skills with each other in their backyard. “I remember when we were first getting into it, Brannick and me would set goals on how many passes we could get before dropping it, and we would just get really psyched when we got to the number,” Chase says. “It slowly just crept up to where we didn’t have to set a number anymore and could just do it infinitely.” After honing their craft locally, the Arbuckle brothers eventually became involved with True Lacrosse, the Midwest’s premier club lacrosse program. “I think around sixth grade, we started playing travel for True Lacrosse here in Indiana,” Brannick says. “Eventually we got good enough to go play for True Nationals in our age group, which is all the best kids from all the True organizations coming together. They play on that team, and that team will go to tournaments and play other teams.” Zachary #32 , Brannick: #7 and Chase #3 Arbuckle
LOVE FOR THE GAME CARMEL BROTHERS SHARE A PASSION FOR LACROSSE
Writer / Seth Johnson Photographer / Mark Rafalkoz
Brannick, Chase and Zach Arbuckle are three brothers united by their passion for lacrosse. “We always grew up playing football and other sports, but we always thought lacrosse looked cool and our parents thought it looked cool,” Chase says. “We went to a clinic and just fell in love with it. It was one of those things where we still played other sports, but lacrosse quickly became the number-one sport for us.”
All three are currently enrolled at Carmel High School, and Brannick (class of 2022), Chase (class of 2022) and Zach (class of 2024) were part of the varsity lacrosse team that fell to Hamilton Southeastern High School in this year’s state championship. When they’re not playing for Carmel, the three brothers also stay busy with club lacrosse, with Brannick and Chase playing for True Illinois Premier 2022, Zach playing for True Illinois Premier 2024, and all three playing for the Long Island Sting. After discovering their love for lacrosse at a fairly young age, the three Arbuckle brothers can remember sharpening their 4 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
As the Arbuckle brothers explain, True Lacrosse has helped to put the Midwest on the map when it comes to lacrosse, especially considering the sport’s popularity on the east coast. “The Midwest was being really left out for a long time, and True was the first program that really came and brought all of the Midwest together to rival all the Northeast teams,” Chase says. “That was when it started getting really serious for us, when we made the national team and we were able to go out and see the really good competition for the first time.” “I remember going out there our first year,” Chase continues. “We got our butts handed to us every single game, and that was a big eye-opener to the skill level we wanted to compete at. Ever since then, we started practicing really hard and playing more teams like that. I think that’s really what made the difference here in the Midwest. A lot of kids only play the school season, like half of the year or so. When we’re able to go out and play in the summer and we’re able to go out and play some of the best club teams in the country, we learn a lot.”
