Billy Curtis ’25, from Beverly Farms, Mass., is a senior attackman on the Middlebury men’s lacrosse team. Curtis recently broke a 42-year-old program record for the most assists in a single game with seven assists. As he wraps up his Middlebury career, we caught up with Curtis to document his legacy, both on and off the field.
Brooke Friberg: When did you first start playing lacrosse, and did you always know you wanted to play in college?
Billy Curtis: I started playing lacrosse when I was five or six years old. Growing up, I played soccer, hockey and lacrosse, and never really knew which sport I wanted to pursue in college, or if that was even a possibility. Hockey was my favorite sport through middle school and I was probably most committed to it. But playing competitive lacrosse at Deerfield Academy in high school flipped a switch for me. I started falling in love with lacrosse, and from there, it became a dream to have the opportunity to play at the college level.
BF: What was your first impression of Middlebury, and what was it like joining the team?
BC: My whole life, I’ve grown up driving through Middlebury’s campus on the way to Keene Valley, New York, where my family spends a lot of time. Even as a kid, I was always stunned by how beautiful and well-kept the campus looked. When I stepped foot on campus as a first year student, I was still blown away, but even more than that, I felt genuinely welcomed. Having 50 teammates already in my corner made the transition to college much easier. I’ll always remember how inclusive and friendly the team was right from the start. Upperclassmen would randomly text first years to hang out, which made a huge impact. That kind of buy-in from the upperclassmen is a big reason why our team culture is so strong.
BF: What’s your most unforgettable moment with Middlebury men’s lacrosse?
BC: Beating Tufts my freshman year is hands down my most unforgettable moment. That year, we weren’t the most talented or skilled team, and we had gotten off to a rocky start. Tufts, on the other hand, had one of the strongest teams in the country. It was a perfect, sunny day at our home field. I remember seeing Tufts get off the bus looking like they expected to roll over us easily. I remember the week before, our team had put in so much preparation, and we completely trusted our coaches and game plan. Honestly, I think we were the only people who believed we could win that game. We ended up winning, 21–14, our highest goal total all season. I was fortunate enough to have my best game of the year too, with four goals and four assists. The energy and belief we shared that day will always stick with me.
BF: What’s your favorite thing about your teammates?
BC: My favorite thing is how committed everyone is to building and maintaining our strong team culture. Coach Campbell has done an amazing job recruiting not just great players, but great people who really understand what it means to be part of this program. Sometimes lacrosse teams get a negative reputation for being full of “lax bros,” but each guy on this team proves those stereotypes wrong every day. It’s special to be part of a team that already has a great culture but still shows up every day wanting to protect and strengthen it.
BF: Do you have any pre-game rituals you couldn’t play without?
BC: I actually don’t have any specific pre-game rituals. Before games, I usually have a lot of thoughts running through my mind, but always come back to one thing: trusting my preparation and being confident about that.
BF: What will you miss most about Middlebury?
BC: I’ll miss the people the most. I’ve found some of my best friends here and made incredible memories that I’ll carry for life. Being on the lacrosse team gave me 50 best friends, and I’ve also met so many amazing people outside of sports. Being surrounded by your closest friends in such a beautiful place is special, and after graduation, it’s hard to know when everyone will ever be together like that again.
BF: What’s your favorite restaurant in Middlebury and why?
BC: American Flatbread is my favorite restaurant in Middlebury. The pizza is some of the best I’ve had, I especially recommend the Apple Bacon Cheddar pizza. It’s incredible. The restaurant also has a great, family-style atmosphere, and it’s become a go-to spot for me, my family and my friends after a big team win.
Brooke Friberg '26 (she/her) is a Sports Editor.
Brooke is a senior majoring in Political Science and Spanish.
