Nighthawk Lukas Adams enjoys physical side of lacrosse

Lukas Adams, who strictly played football and basketball before he moved to 4S Ranch, has latched onto playing boys lacrosse for one reason.

Despite playing mostly a defensive position of midfield longstick, the 6-foot-3 junior at Del Norte enjoys the physical side of his position.

“My goal is mostly top take the ball away from their attackers and getting every ground ball I can,’’ he said. “Plus, I get to hit guys and they don’t hit me back.’’

Adams had never heard of lacrosse when the family moved from Temecula when he was in fifth grade, but a friend down the street was playing lacrosse.

So Adams thought he’d try it, especially after a friend gave him a lacrosse stick on his first birthday party after moving to 4S Ranch.

Adams’ first real encounter with competitive lacrosse came with the Rancho Bernardo Youth Lacrosse, but that ended when Adams and 20 other players were removed from the program because they would not be attending Rancho Bernardo High, according to Adams.

The Del Norte-bound players were left out in the cold for a few weeks until Liam Mbuthia, now in his third season coaching Del Norte, started the 4S Ranch Lacrosse program.

“When I started that program, I could look down on Lukas,’’ Mbuthia said. “Now that’s changed. I can’t do that anymore.’’

Adams was in sixth grade then.

“That incident of getting kicked out comes up with the RB players now and then,’’ Adams said, laughing. “It’s always a good game because we played with most of them and know most of them.’’

Adams was part of the Nighthawks’ San Diego Section Division II championship team in 2017 thanks to a 5-3 win over St. Augustine, a year after losing the title game to La Jolla.

That bitter disappointment of 2016 was replaced by pure joy when Mbuthia presented the championship trophy to the group of former players in the stands who came to watch hoping for a Del Norte title.

They got their wish.

“Lots of those guys waited that whole year after we lost to finally see us raise the trophy,’’ said Adams, the Nighthawks’ defensive player of the year. “They were so devastated the year before, but they were so happy we won because it was almost like they won too.

“We won it for them because they helped grow the program.

“The alums were a little emotional. They all shook our hands like we’d given them the best present ever.’’

Del Norte, slowed by some injuries this year, including high scoring Luke Welch, is 4-4 with three games on tap this week.

After playing at Westview on Monday, the Nighthawks return home to face Scripps Ranch on Wednesday and Carlsbad on Friday.

When it is time for Adams, who was born in Montana, to relax, fly fishing and hunting top the list, especially when the family is on vacation back in Big Sky Country. He said she tried surfing but it wasn’t a good fit.

Adams was a good fit for the University of Texas in Austin despite not having a sanctioned men’s lacrosse team. The Longhorns’ lacrosse team is only a club sport.

That didn’t matter.

“I wanted the best academics I could find,’’ Adams said, who is still deciding on a major between business, sports management or maybe law school. “I could play on the club team, but I will miss it if I decide not to play anymore.

“I’d still want to coach a youth team or something.

“I’m looking forward to college a lot. I love trying new things.’’

He’s already got a cowboy hat and boots before he heads off to the Lone Star State.

While he probably won’t be allowed to take his Ford F250 truck, he’s also got a few big belt buckles, including one that says “Big Sky’’ on it.

He’ll find a way to fit in. He always does.