The Beat is Back
- Boys 2002 Division 2&3 Preview
February 25th, 2002…it
has a nice ring to it…doesn’t it? Well, it is music to my ears…cause it
is the first day of spring sports!!!! We all know what that means…HIGH
SCHOOL LACROSSE IS BACK and so is the Weekly Beat!!!
Yes, high school lacrosse in
Washington is at it again…more change, more growth, new teams, new
divisions!!! Let’s see if we can clear up any confusion and screw your
head back on straight. Here is a rundown.
The league is now 23 teams strong
split between 3 divisions. How did this happen? Well, after an
extremely successful year in which they captured the “B” league title,
Port Angeles has joined the mighty ranks of Division 1 (formerly the “A”
league) and also split into two squads. The second squad will compete
in Division 3. Division 1 will also include mainstays Bainbridge,
Lakeside, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Maple Valley, Nathan Hale and
Overlake.
Eastside took a huge hit from
graduation and the birth of other programs and thus opted to move down
to Division 2 (formerly the “B” league) for the 2002 season. Joining
the newly coined “Ravens” in Division 2 are Bainbridge B, Vashon,
Roosevelt, Franklin, Maple Valley B and the Panther Lacrosse Club.
Division 3 will be made up almost
entirely of newly formed programs. Don’t let this fool you though.
Almost every team has at least someone with prior experience as this
division is comprised of split squads, rebirths and branches from other
programs. Bainbridge continues to grow and will now have one team
competing in each division. Mt. Ranier has formed a team, filling a
void south of Seattle since Burien folded. Curtis survived a rumored
folding and will drop down to compete in Division 3 as well. Former
Panther LC players have done well to spring a new team at Garfield.
Former Lakeside coach, Rob Hawly has revived lacrosse on the Kitsap
peninsula. After a year away from the league, Kitsap will once again
field a team. Issaquah and Snohomish have also given birth to new
programs building around a few Eastside area transplants. Rounding out
Division 3 will be the before mentioned second squad from Port Angeles.
Just in case you weren’t confused
enough, Mercer Island, Nathan Hale, Overlake and Eastside also have new
coaches. Just a little taste to wet your thirst for knowledge!
Let’s get the ball rolling with a
look at Divisions 2 and 3 for 2002!!!
Division Two –
Preseason Outlooks
Team: Bainbridge Island Spartans
Coach: Kii Yette
2001 Finish: 10-3, 3rd
place “B” league
Outlook:
The Bainbridge boys are always solid. The program continues to grow and
now with a 3rd team the second team should be pushed even
more. Look for the Spartans to be a playoff team in 2002.
Team: Eastside Ravens
Coach: Jim Anderson
Assistants:
Yaap, McLean, DeMuth, Wehe,
Anastasi.
2001 Finish: 7-7, 4th place “A” league
Outlook:
Eastside will certainly
have a rebuilding year in 2002. Having lost 15 + players to graduation
and expansion, the team will certainly have a much younger look this
season. The team will be known for unity and hustle and looks forward
to a year of steady growth and improvement. One area of team strength
this year will be attack. Lead by the lone returning senior Scott
McCann (who may also run midfield) and sophomore Jack Andrews, the
Ravens should pack some offensive punch. Junior Richie Anastasi,
sophomore Ian Lee and Colorado transplant Curt Burton should bring
additional firepower. The midfield will be very young as a host of
freshman should see a great deal of action. The defense will also be
very young. However, sophomore Kyle VanNostrand (Eastside’s 2001 Rookie
of the Year) should lead a solid group. In goal, Erik Yaap looks to
keep the nets clean for Eastside in 2002.
contributions by Jim Anderson
Team: Franklin Quakers
Coach:
Web Hutchinson
2001
Finish: 8-5, 4th place “B” league
Outlook:
Franklin will have its work cut out as they must find away to replace
the loss of their 3 leading scorers from 2001. 1st team all
league performers Robert Valdez, Vu Thach and Evan Hanada have all
graduated. The young Quakers will be lead this year by senior
midfielder, Haywood Evans. Evans earned honorable mention all-league
honors a year ago. Franklin may rely a bit more on the defense this
spring. Not to worry, the Quakers return 1st team all-league
goalie, senior Hal Glade. Franklin has been a consistent playoff team
over the last few years, look for them to be in the mix again in 2002.
