Mezzatesta heads to Virginia

The relationships I have with my teammates, coaches and community mean everything to me, and I wanted to build my legacy here at home. This community has given me so much and I’ve tried to give just as much back.”

—Yorktown senior goalie Hunter Mezzatesta

Yorktown senior goalie Hunter Mezzatesta started on junior varsity as an eighth-grader and has been a four-year varsity starter. Including the Huskers’ 6-5 win at Wilton on April 18, he has 697 career saves and is closing in on Yorktown’s all-time record of 703, set in 1981 by Joe Colarusso.

“Joe Colarusso has been my personal goalie coach since the sixth grade,” Mezzatesta said. He added that Colarusso, who is now an assistant coach for the Yorktown girls varsity team, coached him at the varsity level and continues to train him regularly.

“I’ve trained with him many days a week,” he said.

Last season, Mezzatesta garnered New York State all-state first-team honors as a junior.

Mezzatesta earned all-section honors in each of the past three seasons, as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and is aiming to make it four this spring. He was also the only freshman named to the all-section team in 2023.

When Mezzatesta’s college recruiting began in September 2024, he was ranked as the only five-star goalie and the No. 1 goalie in the 2026 class by Inside Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse Federation and Lacrosse Magazine.

How old were you when you started playing lacrosse, and what got you started? I started playing in kindergarten and have been a goalie ever since. Lacrosse has always been part of my life.

My mom played in college, my dad coached all of us and both of my older siblings went on to play in college. The love of lacrosse and competition has always been in our family.

What is your favorite part of being on the Yorktown boys lacrosse team? Brotherhood and community. I had opportunities to leave and attend some of the top private programs in the country, but I chose to stay in Yorktown.

The relationships I have with my teammates, coaches and community mean everything to me, and I wanted to build my legacy here at home. This community has given me so much and I’ve tried to give just as much back.

What we’ve accomplished together already is special, and we’re not finished.

What is your favorite team activity or pre-game ritual? Game day is about respect and preparation. We go to school dressed in collared shirts and khakis—to represent the program and the standard we hold.

After that, I keep things simple. I eat, relax and visualize success. I stay quiet and locked in because all the real work has already been done before game day.

On the way to the field, it’s just me and my music, staying level, never too high and never too low. That mindset is what keeps me consistent. No matter what happens, it’s always about the next play.

Who has been your biggest role model? My father, Chris Mezzatesta.

He brings energy and purpose to everything he does and has a way of elevating the people around him.

He’s coached me my entire life and knows how to get the best out of me. I’ve learned from him how to lead, not just on the field, but in life.

What’s something people may not know about you? I made the Italian National Team for lacrosse and I’m in the process of obtaining citizenship to represent Italy internationally, with the goal of competing in the World Games and potentially, the 2028 Olympics.

What are your plans after high school? I will be attending the University of Virginia.(Virginia won the NCAA Division I championship in 1972, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019 and 2021).

My goals are to be a great teammate, earn a leadership role as captain and compete for a national championship. Off the field, I plan to study business and bring the same discipline and work ethic into my career.

What are your favorite sports teams? Knicks, Giants, Yankees and Rangers. I’m a New York fan through and through.

What’s your go-to warm-up music? Lynyrd Skynyrd. “Free Bird” is my go-to song to get game-ready.

What’s one place you’ve never been but would love to visit? Palermo, Sicily. I’ve been to Italy many times, but I’ve never visited where my family is from. I’d love to connect with my roots.

What would you say to a young athlete thinking about trying out for the Yorktown boys lacrosse team? Play for the love of the game. That’s what keeps you grounded.

Commit to your craft, treat every rep like it matters and hold yourself to a high standard. If you stay consistent with your training and daily routines for school and sports, everything else, success, friendships, and growth, will follow.

Always remember, this is a brotherhood. At Yorktown, we play and win as a team.