Catching Up With Michael Brost Jr. '19
It’s quite instructive that the absolute best memory Michael Brost Jr. has of his lacrosse career at Christopher Newport University came not when he was on the field but when he wasn’t.
“Definitely beating Salisbury [University] on my birthday in a game that was No. 1 versus No. 2,” said the 2019 Collegiate graduate who turned 21 the day (April 16, 2022) CNU took down the top ranked team in Division III 17-7. “I’ve never seen our stadium [Jennings Family Stadium] so packed. We call it The Electric Factory. It was electric that day.”
Though Brost would have preferred to be in the heat of the action, he watched from the sideline, totally engaged and cheering on his teammates.
During his three-plus years in Newport News, he’s grown accustomed to his role: practicing hard, improving his skills, learning the intricacies and nuances of the game, making his teammates better, and maximizing any playing time he gets.
It’s not that the 5-10, 185-pound senior midfielder/faceoff specialist hasn’t played at all. Last spring, he appeared in 13 of the Captains’ 20 games, won 32 of 53 faceoffs (60.4 percent, second on the team), and contributed 23 ground balls.
During his career, a stretch when CNU has gone 36-9, he’s played in 35 games, controlled 80-of-149 faceoffs, scooped 48 ground balls, assisted on three goals, and committed just six turnovers.
He’s also earned the abiding respect of his teammates, who have elected him a captain for the 2023 season. In fact, he’s having such a good experience that he plans to remain at CNU, add economics to his communications major, and use his fifth year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID to play one final season of lacrosse in 2024.
One day recently, he shared some thoughts, insights, and observations about his journey.
What attracted you to Christopher Newport?
Growing up around Collegiate, I always heard the name Mikey Thompson [CNU head coach and a 2006 Collegiate graduate]. He was obviously a great player. When I got into high school, I started to hear about CNU and the winning program he was building there. I was lucky enough to play club lacrosse for Coach Zach Thomas [CNU offensive coordinator]. Being familiar with them really helped me through the recruiting process. I had trust in the coaching staff and belief in what they were doing.
Speak about your academic preparation
I was definitely prepared. Being a communications major, I have to do a lot of writing. Collegiate did a really good job of preparing me and made the transition to college a lot easier.
Were you prepared athletically for the jump from high school to college?
In terms of my physical preparation, Collegiate and the Prep League did a really good job of making me ready and able to handle playing guys three or four years older, but [adapting to] the speed and pace of the games was the biggest adjustment.
What areas have you improved on the most?
On the field, I’ve switched positions. I was a traditional middie who played offense and defense. My freshman year, I started taking faceoffs. My sophomore year, I moved to that position permanently. I feel like I’ve closed the gap with guys who started their freshman year of high school and that’s all they do. I’ve made up a lot of ground by working in the winter and in the summer to get to a point where I’m competitive. There’s still a lot of work to be done.
My sophomore year, there was face-offs by committee. I was the second guy. When Warner [Cabaniss, Collegiate ’21 and a second team All-American] came last year, it became clear that he was the guy. It wasn’t like the rest of us didn’t play at all, but Warner did most of the work.
How did you manage being in a reserve role?
It can be really tough, and I’ve had some tough conversations. I want to be on the field. There were two things that really helped. First, I played basketball my whole life and was a decent player. When I was a freshman in high school, [JV] Coach [Trip] Featherston pulled me aside after tryouts and told me I could either be the best player on the Gold team or play up on the Green team, but I might not play a single minute all year. I wanted to be on the Green team, but I didn’t play much, but that helped me learn what it means to show up at practice every day and give my best even if it’s not to play.
Speak about mentoring younger players like Warner.
I wanted to be kind of a big brother to Warner. He and I became close friends the summer before, and I knew he’d need some help like all freshmen do coming into college and dealing with the pressure. Sports is a lot more of a job now. I knew that he’d have a lot on his shoulders, especially for an 18-year-old. I tried to be there for him as much as I could, take care of him, and have his back. The whole face-off unit is really close. It’s a small group of guys, and we spend a lot of time together. Everybody looks out for each other and wants the best for each other.
Speak about evolving into a leader who sets the tone for the program.
I’ve embraced that role. First, I’m going to do everything I can to put myself in a position where I’m on the field. If I’m not, I’ll do everything I can do to improve the team so we as a group of 54 guys get to the goal we want, which is to play the best we can on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
What would you tell a Collegiate kid interested in playing sports at the next level?
It’s worth it. Even during the hard times, I’ve always looked back and said I’m way, way more glad that I did this than just going to school and not playing lacrosse. I know I’d have regretted not having this experience. Every one of the hard times is worth the moments like beating Salisbury or playing in a Final Four. Those moments make all the tough times worthwhile.
Collegiate School | 103 N. Mooreland Road, Richmond, VA 23229 | P. 804.740.7077 | F. 804.741.9797 | webmaster@collegiate-va.org | Contact Us