Class of 2006

Nick Patrone is a legendary player for Apex Lacrosse and Apex Soccer, a rare two-sport State Champion.  As a junior, he was a pivotal player on Apex High School’s first State Championship Men’s Lacrosse team in 2005. Nick was the kind of player you absolutely loved to have on your side, and you absolutely hated to go up against as an opponent. Nick was also an outstanding leader. Apex Hall of Fame Lacrosse Coach, John Hayden, says, “It’s always a bonus for a coach when your best player was your hardest worker and is also ready to hold others accountable to his level of commitment, that is powerful. Nick played in practice like it was a game every day.” To add to Nick’s legendary high school career, he then was second-team all-conference and Captain on the winning Apex High School 2005 Soccer State Championship team during the fall of his senior year.  

Nick’s personal accomplishments in lacrosse have stood the test of time. As of the time of Nick’s induction into the Hall-of-Fame, 2023, Nick ranks 10th all-time in goals scored in the program and he has scored more goals than any midfielder in the history of the program. He still has scored more goals in a season than any midfielder which puts him third all-time for any position and he currently ranks twelfth all-time in points and number one for Apex High School midfielders.   

A first-team all-state selection in 2005 and a second-team all-state selection in 2006 set the stage for all future success in Apex Men’s Lacrosse. Nick played a huge part in Apex High School’s 2005 Men’s Lacrosse state championship run and was outstanding in the title game. No moment was too big for Nick. He was confident and believed that he was the guy who was going to make the tough play and score the big goal.  

After graduating from Apex High School in 2006, Nick went on to Greensboro College on a full academic scholarship and became one of the best players in the history of that program. While at Greensboro, he was team Captain during the 2010 season and the team’s leading scorer in 2009 and 2010. Furthermore, for 2010 he was named Greensboro College’s “Male Athlete of the Year” and earned NCAA USILA Academic All-American team honors. Following his college career, he was selected to play in the “National Senior North vs South Game.”  A great leader, a great example for his teammates, and now a great husband and father, we are proud to call Nick Patrone an Apex High School Alumnus and a Hall-of-Famer!