May 5, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

DiBlasio’s spirit sets tone in R.I.

by Kevin Henkin/

Derec DiBlasio hasn’t let Down syndrome stop him from playing the sport he loves.

Derec DiBlasio hasn’t let Down syndrome stop him from playing the sport he loves.

There are certain people in life who possess an ability to walk into a room and inspire others to smile. Derec DiBlasio is one of those people. There are a number of things about him that are worth noting. The fact that he has Down syndrome is not even close to the top of the list.

DiBlasio is in his junior year at North Kingstown High School in southern Rhode Island. He is enjoying his third season as a member of the school’s junior varsity lacrosse team. He also continues to serve as a manager and resident motivator for the varsity football, basketball and lacrosse teams.

DiBlasio took to lacrosse at an early age and had the benefit of good coaching and strong support from his teammates and family. John Holmes, who was the head coach of the high school lacrosse team until last spring, served as DiBlasio’s primary instructor and lacrosse mentor over the years in the town’s recreation program. It was Holmes who initially encouraged DiBlasio to try out for the high school team.

“He keeps [the team] loose, but he does a lot more than that,” Holmes said. “It’s a credit to him, but it’s also a credit to all the other kids on the team at the JV and varsity levels. They certainly understand his limitations, but he’s out there working hard and he wants to get in there as much as anyone else. The kids all let him play and make sure he’s involved when he’s out there. And he’s obviously gotten better, just like everyone else has.

“He’s certainly one of the best-liked kids on the team because he’s working hard all the time and he’s always keeping us light and on our toes.”

Ben Sternberg, North Kingstown’s All-America captain, offered a similar take.

“I’ve always thought that Derec brings a strong, positive energy to the team,” he said. “There will be times when I will come off the field after missing a shot or turning the ball over and Derec will rush over and say, ‘Come on, Sterny. Let’s go, pick it up.’ And instead of being down on myself, it will put a smile on my face and give me a push to perform better instead of hanging my head.

“But the No. 1 thing he brings to our program is his love and passion for lacrosse. He always wants to play.  This makes us as a team always want to play.”

For his work on the field and his approach to the game, DiBlasio was awarded the prestigious 2006 RILAX Heart & Soul Award by the Rhode Island Lacrosse Association. The award is given to those who best exemplify team spirit, dedication and good sportsmanship in the sport of lacrosse.
On the field, DiBlasio plays primarily as an attackman. Chris Callahan, who was elevated to head coach of the North Kingstown varsity after serving several years as an assistant, has a clear strategy when he calls for DiBlasio plays.

“There are certain situations that we’ll get him on the field and put him up on the crease,” Callahan said. “We have him stay in a certain area, and he works the crease.”

That strategy worked to perfection in one game in particular last season. Against Mount Saint Charles Academy, DiBlasio scored his first goal in high school competition on a play that had been specially designed for him. Then, five minutes later, the team ran the exact same play and DiBlasio scored again.

“He ripped two shots over the goalie’s shoulder,” Callahan recalled. “Two legitimate, no-kidding, holy-smokes goals.”

Said DiBlasio’s mother, Lauren Lamendola: “I think his teammates were even more excited about those goals than Derec was.

“Derec has high expectations of himself,” she added. “He’s motivated. He wants to do well. He wants to be successful. He’s very proud of what he can do and he is able to do a lot. He has dreams, and we follow them. I always ask myself, ‘Is he having fun? Is he enjoying what he’s doing, and is life interesting for him?’ I think that’s the bottom line. He loves life.”

Although DiBlasio’s positive impact on his team has been well-noted, his mother says that the benefit has been mutual.

“The kids and the school community have made it happen for him, too,” she said. “He’s really good at what he does and he’s motivated to do everything, but they’ve really boosted his self-esteem by giving him that sense of belonging.”

Said Callahan: “He’s a great kid. He doesn’t get treated any differently. He comes out and practices hard and we have a lot of fun with him and he gets a blast from coach whenever he’s dogging it. He’s what we’re all about.”

E-MAIL PRINT