When it came time to do the college search, Dean Klotz and his family picked a radius of about 3 ½ hours from which to research possible schools.

“I didn’t want to go too far from home, and I didn’t want to go right across the street,” said Klotz, a senior on the Highland boys’ lacrosse team. “I think that was a good distance where I could stay up there and see my family when I needed to.”

That’s about how far he’s going as Klotz verbally committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Ithaca College, starting Fall 2022.

In the springs, he’ll play on the Bombers’ Division III men’s lacrosse team.

“They have a good team,” Klotz said. “They’re very hard working, very disciplined, just like the coach. They’re on a good run and they had a good season last year.”

The Bombers are coached by Jeff Long, who is entering his 34th season as Ithaca’s men’s lacrosse coach and he enters the 2022 season with a 347-171 record.

Ithaca posted a 6-4 record, having their most success at home where they ran a 4-0 record.

They were eliminated from the Liberty League tournament in the semifinals last year by an 15-8 loss to St. Lawrence University.

“The coaching staff loves the student-athletes,” Klotz said. “They are always there for the team if they need anything. I just felt a bond with the coach, and I think I can really excel there after meeting with him.”

Klotz knows a thing or two about excelling since he picked up the lacrosse stick when he was in first grade. After the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klotz and his Highland Huskies came back with a young team and reached the Section 9 Class C championship game.

He has been coached by Highland boys’ lacrosse coach Tom Schlappich since first grade when he discovered baseball wasn’t the spring sport for him.

“(Coach Schlappich) had recently started teaching in Highland and there was something sent from the school, a flier or something. I just tried it and fell in love with it.”

More than 10 years later, Klotz has developed into one of the Huskies’ leaders and a player involved in almost every aspect of the offense.

“Everything kind of revolves around him and he usually generates a lot of attention on defense,” Schlappich said. “He’s able to work through a lot. When the defense rotates to him, he’s able to find his teammates.”

Before he heads to Ithaca, Klotz and his Highland teammates have unfinished business as he said the defeat to the Wallkill Panthers in the sectional championship game last June didn’t sit right with the team.

“We got to the section championship but it didn’t end up the way we wanted to,” Klotz said. “But I think with the core coming back, we can get back to it next year and hopefully win it.”

But no matter what happens in the spring, both player and coach believe Klotz has what it takes to succeed at the next level.

“I think he’s such a hard worker that I think he’ll do quite well,” Schlappich said. “He’s going to go to a good school that has a great program and they’re going to use him in a matter that is going to help his skill. He should be able to contribute down the road for Ithaca as he learns their offense.”