Alumnus Becomes First NSA Student to Receive USA Lacrosse Bob Scott Award

Howard Casterlow '25 has become the first NSA Saint to receive USA Lacrosse's Bob Scott Award, which recognizes high school seniors who go above and beyond in service to their team, school and community. 

Family, friends, coaches and USA Lacrosse Tidewater Chapter Vice President and former NSA lacrosse coach Neil Duffy honored Howard at a special ceremony in the Hawks Library on July 30. Director of Athletics and Varsity Boys' Lacrosse Coach T.W. Johnson '92 noted that NSA's program has seen several USA Lacrosse All-Americans and Academic All-Americans in its nearly 40 years, but Howard is the first Bob Scott Award winner. Named after the late Johns Hopkins coach and athletic director Bob Scott, the award is given to players who truly honor the game of lacrosse and foster its growth in their town, exemplify teamwork, excel academically and serve as role models within their school community.

"Howard, we’re just incredibly proud of you and everything you’ve done for NSA lacrosse and how you represented us," said Coach Johnson. "What you did on the field speaks for itself. Everyone here saw that. You led this program to some of its best moments. But I think who you are as a person and how you carried yourself and the character that you instilled in our program was more important than that."

Coach Duffy, who presented Howard's award on behalf of the Virginia Private chapter of USA Lacrosse, said the evening was deeply personal for him. He knew Bob Scott for decades, and said he considers him not just an all-time great coach, but an even better person. Coach Duffy said he took the goodness that Coach Scott directed toward him over the years and poured it into his own players, which included Coach Johnson in the early nineties. Coach Johnson then had the chance to share that with his players, including Howard.

"Coach Scott was always giving to people and always checking in when he really didn’t have to," said Coach Duffy. "So this award means a lot to me personally, and if you can kind of trace a little bit of the connections here, to watch Bob Scott, to me, to T.W. and then to a fantastic young player like Howard, is really, really special for me."

Congratulations to Howard, and best of luck to him as he begins his next chapter at Hampton University this fall! Go Saints!