Utah Archers honor West Field lacrosse player who 'just wants to be part of a team'

HERRIMAN — Utah's professional lacrosse team made an extra special homegrown signing Thursday after practice at the Zions Bank Real Academy.

That's when West Field High junior Brady Famuliner sat next to Utah Archers head coach Chris Bates and put pen-to-paper to join the team on a one-day contract as part of the Archers' season-opening weekend at Zions Bank Stadium.

Brady, a 17-year-old lacrosse player who has Down syndrome, will be the Archers' honorary team captain when the Archers host the Denver Outlaws on Saturday (5 p.m. MT, ESPN2).

But before that, Brady was an honored guest of Bates and the Archers at Thursday's practice, participating in a team walkthrough and stretches, getting a shooting lesson from longstick midfielder Ryan Ambler, and taking photos with Utah standout Connor Fields — whose No. 5 will be emblazoned on Brady's jersey when he takes the field Saturday.

For the Famuliner family, that's all they ever wanted.

"He just wants to be part of a team. That's it," said Brady's mother Christine Famuliner with her husband Conn by her side. "To be part of the West Field team, to be a part of the Archers, he just loves it.

"Team is probably the word he says the most, on a daily basis," she added. "He cannot wait to be part of the team again and for game day."

But it's not a stretch to count the Archers, which will open its third season with the state's designation Friday against the California Redwoods (6 p.m. MT, ESPN+) as his favorite team.

"He's got posters all over his room," Christine said. "He loves them."

The Famuliners are an example of Utah's lacrosse community, right down to parents who had to pick up the sport on the fly to help coach their children.

Conn Famuliner learned the sport through his oldest son Carson, who played for Fremont before graduating a year ago. Brady, too, fell in love with the game as he would tag along with his older brother to games, practices and other events.

"My son had a lacrosse stick in his hand before dad ever did," Conn said. "That's where it all started."

The sports also brought the brothers together, even as Brady attended classes at Fremont's special-needs program as a sophomore while Carson finished out his high school career with the Silverwolves. Because of their age gap and Brady shuffling between special-needs programs at various elementary schools, it was only the second time they went to school in the same building.

When the eldest son left to serve a church mission, Brady moved over to West Field, the 2-year-old high school in Weber County.

But the younger siblings' journey with lacrosse wasn't over; not by a long shot.

When the family attended back-to-school night on the Longhorns' football field, West Field head coach Zach Colohan and assistant Mark Isaacson approached the family to see if they could get Conn involved with the program.

But they also wanted Brady.

"He's been really awesome, and he's the one who made this happen," Christine said of Colohan. "He took the time to make sure Brady had a jersey, a helmet, pads and included him in everything. It's because of his commitment to seeing something and making something special happen with Brady."

Conn and Christine had just one goal — and at times, she admits, it seemed like more of a dream — for Brady: that he could get the chance to score a goal.

Again, the Longhorns made it happen.

During a game between West Field and Fremont last month on April 17, the two teams came together to make magic happen for Brady. The junior lined up at the X for a ceremonial first shot, won the faceoff, and — with plenty of applauding and encouraging from players, coaches, parents and fans on both sides of the rivalry — urged him toward the crease for his first career goal.

Christine posted video of Brady's goal on her Instagram page, collaborated with West Field's team account, and the moment quickly caught fire. More than 11,000 likes and reposts that included the Lacrosse Network with it's nearly 700,000 followers made the moment go viral after the Longhorns' bench cleared to surround Brady's accomplishment.

"I didn't think we'd ever be standing here talking about it," she admitted. "I'm just a mom who posts on social media so my friends and family across the country can see what our family is doing.

"It amazes me; every day, I'm in awe to see how many people have loved it and just enjoyed it. It's crazy. It's unbelievable, really."

Video of the moment quickly caught the attention of the PLL, which invited Brady and his parents to Archers practice and presented him with the unique opportunity during the hometown club's opening weekend.

"Brady has shown what lacrosse is all about: joy, courage, team work, sportsmanship and love for the game," Bates said. "After taking the field for West Field High School and scoring a goal that inspired the lacrosse community, Brady has earned a special place in the hearts of players, coaches, teammates, opponents and fans."

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