Sleeper has been a member of the LHS golf team and the National Honor Society. He also enjoys golfing and fishing with his brother and friends.
“My favorite class at LHS has been AP World History,” Sleeper said. “The subject is very interesting, and history is my favorite subject. Ms. Murphy formatted the class very well and made it very interesting.
“My favorite teacher is Mr. Doherty. I have never had him in an academic class, but I have been his teaching assistant for the past two years. I always enjoy going and talking about our lacrosse games.”
Sleeper’s impact on the program is best summed up by his head coach: “He's a tireless worker, a great student, and an excellent leader and role model for the younger kids in our program,” Davis said.