Full Circle on the Big Stage: Varnerin Leads BU in Playoff Battle

April 29, 2026
 
On Tuesday night, I had the opportunity to take in the first round of the Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Tournament, where No. 3 Boston University hosted No. 6 Lehigh with a trip to the semifinals on the line.
 
It was a chance to watch two high-level Division I programs compete — but more importantly, it was an opportunity to see one of our own on the big stage.
 
Westwood’s own Donald Varnerin — the best to ever play boys lacrosse at Westwood High and now a junior captain of the BU Terriers.
 
Before the opening faceoff, it became something more than just a game.
 
It was a moment of reflection.
 
As someone who never imagined getting involved in sports coverage, standing on the sideline at Nickerson Field — the historic grounds where Babe Ruth once played — brought me back to where it all started. My first game wasn’t a college playoff matchup. It was Westwood vs. Hopkinton in 2023. No broadcast. No announcers. Just a game in need of a voice.
 
The reason I picked up the mic that day?
 
Two brothers across the street on Bayley — Donald and Brendan Varnerin — and close friends of the late, great Frank Donahue.
 
Without them, there’s no first game. And without that first game, there’s no moment like last night.
 
That’s what made it full circle.
 
And through all of that, one thing has remained constant — Donald Varnerin’s impact on the field.
 
Before Don, Westwood had its ups and downs as a program. But he helped set a new standard — not just for performance, but for what was possible coming out of Westwood High School.
 
Since his graduation, that impact has been undeniable. Six players are now either playing or committed to play college lacrosse, with more commitments expected to follow — a direct reflection of the path he helped create. He didn’t just elevate his own game — he elevated the expectations of an entire program.
 
You see it everywhere now.
 
More long poles than ever. More kids putting in the work. More players believing they can get to the next level.
 
Kids growing up wanting to be the next Donald Varnerin.
 
And the results are showing. Just last season, Westwood made a run to the Final Four — an incredible accomplishment for a program built on development, toughness, and belief. Many of those players came up learning from Don, watching him, competing alongside him, and understanding what it takes.
 
That’s the ripple effect of one player.
 
And the best part?
 
He’s one of us.
 
He knows what it’s like to sit in Route 109 traffic. He knows the fields, the gyms, the grind of growing up in this town. There’s a relatability there — a connection that makes moments like last night hit even harder.
 
Now a junior captain and recently named Second Team All-Patriot League, Don continues to be a player who influences every phase of the game. His path wasn’t the flashy one. He stayed local, chose Westwood High, and built his game through immense natural talent, paired with a devout work ethic and a no-days-off mentality. When I was covering basketball games this winter, I’d pull into the lot and see him at the wall by the multipurpose field next to the gym — putting in hours of work.
 
On Tuesday night, he was exactly who he’s always been.
 
From the opening whistle, Don’s presence was felt everywhere. On the wing, he created key ground balls with precision and timing. In transition, he pushed tempo. Defensively, he delivered physical play — including a jarring hit that forced a turnover and shifted momentum.
 
He set the tone.
 
And in a game that featured eight lead changes, every possession mattered.
 
With 56 seconds remaining in regulation, BU’s Andrew Pape buried the equalizer to tie the game and send it to overtime — the second time this season these two teams needed extra time to decide it.
 
But with 52 seconds left in the first overtime, Lehigh found the game-winner, ending BU’s season in heartbreaking fashion.
 
It’s a tough ending for a group that pours everything into chasing a championship.
 
But the night was about more than the result.
 
It was about pride.
 
Pride in watching someone from your own community step onto a stage like that and represent it the right way. Pride in knowing the journey — the early mornings, the setbacks, the growth — that led there. Pride in seeing it all come together under the lights.
 
Last night wasn’t just a playoff game.
 
It was a reminder of how far a dream can travel — and how meaningful it is to witness it along the way.