By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

Varsity boys lacrosse at Natick High is a family affair. And, that’s a good thing.

Nate Kittler, who’s beginning his 24th year at the Redhawks’ helm, has been the only coach in the program’s history. His son Brady competes as an attack and his nephew Jay is a defender. Both seniors, they’re in their third varsity season.

Some might raise their eyebrows when they see the Kittler name on the roster three times. But, consider these facts before the word ‘nepotism’ is uttered.

Nate Kittler has guided the Redhawks to 15 tournament appearances and Natick  currently has a streak of 13 straight berths. For the last two years with his son and nephew competing, the coach’s squads compiled an 18-2 record in 2021 and a 16-3 mark last year.

Kittler’s son and nephew could play for any team in the state. 

Brady scored 30 goals and assisted on 35 others for 65 points during his junior year. He was chosen a Bay State Conference first-team all-star and earned first-team honors on the Eastern Mass. Coaches All-Star team. Along with the Redhawks’ other attackmen, Brady helped Natick’s offense in a big way. Last year, Natick scored 208 goals in 19 games for an average of 10.9 goals per game.

Jay isn’t in a position to score goals or pile up assists but he’s dynamic in his approach to defense, constantly thwarting opposing attackmen as they maneuver towards the goalie. He’s valued for forcing turnovers at key junctures. Jaye was chosen a Bay State Conference second-team all-star. Nate Kittler calls his nephew “the leader of our defense,’’ and that’s not going overboard. Last year, Natick’s defenders and goalie allowed 74 goals in 19 games for a goals-against average of 3.9.

The Redhawks’ leadership team this year consists of four captains. Brady and Jay are two of them. The captains were selected by a vote of the players, not the coaches. The duo no doubt has the respect of their teammates.

Brady and Jay also excel in the classroom. Brady is an honor-roll student and Jay is a member of the National Honor Society.

Here’s Nate Kittler on Brady and Jay:

“Brady has strong hands, is athletic and a good finisher. His lacrosse IQ is high, he’s tough and resilient, and he’s got a very good relationship with his teammates. A high-quality captain, he leads by example and by being supportive of his teammates.

“Jay is an instinctive and intelligent player. His lacrosse IQ is very high and he understands defense so well. As a captain, he’s highly organized and he leads by example and by being vocal. Jay and Brady both grew up in Natick and they’re not only cousins, but also best friends. I coached them when they began playing lacrosse at age seven.’’

Following is a profile of Brady and Jay who discuss their goals for the season, their styles, and why they prefer playing attack and defense. They also provide a glimpse of their competitive philosophies and their futures.

BRADY KITTLER

Brady doesn’t hesitate when listing his goals for this season — he wants the big prize.

“I want us to win the Bay State Conference’s Carey Division title and the State championship,’’ he said. “My personal goals are to be the best captain I can be and to repeat as an all-star.’’

Brady is acutely aware that this year’s squad is young but he stands by his lofty objectives because of Natick’s rich lacrosse tradition. “We’ll need to develop team chemistry early,’’ he said. “We’ve got talent and once our younger players gain experience, we’ll be fine.’’

At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, Brady, who’s now 18, relies on strong technique, speed, quickness, and athleticism. On the field, his instincts and intelligence are easy to detect.

“My style is a blend of being aggressive and patient,’’ he noted. “I’m aggressive to the ball in front of the net, but I can be analytical and patient during the flow of the game.’’

He enjoys playing attack because that’s where scoring opportunities occur, but there’s other reasons. 

“There’s lots of moving and dodging,’’ Brady noted. “An attack can pile up numbers but it’s also a position where assists can be compiled. I try to play the position in an all-around way. And, the key to success is building team chemistry with the other attackers. Being able to anticipate our opponents’ next move is also important.’’

Brady points to Colby LeBlanc, last year’s top scorer and captain, as a role model. “Colby is playing at Siena College in New York,’’ Brady said. “He was very helpful when I was an underclassman. I want to lead by example and be supportive. Building confidence in younger players is important.’’

Brady’s best game came against archrival Framingham last year. Natick won decisively, 19-5. “I scored three goals and had two assists,’’ he said. “I caused some turnovers and played an all-around game.’’

His top thrill isn’t his two all-star selections but it’s the relationship he has with his father and his cousin. “Jay and I have a great relationship,’’ Brady said. “We’ve played together starting in the Natick youth league. I also like talking about lacrosse with my father. He answers all my questions.’’

Some may think Brady gets favored status since his dad is his coach. Not so, Brady says. “He treats me like any other player, he yells at me more than others, and he doesn’t go light on me. But, I’m glad he’s firm with me. He’s a great motivator who knows the sport and his players. He cares about all of us. Every player is comfortable calling him for any kind of help.’’

