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‘He’s just that type of kid’: CNS’ Adrian Sweeney picks SU lacrosse

‘He’s just that type of kid’: CNS’ Adrian Sweeney picks SU lacrosse

Top-100 2027 recruit and Syracuse native Adrian Sweeney committed to SU Sept 14. The Cicero-North Syracuse junior employs a steady work ethic. Courtesy of Adrian Sweeney

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Adrian Sweeney wakes up at 4:45 a.m. most weekday mornings to work out at a local gym called Strides of CNY. He chooses between various routines that focus on upper body strength, leg conditioning, speed and core stability, and then returns home to shower and eat — all before school starts.

On the weekends, Sweeney’s just as busy. He works on his recovery, and when he’s not playing a game, he’s firing as many shots at a net as he can.

“Almost every weekend is taken up with lacrosse,” his mother, Jessica Sweeney, said. “But that was his choice, and I know that he saw the light at the end of the tunnel, that if he stuck with his grind, it would pay off.”

Sweeney’s dedication was driven by a childhood aspiration to play lacrosse at Syracuse. A Syracuse native, Sweeney attended games in the then-Carrier Dome starting when he was just 10 years old. On Sept. 14, the Cicero-North Syracuse High School standout — who scored 95 goals in his last two seasons — fulfilled that dream by announcing his commitment to the Orange’s 2027 class.

Sweeney’s commitment comes after Syracuse captured its first ACC title since 2016 last season. The short-stick defensive midfielder joins an eight-player 2027 recruiting class, which currently ranks 11th in the nation.

“I just want to live my dreams out,” Sweeney said. “As a local kid here, it’s always just been a dream. I just want to work as hard as I can.”

Sweeney’s passion for lacrosse wasn’t immediate. From kindergarten to second grade, he explored karate, soccer and football. After being introduced to the CNS youth lacrosse program by Jessica’s friend when he was 8 years old, Sweeney decided to focus on lacrosse.

In fourth grade, he also began playing club lacrosse for FCA Upstate Lacrosse. It helped teach him that there was more to being great than just pure size.

“When I was younger, my stick work was not that great, but I got by because I was just physically bigger than everyone,” Sweeney said. “But now everyone’s the same, and you just have to have little things that stick out to be better than people.”

As an eighth grader, Sweeney was called up to CNS’ injury-riddled varsity team. He made an instant impact. In just his second game with the Northstars, he scored a hat trick against East Syracuse Minoa. CNS eventually fell to ESM 11-8, but Sweeney displayed his potential.

During his freshman season, Sweeney recorded 55 goals and nine assists. As a sophomore, he added 40 more goals alongside 17 assists and led the Northstars to the 2025 Section III Class A Championship Semifinals Round.

During Sweeney’s freshman year, he had ample opportunities to shine. As an off-ball scorer, he benefited from having several playmakers on his team who would face the tougher opposing defenders more often. As a result, Sweeney was open often, leading to numerous scoring opportunities.

As a sophomore, he faced more attention due to his breakout, as he was marked by opponents’ top defenders. He also started to draw more double teams, which allowed him to generate more assists.

That success stems from Sweeney’s dedication. CNS head coach Chuck Wilbur said he’d always find Sweeney getting in an extra workout.

“He’s the type of kid you gotta tell to take the day off because (he’ll go for) a little workout and lift after school, and then he’ll go to an indoor center to get more shots up,” Wilbur said. “He’s got a work ethic that has made him go from being very good to an elite player.”

That drive also extends off the field, Wilbur said. While most of his peers prefer to party, Sweeney chooses to work out at the gym to develop his game.

“Sometimes I tell him, ‘You’ve got to be a kid once in a while because those days and years go by quickly,’” Wilbur said. “He’d rather go out and shoot until his knuckles are bleeding and blisters are all over him.”

Sweeney admitted he’s heard that phrase many times. He believes it’s helped him have a better handle on his life on and off the field.

“I feel like I have a really good balance of being a kid and playing lacrosse. I get my work done, and then I go be a kid,” Sweeney said.

Looking ahead to his junior year, Sweeney has his sights set on one thing — winning the Section III Class A finals, something CNS has never done. Sweeney feels all the Northstars need to do is play together as a team, with him as one of the leaders.

Until then, his routine has remained the same. He still wakes up before the sun rises to work out and develop his skills.

“He’s just that type of kid,” Wilbur said. “You have to appreciate it; that’s why he got to this level.”

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