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Men's Lacrosse
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Fenton Family Time
3/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 8, 2004
by John Roth
Blue Devil Weekly
DURHAM, N.C. - The three Fenton brothers of Duke lacrosse have been Blue Devil teammates for four years now. This season, all three finally may get the chance to actually play together on the field during game competition.
Injuries, redshirt years and the team's depth chart at certain positions have prevented seniors Zach, Ben and Aaron Fenton from enjoying much game time together over the past few seasons. But that should change this season, according to head coach Mike Pressler.
Zach Fenton, a fifth-year senior, has seen plenty of action as a defensive starter last year and is a certain regular this season. Ben Fenton, a fourth-year senior, hasn't started yet but has played in 41 games as a midfielder over the past three years and is one of the team captains this spring.
But Aaron Fenton, Ben's twin, has been on the field for just one game in his college career so far. As a goalie, he played behind standout A.J. Kincel the past couple of seasons. This preseason he is battling freshman Dan Loftus for the starting nod.
 Aaron Fenton  |
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"Ben is one of the best athletes in our sport. He could play football here," Pressler noted. "There aren't too many kids at 215 (pounds) who can run like Ben can. We miss him right now but when we get him back, those three guys are going to be three important pieces in the Duke lacrosse puzzle this year."
The Fentons hail from Wynnewood, Pa., and all three attended boarding school at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut before heading to Duke. But they didn't get much opportunity to play together there, either. All three were there only one year together and Ben broke his arm that preseason, so he played in just a couple of contests.
Zach, who is two years older than the twins, was the first to come to Duke. Pressler saw him at a camp in Gettysburg, liked his athleticism and thought he could be developed into a solid college player. A summer league knee injury between his freshman and sophomore years kept him out of action an entire season and slowed that process but enabled him to get the fifth year of eligibility.
"He came in as a midfielder but after his knee we put a long pole in his hand," Pressler said of Zach's conversion to defense. "That probably should have been done 10 years ago because he has without question a very good defensive instinct. To come from a tiny prep school in Connecticut to the point where he's a starter at Duke, it's a great story."
After Zach was on board, Pressler later saw the twins at the same camp and tried to recruit them as a package. Both received glowing reports from Zach on the program and the university and they visited together, although they weren't committed to the idea of attending college together.
"We're a lot closer now," said Aaron, "but growing up Ben and I did not always get along. Zach was the mediator between us. We'd both get along with Zach but not always with each other. It was kind of the same in high school. We didn't necessarily want to go to the same school together, just us two, but if Zach was there that would balance everything out."
 Zach Fenton |
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"Getting the chance to play with each other in college, that was something we couldn't pass up. We were looking at a couple other colleges and I was still on the fence, but once Aaron committed, I couldn't pass it up. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't come here."
All three say they've grown closer together during their years at Duke and have enjoyed the experience. "I think it's great having them around," said Zach. "Our houses have been about a block apart for the last year. With that and lacrosse, I see them every day and it's great." From a travel standpoint, it's certainly worked out well for their parents in having one destination for college games and visits. Both are doctors and attend nearly every weekend game.
Father Bradley Fenton has a private practice and also serves as one of the team physicians for the Philadelphia 76ers, while mother Marie Savard is an internationally known internist and women's health expert. She has written two books, is a frequent guest on radio and television programs and makes numerous public appearances. Her popular Savard System is a six-step program that advises individuals on managing and controlling their own health care.
A former Harvard football player, Bradley Fenton got his sons started in lacrosse at an early age by signing them up for a recreational league geared to elementary school students. Now they are approaching the end of their careers in organized lacrosse and hope this year's Duke team can make a fourth straight trip to the ACC championship game and return to the NCAA Tournament, which the squad missed out on last spring.
"We have a pretty young team," Zach said, "but we have a lot of depth, especially at the defensive end. Our young players are mature players. I have high hopes. We've been practicing well and I think we're going to be great."
"I think more than any other year it's a very cohesive unit," added co-captain Ben. "We're a great group of friends, everyone likes to be around each other and we have a genuine good time with each other whether it's in the locker room or out on the field. At the same time, we know what we're out there for. We're not out there just to have a good time. We're there to work hard, and we're excited about this year."
Outside lacrosse, all three of the Fentons have been excellent students. Zach and Ben will graduate this May and both already have investment banking jobs lined up. Aaron redshirted his true freshman year and plans to return for a fifth season next year, when he'll be the only Fenton on the roster. He's following more in the path of his parents as a pre-med student.
"It's been really neat having all three of them here, not only for Duke and Duke lacrosse but for Dr. Brad and Dr. Marie and the pride they have in their sons and in Duke University," Pressler said. "Their parents have been gems, and all three of them are gentlemen, great ambassadors for Duke University and terrific students. I have a feeling you are going to see 9, 23 and 21 all out there at the same time this year."
Duke lacrosse brothers
Besides the senior Fenton brothers on the 2004 roster, Duke lacrosse has seen several other brother combinations over the years. Current senior Grant Byczek and current freshman Breck Archer had older brothers who played for Duke, and current freshman Dan Loftus will be joined next year by his brother Chris, a high school senior who has committed to the Blue Devils.
David Aherne (1988-91) & William Aherne (1987-89) Palin Archer (1998-99) & Breck Archer (2003-04 freshman) Chris Amen (1998-99) & Marc Amen (1996-99) Jonathan Brodsky (1968-71) & Tom Brodsky (1970-73) Blake Byczek (1998-01) & Grant Byczek (2003-04 senior) David Donovan (1989-92) & Joe Donovan (1994-97) Craig Elson (1987-91) & Dean Elson (1989-90) Ed Fay (1995-97) & John Fay (1995-98) Eugene Glavin (1989-92) & Maurice Glavin (1984-87) Chris Hartofilis (1998-01) & Nick Hartofilis (1997-00) Brendan Keaney (1996-99) & Terrence Keaney (1999-02) Dan Keating (1998-99) & Michael Keating (1998-01) Dan Loftus (2003-04 freshman) & Chris Loftus (2004 signee) Kevin Mahoney (1988-90), Paul Mahoney (1986-89) & Bo Mahoney (1993-94) Warrington McCullough (1978-81) & William McCullough (1985-88) John Schraff (1985-88) & Scott Schraff (1986-87) Derek Thompson (1991-93) & Ross Thompson (1993-96) Alex Whitten (1994-97) & Travis Whitten (1998-99) Devan Wray (2001-03) & Taylor Wray (2000-03)
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