Team: Maple Valley Vandals
Coach:
Scott Droppleman
2001
Finish: 5-7, 5th place “B” league
Outlook:
Due to the graduation of several players from Maple Valley’s “A”
squad, many from the “B” team will most likely move up. Not sure where
this will leave the “B” squad. However with over 60 players in the
program, the Vandals are likely to turn out a squad that will scrap for
the final playoff spot. We know this for sure, the Vandals will compete
and they will always come hard!
Team: Panthers Lacrosse Club
Coach:
Matt Cone
Asst Coaches: Fred Wilmot, Nick Pollock
Finish:
11-3, 2nd place “B” league
Outlook:
Simply put, the outlook is good. Very good! On paper the Panthers seem
the odds on favorite to run away with the “B” league crown. After an
improbable run to the league finals in their first year of existence,
almost the entire roster is back to make another run. Making things
seem even more optimistic for the Panthers, last year’s roadblock, Port
Angeles, has moved up to Division 1.
Six
players have moved on to help form a team at Garfield, but the Panthers
return everyone one of their all-league performers from a year ago. The
list includes attackman Alex Aigner, midfielders James Bangasser and
Adam Sangeorsan, defensemen Tyler Carr and Nick Heilbrunn and goalie Joe
Grant. Carr just might be the best player in Division 2 in 2002!!!
Here are
some words from Coach Cone:
“The Panthers are ready for the 2002 season. With the growth of
lacrosse this season, the team has split and both Seattle Prep and
Garfield have enough boys for Varsity and JV teams. The Panthers,
primarily Seattle Prep boys, return a number of 2001 all-state players.
(Other) players
to watch for the 2002 season include sophomore Tommy Mangold, junior
Justin Coffey as well as defenseman Evan Mabderbach who all played alot
of ball this Fall at Arena Sports.”
Team: Roosevelt Roughriders
Coach: Scott MacFarlane
Assistant: Todd McGuire
2001 Finish: 0-12, 8th
place “B” league
Outlook:
After a rough go in 2001, the Roughriders are ready to pick it up in
2002. Helping the cause will be one time Burien coach Todd McGuire.
About a dozen new players will also join the squad this spring. Having
lost only three seniors and with the return of team captain and
honorable mention all-league defenseman, Kurt Preuss, the future looks
bright!
Team: Vashon Vultures
Coach: Charley Rosenberry
2001 Finish: 3-8, tied for 6th
place “B” league
Outlook:
After missing the playoffs in 2001, Vashon looks to return to their
winning ways that brought home a “B” league title back in ’97. The
playoff may be in reach in 2002 as the Vultures lose only one senior
from last year’s squad. Unfortunately, that player is 2nd
team all-league defenseman Michael Hall. So, it will be up to a new
crop of talent to step up and lead the way. The most likely building
block is senior Nick Weise. Weise was a 2nd team all-league
midfielder a year ago.
Division
Three-Preseason Oulooks
All of the teams in Division 3 are
new programs in some way. A few are entirely new, a few broke from
other programs, some are the result of tremendous growth of certain
programs and others have been revived from the dead. Due to these
facts, little info is known about many of these clubs. We can tell you
though that there will be some good and entertaining lacrosse from this
division. Stay tuned!
Team: Bainbridge Island
Spartans
Coach: Chris Kozina
Outlook:
Not sure what two expect of Bainbridge’s latest addition to its
program. Hold on, what are we saying…it’s Bainbridge! The 3rd
team in what continues to be an extremely successful program on
Bainbridge Island, you can bet Coach Kozina will have his boys ready to
continue the traditional winning ways!
