Cam Elenteny was well aware that, well, the opponents were well aware. Elenteny, experiencing that whole “your greatest blessing can be your greatest curse” thing, knew he would earn the requisite attention of a future Division I player all lacrosse season.

“Everyone always has something to say about the kid that's going to Division I,” Elenteny said. “Maybe he shouldn't be there, I can guard him, that sort of thing.”

There was little else to say by the end, though, other than “congratulations.”

Elenteny, a senior at Stonington High School headed to Providence College, finished his year with 68 goals, 37 assists and more importantly, holding the Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament championship trophy.

Elenteny was named The Day’s 2023 All-Area Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year.

Not a bad accomplishment, this idea of attaining personal and team goals simultaneously.

“We started playing in January and we had a goal that we were really serious about,” Elenteny said, alluding to winning the ECC tournament after near misses in his sophomore and junior seasons. “We knew that we could win the (ECC) championship. Sophomore year when we made the tournament, we were kind of surprised and East Lyme kicked our butt. Junior year, we were so surprised that we knocked off East Lyme in the semifinals that we were satisfied with being in the finals (and lost to Waterford).

“What made this season so great is that we really bought into the idea of winning the championship and weren't satisfied with anything besides that.”

Elenteny, who had previously committed to Division I Sacred Heart, decided last year to decommit and attend prep school. Then the phone rang.

“The Providence coach called me and said, ‘We really need someone to fill this spot and we want you,’” Elenteny said.

Hence, Elenteny became “the D-I guy” for opponents to stop.

“To deal with the pressure, I zone out and get into the right headspace before games. I remind myself that I was put in this position for a reason and that I worked hard for it. And then it’s just about going out there and proving myself worthy,” Elenteny said.

“I also have really great teammates who helped take the pressure off at times. And knowing that we’re going to have the ball most of the time (thanks to face-off savant Will French) definitely helps. Over the season, we became more team-oriented. That helped a lot.”

Elenteny said he will study psychology at Providence and hopes to work in law enforcement.

“Cam is an outstanding player, leader and teammate,” Stonington coach Conor Doyle said. “His knowledge of the game is fantastic. He teaches and fixes techniques of his younger offensive teammates and helps out with the youth program in Stonington. He is a player that people will be talking about for a long time. He has helped set the standard for what Stonington lacrosse should be.”

Elenteny leaves Stonington in a senior class that won ECC titles in several different sports.

“Our freshman year, all these kids were saying, ‘This school isn't good enough. I want to go to prep school,’” Elenteny said. “A lot of kids, not just in Stonington, end up leaving. One of the reasons that we're so successful in sports is because we have a lot of multi-sport athletes who know how to work together — and stayed. Everyone's really bought into it.”

m.dimauro@theday.com

The Day’s 2023 All-Area Boys’ Lacrosse Team

Player of the Year - Cam Elenteny (Stonington)

Attack - Jackson Huta (Waterford), Drew Sager (East Lyme), Evan Salen (Fitch)

Midfield - Gavin Emmons (Bacon Academy), Jack Keating (East Lyme), Ben Massengale (Stonington)

Defense - Ben French (Stonington), Leo Goetz (East Lyme), Spencer Kennedy (East Lyme)

Short-stick defensive midfield - Ayden Bousquet (Waterford)

Long-stick midfield - Ben Xenelis (Williams)

Face-off - Will French (Stonington)

Goalie - Evan Hicks (Fitch)

Utility - Dom Hedge (Waterford), Logan Jenkins (NFA), Sawyer Tighe (East Lyme)