Burke Finds Inspiration in Team

Heritage LAX Coach Happy to Be at the Helm

By Paul Tenorio

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Following a difficult 14-3 loss to Loudoun Valley on March 23, Heritage boys' lacrosse coach Jason "Choppy" Burke stood in front of his young Pride team and delivered a message.

"Even if you don't do well for a 10-minute stretch in your life," Burke told them, "if you know someone is there for you, you're more [likely] to get back on that horse than if you were there by yourself."

Heritage (2-2, 1-0 Virginia AA Dulles District) lost 20 players from last season's team, graduating 18 seniors. The coach's talk was for a team that needed to learn to communicate and be behind its teammates during even the worst moments.

But for Burke, who suffered a mild heart attack in July while working out with the football team at Heritage, the lesson was one that he learned in the time he recovered.

It harkened back, Burke said, to the support he received when he first returned to the football team and saw the watchful eyes of players as they made sure he took care of himself, such as wearing a hat during practice and bringing along extra water - along with some good-natured ribbing in between.

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Heritage at Potomac Falls Boys' Lacrosse

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Potomac Falls #13 Kevin McIntire (R) defends against Heritage #9 Zack Gordon (L) near the goal in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #2 Tyler Blevins (L) works with the ball against Potomac Falls #11 (R) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Potomac Falls #15 Amritpal Sohi (L) defends against Heritage #9 Zack Gordon (R) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #9 Zack Gordon (C) separates Potomac Falls #2 Tyler Blevins (L) from the ball in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #4 Jaegar Carlyle (R) vies for the ball with Potomac Falls #15 Amritpal Sohi (L) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #6 Kyle Flinton (C) makes a pass between Potomac Falls #13 Kevin McIntire (L) and #15 Amritpal Sohi (R) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #21 Russell East (R) scores on a low shot through Potomac Falls defender #21 Michael Baker (C) and goalkeeper #24 Thomas Dacanay (L) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #4 Jaegar Carlyle (R) scores past Potomac Falls goalkeeper #5 John Kelly (C) and defender #13 Kevin McIntire (L) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Coach Jason "Choppy" Burke leads Heritage in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls High School in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #21 Russell East (R) makes a pass in front of Potomac Falls #7 John Hodges in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Coach Jason "Choppy" Burke smiles as he talks to the referees in the pre-game warmups before leading Heritage in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls High School in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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Heritage #15 Peter Walsh (C) fires a shot against Potomac Falls goalkeeper #5 John Kelly and defenders #15 Amritpal Sohi (2nd R) and #21 Michael Baker (R) in their varsity lacrosse game at Potomac Falls in Sterling. (Jonathan Ernst)

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And it also reflected on the support of people at school months after the heart attack and despite his return to coaching.

Principal Margaret Huckaby, Burke said, "asks me every other day, 'How are you?' "

"It makes you feel nice," he said. "It makes you think, 'Am I doing okay?' "

The new faces in a program that has enjoyed much success in the past few years probably will continue to take their lumps - they dropped a game to Brentsville in addition to the Valley loss. But the Pride also will grow from those moments, Burke said, whether it is seniors such as Nik Smith learning to be vocal leaders or freshmen and sophomores accepting more responsibility.

"It's a lot to expect them to all of a sudden jump right in to where those other kids left off, which is where those other kids want to be," Burke said Monday, after Heritage's 11-7 district win at Potomac Falls. "But after each game, you can kind of see one more small thing take shape."

Burke, who said he is doing well health-wise, recalled the day last summer when he found himself unable to catch his breath at the track in Leesburg. And the moments when he realized he was struggling to answer questions from fellow coaches, and then from paramedics as he was transported to the hospital.

Despite the harrowing experience, Burke has continued to do what he loves: coach. Since returning, there have been some changes to the way he does things, Burke said.

Immediately after returning to the football team, he had to take breaks from the sun or miss practice on especially hot days with poor air quality. And Burke sometimes has to stop himself after demonstrating something to the team to get a drink of water, or allow players to go through the workout before explaining more.

Perhaps most challenging is that Burke has to hold himself back at times from letting loose on the sidelines.

"It's a unique experience, because I have to be a bit more aware of how emotional I get," Burke said, chuckling. "And kids that played football know I need to be as loud as possible at times. But it's a little bit different now, because my fiancee gives me looks when I get louder than I need to be."

Still, even with the adjustments in how he coaches, being back on the sidelines has played an important part in Burke's continued recovery, he said.

"It's free therapy," Burke said. "You get out there, and you're able to teach the game you love to kids. . . . I live for those lights."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks