Eric Parnon: All-American Lacrosse Defender

Name: Eric Parnon

Age: 17

School: Darien High School

Accomplishments: Eric, a senior, is a solid student who lists history and American literature as his favorite subjects. 

When he's not playing lacrosse he's teaching it. Eric volunteers in the Blue Wave Buddies program, instructing freshman and tenth graders in the sport that he plays year-round.

"I spend about the same number of hours in the off-season – playing and coaching – as I do in the spring when I'm playing for DHS," he says.

Keys to Excellence: Eric plays for the Connecticut Chargers in the summer -- a club team made up of Fairfield County players -- most of them from Darien and Greenwich. He had played on the Blue Wave football team until this year when he decided to concentrate on lacrosse. In addition to the Chargers, he competes during the winter at the field house in South Norwalk.

Eric is completing his fourth year on the high school's varsity team. He didn't get much playing time as a freshman, saw spot duty as a sophomore, and then moved into a starting role as a junior.

It didn't take him very long to acclimate. Last year he was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American, along with gaining All-State and All-FCIAC honors. He's a defenseman who likes the transition game and pushing the ball upfield.

"I also like to to shoot," he says.

Eric's "one-game-I'll-never-forget" highlight was Darien's 5-4 win over New Canaan in double overtime last season in the state semi-finals. The Wave went on to win the title.

He visited a number of colleges and recruitment camps at the end of his sophomore year and singled out Maryland as his first choice. "I liked the school and the coaching staff," said Eric. They also liked him, offering a scholarship which he accepted. He'll be a Terrapin this fall.

Eric is one of three sons of Debbie and Tom Parnon: he has an older brother, Russell (19), who attends Ursinus College and a younger brother, Jeffrey (13), who's a middle schooler.