Ethan Linsay is a standout attack on the Seattle Starz and ADVNC NDP ‘23 squads who is committed to play for the Army Black Knights at West Point starting next summer.

Ethan first began playing lacrosse when he was in kindergarten. “My older brother Ryan went to a lacrosse camp and I decided to join him,” Ethan said. “The sport felt pretty natural to me right away. I loved it and I wanted to play all the time. I got a net in my backyard and practiced every day.”

“We were happy to see him getting so much enjoyment out of it,” said Ethan’s mom, Susan Linsay. “We were even surprised to learn that he was a lefty because he is right-handed with everything else.”

Ethan was asked to “play up” with the much older 3rd and 4th grade team immediately following the first camp. “I was worried about him playing with the older boys at first,” said Susan. “But after talking it through with his dad (Ernie Linsay), we decided to give it a go. The next weekend Ethan played in his first game and ended up being presented with the game ball. From that day on, he was hooked.”

“He loved the fast pace of the game, the physicality and being with friends,” said Ernie. “He played in the backyard with his brothers (Ryan and William) all the time. For Ethan, the 'cherry on top' was the fact that he got to wear a helmet, pads, gloves and carry a stick. The more gear the better as far as he was concerned.”    

Ethan played locally on Bainbridge Island, just across the Puget Sound from Seattle. He tried out and made the squad for the Seattle Starz when he was in 6th grade. “It was a big commitment for us because I would pick him up from school to take him on a ferry to the city, drive through Seattle, often in rush hour traffic, and then get back home after practice around 11pm,” Susan said. “He often did his homework and ate dinner on the ferry ride home.”

“We had a really good team with Starz and I met some of my closest friends,” Ethan said. “Two years later, I started playing with ADVNC NDP. What stood out to me was the community and bond we built. The coaches cared not only about the team, but they helped me develop as a player and a person. I had so much fun on that team. It’s a great group to travel and practice with, and it was always great going down to the Bay Area for training camp and seeing my friends.”

“The opportunity to play for ADVNC exposed him to a very high level of skill, competition, commitment and coaching,” said Ernie. “It helped fuel his love for the game and desire to compete and win at the next level. Through ADVNC, he's had some amazing experiences, built lifelong friendships and developed not only as a player but also as a person, teammate and leader.”

Heading into the college recruiting process, Ethan leaned on ADVNC Founder & CEO, Chris Rotelli for advice. “Coach Rotelli helped explain the whole process to me and my parents. We had never gone through it before, so he helped clarify what we should expect and what we should do to put me in the best position. He was always available for calls and texting and was super helpful.”

“Chris and all the ADVNC coaches were great advocates and advisors through the entire process,” said Ernie. “They helped prepare Ethan for what lie ahead, how to conduct himself and how to think through, develop and execute a recruitment plan.”

When September 1, 2021 came, and college coaches could officially contact Ethan, he was ready. “I started getting calls, and Army immediately stood out as one of the top schools for me,” Ethan said. “I always had my eye on a service academy since my dad went to Navy. When I visited West Point, I was blown away. It’s just a big family. When I saw how the coaches treated their players and ran the team, and I considered the opportunity to become an officer in the military, there was no other place for me.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled for him,” said Ernie. “We’re super proud of the decision he made to not only challenge himself at the next level both academically and athletically, but ultimately to serve his country. Having gone to a service academy myself, and knowing Ethan like I do, I'm excited about the opportunity and adventures lying ahead of him. As far as Ethan going to West Point, given I graduated from the Naval Academy, he's been around the Army-Navy rivalry his entire life and has a sense for what it's all about and knows that whether you went to the Naval Academy or West Point, in the end, we're all on the same team in service to the greatest country in the world. I told him when it comes to Army-Navy lacrosse, it's family first and I'll always be his biggest supporter!”

“It’s been truly inspiring to watch Ethan get this far and to commit to Army,” said Susan. “He puts 110% into everything he does with that big smile on his face. We are immensely proud of him and know that Army is a perfect fit.” 

“My goal at West Point is to embrace the experience and let that lead me towards my branch of service. I have a lot to learn but think the Infantry and the Rangers would be amazing,” said Ethan. “I want to do something impactful in the service.”

Ethan has made an impact on those around him on and off the field his entire life. “He started a stick stringing business in second grade, stringing lacrosse heads for other young players,” said Susan. “He donated the money to the Uganda men’s lacrosse team and helped them travel to and play in the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Denver. We were fortunate enough to attend those games and Ethan was able to meet the Ugandan players. It was a fantastic experience.”

Always looking for ways to show leadership and help others, Ethan now coaches younger players. His advice for those who aspire to follow in his footsteps: “You can’t take weeks off. You need to focus on consistent development. Lacrosse is just half of it. You’ve got to be academically sound and focus on studying more than lacrosse sometimes. You also need to be a person of character and be a leader in your community.”