By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Every time he puts on his helmet and grabs his stick, a rush of excitement comes over Axel Greve. That is because for him every game is a physcal battle and whether playing lacrosse for Palisades High or for his Mad Dog club team, he wants to be on the winning side.
“I started playing in third grade [at Ocean View Charter in Mar Vista] and fell in love with the sport,” says Greve, who resides in Venice and attended Paul Revere Middle School, but now bleeds Pali blue. “I started playing youth lacrosse with the Santa Monica Vikings, then the Dragons and picked it up right away.”
A natural athlete, Greve played soccer and baseball growing up but gravitated quickly to lacrosse.
“I played baseball until fourth grade and I still play soccer, but what I like about lacrosse is that it combines the best of every sport,”he says. “There’s a lot of physicality, the pace of play is fast and you’re always moving. I like being a middie because you have to be strong in all aspects of the game.”
Greve scored three goals in the City Finals last year and now as a junior has taken on more of a leadership role, opting to create open shots for teammates like snipers Trey Tzung and Dominic Zuniga, since he quite often gets double and triple-teamed. His quick first step and sturdy 5-10, 185-pound frame allow him to power past defenders for easy goals, which he hopes to score at the University of Denver, where he committed early.
“I like to ski, I like the coaches, the campus is insane and the players are my fit—they’re known for having powerhouse middies,” he says. “I learned a lot from last season, I still keep in touch with Diego Sosa and Chris Clausen and obviously my brother [Gunnar]. I want to be a role model for the younger guys.”
One person who is convinced Greve’s success will carry over to the next level is Pali High Coach David Bucchino, who hopes to pilot the Dolphins to a seventh straight City title this spring.
“Axel has an uncanny skill set, he’s super humble, he’s a workhorse, he’s unselfish, he likes to set other guys up, he’s a great kid and I’m super proud of him,” Bucchino says. “He’s built for college in that he plays offense and defense.”
Greve scored five goals in Palisades’ season opener against Mira Costa, added four goals and two assists in an 11-10 victory over Santa Monica on March 3 and had four goals and one assist in a 15-4 win versus El Camino Real before Spring Break.
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