Anthony Teixeira tried out for The Bolles School’s soccer team as a senior this year and made the varsity squad, which is quite impressive when considering his complete lack of experience. He had never played on an organized team before.
Soccer may be Teixeira’s new squeeze, but lacrosse has always been his true love. Last season was his first at Bolles; he spent the two previous years attending Creekside High. His impact for the Bulldogs was immediate: he scored 42 goals and added 29 assists in 20 games played, leading the team in both statistical categories. His stellar numbers earned him All-American honors; it is a feat he intends to repeat this year.
Teixeira was named team captain as a junior. The team won Districts against Fleming Island by two goals before falling 11-6 to Ponte Vedra the next week in the regional semifinal. To say he and the Bulldogs are eager to avenge that loss would be a drastic understatement.
“Ponte Vedra is a huge rival for us; just because the schools don’t like each other,” Teixeira said. “Obviously that’s our biggest goal this season is to beat Ponte Vedra. We don’t even care about our District that much. Ponte Vedra is the biggest game for us. That’s going to be the goal this year.”
Bolles only had a handful of seniors depart from last year’s squad, but they were all starters. Teixeira admits the guys they lost played key roles, but he is hopeful the underclassmen will transition smoothly into those positions.
“That’s going to be a big deal for me being a captain, helping the younger guys get situated on the team and understanding how the team works,” he said.
Teixeira will have to find a new co-pilot for his pregame car ride. He used to cruise around with goalie Chris Ware before the team meal; it was his favorite ritual. Ware graduated last spring, opening two distinct positions on Teixeira’s team. He will surely persevere.
The Bulldogs have a new coach this season, as Brian Silcott replaces Brian Duncan. Silcott is well known within the local lacrosse community, because he runs the LB3 Program, which is a lacrosse club that operates in multiple cities. Teixeira met him earlier this year and calls him “a player’s coach” and “a pretty cool guy.” He takes a hands-on approach to instruction and technique, and Teixeira looks forward to learning from a new perspective.
When asked of his interests and hobbies, he said he is serious about his studies and continuing to earn high grades. His favorite subject is calculus.
Teixeira is committed to Cornell University. He always wanted to attend an Ivy League school and thinks the Big Red are the best of the bunch.
Interim head coach Matt Kerwick was promoted in June to become the 11th head coach in the program’s 122-year history. Before he arrived in Ithaca, Coach Kerwick led Jacksonville University through their inaugural season at the Division-I level. He met Teixeira during his time as a Dolphin, gave him some pointers and even attended a few of Teixiera’s practices. Their familiarity with each other made Teixeira’s decision easier, even if the process itself proved arduous for him.
He has one season left before he leaves for New York, but he can’t be in that big of a hurry. There’s still Ponte Vedra.
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My In The Game Moment
“I’d say my freshman year, when I was at Creekside High. I got put on varsity my freshman year, which I thought I had a chance of making, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to make the team. I did, and I ended up starting the whole season on a team of 16 seniors. That definitely gave me a confidence boost.”
North Florida/ Player Spotlight/ February 2015
Anthony Teixeira
The Bolles School
Jacksonville, FL
BRANDON IBARRA
All-American Leads Bolles Lacrosse Attack