Brady is quick to credit Natick’s other two captains — midfielder/attack Gabe Elkin and midfielder Quinn Pinkham. “They’ve got great technique, they’re talented and they’re amazing leaders,’’ he emphasized. “Gabe has committed to Union College in New York and Quinn has been accepted at Western New England College in Springfield.’’

Brady hasn’t decided on a college yet but he’s open to attending UMass-Amherst, the University of New Hampshire, Western New England or the University of Rhode Island. He’s interested in sports management and may choose a career as a teacher-coach or an athletic director. He says he might play club lacrosse in college.

Relying on an athletic philosophy that focuses on having fun and reaching one’s potential, Brady says that winning is the by-product of those two elements. “Sports also teach life lessons,’’ he offered. “Athletes can learn how to strengthen their work ethic, how to overcome challenges, and how to be a good teammate and quality leaders.’’

Brady Kittler is the total package.

JAY KITTLER

Jay, who’s a tall defender at 6-foot-1 and 145 pounds, likes the responsibility that goes with the job and he’s quick to admit that scoring isn’t his strongpoint. 

“I was never good with the ball,’’ he offered. “And, I never thought of myself as a scorer. I like playing defense because it’s a thinking-man’s position that requires anticipation and an instinctive nature.’’

Relying on a style that’s both aggressive and patient, Jay has all the attributes needed to excel — he’s got a high lacrosse IQ, he’s instinctive, his technique is solid and he’s athletic. 

“When I make a mistake, I know I can trust my teammates,’’ he said. “But, a defender must be capable of making the right call in a split second, especially when an opponent is closing in on the net.’’

Now 18, Jay’s goals this season are basically team-oriented. “I want us to win the Bay State Conference’s Carey Division title,’’ he said. “And, we want to be successful in the tourney but the key will be helping our younger players develop their skills. My individual goal is to be a Bay State Conference first-team all-star selection. Last year, I was a second-team choice.’’

A captain who’ll lead by example, Jay believes there are other ways to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leadership. “As a defender, there’s continual communication with other defensemen and our goalie,’’ he said. “I’ve learned to be vocal and I’ll be vocal as a captain in a helpful and supportive way, especially with younger players.’’

Jay’s best game and his top thrill in lacrosse are one in the same. As a junior, he played spectacularly in Natick’s game against Concord-Carlisle in the Coaches Cup, a tourney that’s held before the season gets underway.

“The tourney always has top-notch teams,’’ Jay noted. “Concord-Carlisle is in that category. We beat them in overtime. I was proud of our defensive effort. We played well, everyone contributed and we caused turnovers.’’

Jay agrees with his cousin’s assessment of Natick’s other two captains. “They’ll be major contributors this season,’’ he said. “Brady is spot on when he talks about their strengths. Gabe and Quinn certainly are top-notch leaders. They’re great people, on and off the field.’’

Jay says that playing for his uncle isn’t a problem, even though the coach admits that “it hasn’t been easy for Brady and Jay.’’

“My uncle is super friendly to everyone,’’ Jay emphasized. “I’ll reinforce what Brady said. All our teammates will call him for advice, whether it’s about lacrosse or an unrelated issue. He’s a proven success and he’s a super-star coach.’’

Jay deflates any hint of favoritism by his uncle. “On the field, he’s my coach and I’m his player. It’s that simple,’’ he emphasized.

Jay has not selected a collegiate venue yet but he plans on majoring in computer science and says he’ll probably play lacrosse at the club level. Both he and Brady have played AAU lacrosse for four years.

Jay’s competitive philosophy is similar to his cousin’s. “If players are striving to reach their potential and they’re having fun, then winning will occur,’’ he noted. “Winning and fun go hand in hand.’’

The life lessons Jay’s learned from lacrosse will be valuable in the future. 

“Overcoming adversity enables a player to bounce back,’’ he said. “Other lessons are how to be a good leader and a good teammate, how to set goals and how to manage your time. One major lesson I’ve learned is how to handle criticism when I make a mistake. I’ve learned to take criticism and turn it into a positive.’’

Jay Kittler understands that athletics and academics provide opportunities. And, he’s excelled on both fronts.

CONCLUSION

The coach, his son and his nephew have been key ingredients for Natick High’s lacrosse team, which opens its season on April 1 against Weston at Babson College. Other players certainly have contributed to the Redhawks’ success and have helped to enhance the school’s tradition. Whether it’s the past or the present, Natick has a winning formula in lacrosse.

And, one aspect is undeniable this season — varsity boys lacrosse at Natick High is a family affair. And, that’s a good thing.