By Rich Chrampanis
RUMSON – Lacrosse players are often measured by their goals, assists, ground balls and the ability to win faceoffs. Rumson-Fair Haven senior Cassie James has all the statistics to show her value as an All-Shore performer and a future Division I athlete, but that just scratches the surface of her impact not only as a dominant lacrosse midfielder, but as the epitome of a student-athlete who is the total package when it comes to athletics, academics and community service.
A talented midfielder who is all over the field, James is at her best when running in transition and sparking Rumson to strike quickly following a turnover created on the defensive end. Following a 59-goal junior campaign, James opened the first two games of her senior year with five goals and five assists as RFH opened the season with impressive non-conference wins over Rancocas Valley and Mountain Lakes.
The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 7 in the state and have won six consecutive Shore Conference titles. New Jersey girls lacrosse has become a hotbed for elite competition with three teams currently boasting national rankings and James is anxious to prove that Rumson is more than just a team that dominates the Shore.
“I think we had a really dominant preseason,” James said. “We played a lot of really tough and competitive teams compared to some of the teams in our Shore Conference. I think that really elevated our game. As individuals I think we’re phenomenal, but when we come together we’re dominant.”
Rumson has won 107 straight Shore Conference games which is about as dominant as James’ 4.7 weighted GPA which helped earn her U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American honors. She has been involved in many community initiatives, including the Ridge Road Run – which she helped organize – which raised more than $120,000 for mental health and wellness organizations. Cassie thinks that academics, athletics and her community work all go hand in hand.
“I think really staying focused in all levels, being a well-rounded student, helps me be a well-rounded player and it helps me be well rounded in this community,” James said. “I love being a leader. If you see me on the field, I’m a very vocal person.”
When James scored her second goal of the game Saturday morning against Mountain Lakes, just a couple of hundred yards away was the RFH baseball field where the Bulldogs had a scrimmage. It would be understandable for Cassie’s dad, Rumson head baseball coach Kevin James, to peer over the right field fence and think about lacrosse for just one moment as his daughter celebrated yet another goal.
James has been a fixture on the T3 Elite Shore club team which played a huge role in her early commitment to college as a freshman. Cassie could have had her choice of college options around the country, but her commitment to family is the catalyst to staying close to home and playing Division I lacrosse at Monmouth University where she will study speech pathology.
Photo by Rich Chrampanis
“Family is everything to me,” Cassie said. “When you see the James family, you see one of us, all five of us are there. I wanted someplace where my family can watch all my games. I don’t know what I’d do without them. Monmouth is a dominant program that’s on the rise and they have my major.” The Hawks are currently 9-3 and 3-0 in MAAC play.
Here’s something that you won’t see listed on her near perfect résumé: Cassie has a knack for making everyone around her better. Watching her on the field, her teammates naturally converge toward No. 14 and listen to the veteran’s words throughout the course of the game. It’s the kind of trait coaches can build a championship culture around.
“She really just wants the best for everybody on the team,” coach Amy O’Keefe said. “I think she’s doing well as a captain. She has what she wants to do on her mind and gets it done.” Whenever she scores a goal, Cassie always jumps in the air to celebrate the moment. Her positive attitude is contagious. Spend some time with Cassie James and there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll walk away feeling better than you did before.
If the senior has her way, there are going to be a lot of leaps for joy and a special season for Bulldogs girls lacrosse.
“We have such a great dynamic and chemistry,” James said. “I can’t express how excited I am to go all the way. I’m going to miss Rumson. Rumson has provided everything I could have ever wanted out of a high school community and especially our team.”
