The Lt. Ray Enners Award
is named in memory of Raymond J.
Enners, a United States military
hero and champion high school
lacrosse player. Lieutenant Enners
attended and played lacrosse at
Half Hollows High School in Dix
Hills. He then attended, played
lacrosse and graduated from the
U.S. Military Academy at West
Point. Lt. Enners was killed in
action in Vietnam on September
18, 1968, after saving the life of a
squad leader. For his actions on
that day, Lt. Enners was awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross,
the nation’s second highest award
for valor.
The lacrosse award named for Lt.
Enners is presented annually by the
Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse
Coaches Association to the player
who best exemplifies courage,
teamwork, skill and leadership. Lt.
Enners also is remembered in the
book Heart of Gray that was
authored by his brother, Richard
Enners, and published by Acclaim
Press during 2016.
MOVING
Courage
Teamwork
Half Hollow Hills
Retired Numbers
Ray Enners #26 Jim Metzger #21
At the start of the 2019 season, the Thunderbirds honored
1960s graduate Lt. Raymond Enners, who was a lacrosse
standout for Half Hollow Hills and at the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point.
During the 2019 ceremonies, Lt. Enners' number 26 jersey
was retired as was Jim Metzger's number 21 jersey. Metzger
received the 1977 Lt. Ray Enners Award. The Enners and
Metzger banners are displayed on the fence of honor at each
home game along with the banners of senior players. With
Jim and his retired banner is Eric Geringswald of the school’s
lacrosse program.