Identical commitment
Xaverian twin brothers’ lacrosse journey becomes college prep
Even with their next lacrosse season nearly a year away, Tanner and Teagan Alexander won’t become complacent.
They have each other to thank for that.
The identical twin brothers from Foxboro have always been there for one another, giving an extra push when needed and making sure neither fell behind. It’s that type of unwavering commitment that has kept the Alexander brothers in lockstep, even as they lost their senior season at Xaverian this spring. The next time they compete together will be next year playing for Bryant University.
“We both motivate each other,” Tanner said. “If it wasn’t for him, and it wasn’t for me, I don’t know if we’d be doing everything we are now. It really helps to have someone by your side.”
Tanner and Teagan began playing lacrosse as youngsters. While they don’t play the same position, Teagan, a goalie, and Tanner, a defenseman, play as a unit.
“It’s awesome to play with my brother because it’s a connection we already have off the field and we bring it on the field,” Teagan said. “It’s like a connection further than chemistry you could have with a teammate. It’s so unique. I love it.”
The brothers were anchors in Xaverian’s stout defense. Both were named Catholic Conference All-Stars last season while Teagan also received Eastern Mass. Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American Second-Team recognition.
Helping them reach those achievements is the high standard Tanner and Teagan hold themselves to. Tanner uses his older brother privileges, albeit by six minutes, to call out Teagan and Teagan won’t mince words with Tanner.
“We definitely keep each other accountable,” Tanner said. “We both know when one of us is slacking. … It’s not the type of thing where if you do it to a friend you might hurt his feelings. But with us, when we say something, you mean it.”
Their heightened degree of accountability earned the respect of others as Tanner and Teagan, who were named captains for this season, turned into valuable leaders.
“They brought a level of intensity and preparation that the team emulated,” said former Xaverian coach Tim Gardner.
When it came time to decide their future, the brothers thought they would be best as a package deal even though they didn’t voice that to one another.
Bryant coach Mike Pressler thought similarly and in November 2018, Tanner and Teagan verbally committed to the Bulldogs.
“We never had a conversation, ‘Do we want to play together or not,’ ” Tanner said. “It was an unspoken, unsaid thing that we were going to stay together. We could have went in very different directions very easily.”
Tanner and Teagan shifted their focus onto their college careers sooner than expected. The duo’s spring lacrosse season never got off the ground due to the coronavirus pandemic and they’re left with thoughts of what could have been.
While disappointed in not getting a final chance to suit up for Xaverian, Teagan is trying to take the positives out of the experience.
“I have at least four more years of playing with Tanner and being able to play the sport I love,” Teagan said. “This will definitely make every moment on the field with my teammates, especially my brother, really important.”
The brothers are taking advantage of the ample amount of downtime. They lift weights four days a week and perform lacrosse drills daily. There’s no missing one of those sessions, either, as one brother won’t let the other skip out.
“We know what we need to do and whatever we do, we’ll follow each other,” Teagan said.
For Tanner and Teagan, preparation for one season turned into preparation for the next.
“It’s something I’ll look back years from now and be like, ‘Wow, I really was able to get to play D-1 lacrosse with my brother,’ ” Tanner said. “That’s something special.”