The Relentless Rise of Lucca DiBartolomeo

It was a typical fall day at Malvern Prep when Lucca DiBartolomeo, just a freshman, felt a persistent ache in his shoulder during football practice. A mild discomfort, or so he thought. Doctors initially brushed it off, suggesting he simply shift the weight of his backpack. But what Lucca and his family soon learned would alter the course of his life in ways unimaginable.

"I remember being in the basement when my mom got the call," Lucca recalls. "The doctor told us to go to CHOP immediately. I had a mass in my shoulder."

That mass turned out to be non-Hodgkin lymphoma—a form of blood cancer where malignant cells invade the lymphatic system. The news sent shockwaves through the DiBartolomeo family. Lucca’s father, Joel, still wrestles with the memory. "It was, and still is, the scariest thing I think about every day," he admits.

Yet, for Lucca, the gravity of the diagnosis never consumed him. His mindset was unwavering from the start. “I was always thinking ahead. Not a 'this sucks' kind of mentality. It was more like, ‘Alright, how do I move past this?’”

If there’s one thing anyone who knows Lucca can attest to, it’s that his work ethic is unmatched. "Relentless," his Malvern Prep head coach describes him. “He never stops. From day one, Lucca’s been a clear-cut leader on and off the field.”

That drive, the one his older brother Peri recognized from childhood, propelled Lucca through the toughest months of his life. “With anything we did as kids, he went a hundred percent,” says Peri. "It's just how he's wired."

And Lucca’s wiring led him back to the lacrosse field after battling cancer, stronger than ever. By the time his senior year rolled around, the nation took notice. Ranked the top long-stick midfielder (LSM) in the country, he was named Philly Lacrosse Player of the Year, an All-State selection, a New Balance All-American, and a Nike All-American. Lucca’s comeback was nothing short of extraordinary.

The final act of his high school career was one for the books. He lined up on defense alongside his two brothers, Peri and Roman, creating a family rope unit that became a force at Malvern Prep. Together, the trio dominated, and all three brothers—naturally—committed to Penn State. The DiBartolomeo brothers are set to continue their journey, side by side, in Happy Valley.

For Lucca, overcoming non-Hodgkin lymphoma was just another step in his relentless pursuit of greatness. The scars from his battle with cancer are a reminder of where he’s been, but his future? It's all about where he's going.