Team: Curtis Vikings
Coach: Jaime Gregerson
Assistants: Kyle Holland, Steve Collins
Outlook: The Vikings finished tied for 6th
place in the “B” league a year ago and rumor has it, came close to
folding its program in the off-season. However, coach Gregerson has the
boys together and ready to compete at the Division 3 level this spring.
Team: Garfield Bulldogs
Coach:
Chris Honeycutt Assistant: Kristian Erickson
Outlook: Even though Garfield is a new team
in 2002, several players bring prior experience to the program. Led by
sophomore Aaron Merken, six players saw time with the Panthers Lacrosse
Club in 2001. A few others once donned the colors for Nathan Hale and
Roosevelt respectively. With a solid core to build from, the Bulldogs
should be a force this spring.
Team: Issaquah Lacrosse Club
Coach:
Norm Levy Assistants: Brandon Fortier,
Jordan Bayly
Outlook: Overlake transplant, Ben Cohen and
Mercer Island transfer, Jordan Levy recruited strong in the fall. Their
efforts gave rise to a solid looking program for the spring of 2002.
The roster is 29 players strong and although only 5 players had any
previous experience, the squad is coming together nicely.
Junior
attackman, John Harty, who saw time at Eastside last year should lead a
potent attack along with Levy and a couple talented freshman in John
Matusiefsky and Nick Tierney. Junior, Franz Leenstra, has exploded onto
the lacrosse scene and could be one of the top midfielders in the
league. Freshman, Chris Hutchinson and sophomore, Jack Bliss will also
play key roles in the midfield. Cohen will lead a solid defensive unit
backed in goal by first timer Zach Grote. Grote has made incredible
strides in a short time and should be solid between the pipes. Look for
Issaquah to contend for a playoff spot!
Team: Kitsap Lacrosse Club
Coach:
Rob Hawly Assistant: Rich Kroll
Outlook: After a year away from the league,
lacrosse has returned to the Kitsap peninsula thanks in large part to
Coach Hawly! After years of success at Lakeside, Hawly stepped down and
spent the year recruiting middle schoolers in Kitsap. Now that he has
the players, look out!!! Kitsap should be a disciplined and fundamental
team. With Hawly at the helm look for Kitsap to make an impact in year
one.
Team: Mt. Ranier Lacrosse Club
Coach:
player run
Outlook: Kudos to Casey Desmond for
organizing things and forming a team at Mt. Ranier. 2002 will most
likely be a big learning experience for the boys from Des Moines. Still
in need of a coach, we shall see how well the team can pull together and
compete this spring.
Team: Port Angeles Roughriders
Coach:
Bob Baumstark
Outlook: Coach Baumstark has done a marvelous
job building a solid program in Port Angeles. Several Roughriders were
seen this summer at many camps and they are looking good. It remains to
be seen if the second squad can keep to the standards the Division 1
group has set. Our guess is they will be a force and a playoff
contender.
Team:
Snohomish County Lacrosse Club
Coach:
Doug Trost
Outlook: As early as last spring, Snohomish
began preparing for a team in 2002. It looks to have paid off as they
will turn out 30 strong this spring. Although only 3 of the 30 have any
previous experience, the year of preparation has Snohomish ready to
compete. Leading the way will be Eastside transplant, junior
defenseman, Whit Roulstone. Look for SnoCo to make some waves!
So, just
two more weeks and we get our first taste of some action!!! This year
the Jamboree has been split into 4 locations. Tons of high school
lacrosse taking place all over the greater Seattle area in one day!!!!
What could be better? 23 teams, 3 divisions…it’s gonna be show!!!!
Next
Week: DIVISION ONE PREVIEW!!!!
Click Here to View the 2001 Weekly
Beat
