Each year US Lacrosse, the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse, selects the national boys' and girls' high school lacrosse All-American teams. Ridgefield native, Kern Byrnes ‘17 of Wooster School was recognized as the best player in Western New England Division III lacrosse with his selection as a high school All-American for the second consecutive year. This award is voted on annually by the Western New England Preparatory School Athletic Counsel Lacrosse Coaches Association on behalf of US Lacrosse. This is the highest possible honor given to high school lacrosse players and only the second in Wooster School’s history. Kern was a finalist for this award in 2014 and 2015, and an All-American selection in 2016.
After receiving the 2017 All-American Award, Byrnes said, “Despite our disappointing losses in the Western New England and HVAL championship games, the coaches and guys on the team made it a season I'll never forget. Mr. Rexford is doing a great job growing the game of lacrosse here at Wooster and I know we are just a few years away from doing big things. There is no one I'd rather play for or play with. I wouldn't have won this award again without the hard work and dedication of the whole team. They set me up and pushed me to work harder everyday.”
Coach Bill Rexford, of Ridgefield, CT, describes Kern’s impact on the team, “If the game was in question this season we did not let Kern come off the field, not that he wanted to, he loves to compete and in the toughest games he played his best. We used him on the wing for faceoffs, man up on offense with his long pole, and on defense he always matched up with the opposing team's best player. He had 11 goals, 17 assists, and countless takeaways and ground balls, all the while honoring the game through respecting the opponent and inspiring his teammates. Kern is leaving the program in fine shape, but it is going to take several players to replace his effort on the field next year.”
About US Lacrosse
As the sport's national governing body, US Lacrosse provides national leadership, structure and resources to fuel the sport's growth and enrich the experience of participants. Learn more by visiting: http://www.uslacrosse.org.
About Wooster School
Wooster School is an independent, co-educational college preparatory day school, serving students from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Located in Danbury, Connecticut, the School serves students from Pre-K through grade 12. A leader in classroom innovation and teaching, Wooster School is a place where thinking and learning are personal, meaningful, and visible; and where faculty work closely with students in small classes and cohorts to think and communicate critically and creatively. At Wooster, every student participates, every student contributes, and every student learns and develops the necessary skills to be a life-long learner and leader in college and beyond. To learn more, visit http://www.woosterschool.org or contact Wooster School Admissions at (203) 830-3916.