WEEK ONE: Let the Season Begin!

            Spring is right around the corner.  Do you know what time it is?  Can you sense it?  It’s time to play some LACROSSE!!!  High school practices began February 26^th as 17 teams took to the field in search of a championship!  The Jamboree kicks off the season on Sunday, March 11^th at Bainbridge Island high school.

            High school lacrosse continues to grow and improve here in the great northwest.  The “A” Division is up to 8 teams as traditional “B” powers Nathan Hale and Maple Valley have moved up.  The Curtis Vikings opted to move down and unfortunately the Kitsap Lacrosse Club will be unable to field a team in 2001.  Yet, with the birth of two new programs at Seattle Prep and Roosevelt the “B” Division will run 9 strong. 

            Several programs will also turn out junior varsity teams in 2001 as the greater Seattle area youth continue to take to the greatest game on two feet! The Weekly Wrap will attempt to keep everyone up to date on each week’s happenings in boy’s high school lacrosse here in Washington.  Look for our general recap, “player’s of the week” and “games of the week” in our upcoming issues. If you have any good ideas for a story, questions or comments about anything in the articles or just want to chat, please send us an email.  Thanks 

-Brandon Fortier [email protected]

This week we preview the teams looking to hold the trophies come May.  

WA State Boy’s High School Lacrosse

2001 Preview

“A” Division

The quest continues in the “A” division to knock Bainbridge out of its strong hold on the state championship.  The mighty Spartan dynasty has reached 7 in a row as no one else has held the cup since 1994.  But, the “A” Division has a new look in 2001 and with 8 teams and several programs on the rise it should be an interesting road to the finals!!!

Team Capsules

Bainbridge Island Spartans

2000 record: 13-1, State Champs

Head Coach: Ryan Painter

Key Players Lost:  A Peter VanderHoek , G Mike Penn,

 D Ben Blakey, M Kelton Johnson

Key Returners: D Peter Bonoff, A Adam Smith

Bainbridge continues to be the deepest, most well rounded team in the state.  Every year the Spartans manage to reload and look for 2001 to be no different.  Bainbridge will be looking to make its 9th straight trip to the finals

Bellevue Wolverines

2000 record: 0-13

Head Coach: Steve Corley

Key Players Lost: M Beau Mylorie

Key Returners:  D Erik Heilman, D David Blethen, A Brandon Deal

Bellevue has an amazing 50 kids out for the program this year, allowing both JV and Varsity teams. Our young team has gotten a year older and we now have 20 juniors leading the program. Our defense is anchored by seniors Erik Heilman and David Blethen who lead by example. Attackmen to watch: Brandon Deal (Jr), Ryan Peterson (Jr); Middies to watch: too many to list!

Bellevue is looking forward to a fun year of competitive lacrosse.  See you on the field!

                            -Steve Corley

Eastside Lacrosse Club

2000 record: 10-5, 3^rd place

Head Coach: Brandon Fortier

Key Players Lost: M Jordan Bayly, D Sean Dwyer, A Frank Kaminski

Key Returners: M Matt Sinkula, D John Trenkamp, G Justin Patterson

In 2000, Eastside finished in the top 3 for the first time since it reached the finals in ’95, ’96.  In 2001, Eastside will be looking to get back.  They will have a tough task in replacing all-league performer Bayly, but Eastside returns a solid core of seniors as well as a large crop of talented freshman that could serve some key roles. 

Lakeside Lions

2000 record: 13-2, 2^nd place

Head Coach: Tony Olney

Key Players Lost: A Dave Fine, D Jeff Jorve

Key Returners: A Ian Redman, D Matt Miller, D Cole Wright

After several years of success, Rob Hawley steps down as the Lion’s head coach making way for former Hale coach Tony Olney.  Coach Olney looks to have a challenge in replacing holes left by an extremely talented class.  All-Americans Jeff Jorve and Dave Fine have moved on.  So, the big question now is, “Can Lakeside make it back to the fianls in 2001?”  We shall see!

Maple Valley Vandals

2000 record: 11-2, “B” division champs

Head Coach: Vern Smith

Maple Valley opens in third season with 48 players already signed up, including 14 freshmen.  Having won the B Division in '99 and '00, the Vandals will now field teams in both divsisions.  Players to watch on the A team include junior attackman Brian Johnson, who led the team in scoring in last year's final win over Nathan Hale with 4 goals, and middie senior Travis Cornelison.  The defense will be anchored by seniors Weston Butt, Adam Running, and Robbie Totten. 

-Vern Smith

Mercer Island Islanders

2000 record: 6-6

Head Coach: Jack Visco

Key Returners: A Dave Biehn, M Geoff Thilo

Mercer Island looks to make better on their .500 record in 2001 on the backs of two all-league players in Thilo and Biehn.  A young team in 2000, the Islanders return almost everyone and with a year of experience under their belts will look to make a push for the finals in 2001.

Nathan Hale Raiders

Coach: Colin Hunter

The Raiders are looking at a season of transition, moving to the A league and starting with a new coach, this season will be a learning experience.  Hale will rely heavily on returning senior midfielders Eric Weitz Alex Wells, Leaf Bailey and Ryan Dupras.  Senior attackmen Stephan Heller, Michael Lowther, and Ben Morris will keep the offense rolling.   On defense we return two senior starters, John Hannah and Andrew Kirkland to support Ryan Garrett in net.  We expect to have a successful first year in the A league and continue to build the program to a top level team in the next couple of years.  

                                                                                    -Colin Hunter

Overlake Owls

2000 record:3-9
Head Coach: Chad Waite

Key Players Lost: D Matt McMurrer,  A CP Waite

Key Returning Players: G Luke Boswell, M Will Nelson, M Gavin Gaudette

  “B” Division

The teams that dominated the “B” Division for the last few years have moved on to the “A” Division in 2001 leaving the title wide open!!!  It should be a fun race to watch and good to see some fresh faces in the finals.  With two new programs in the mix and Curtis moving down, the 9 team division should make for an exciting season.  Stay tuned…

Team Capsules

Burien

Bainbridge Island

Head Coach: Kiilane Yette

Curtis Vikings

Head Coach: Jamie Gregerson

After a dismal 2000 campaign in the “A” Division, the Vikings step down and look to rebound in the “B” Division.  New coach Jamie Gregerson takes over for the departed Tim Jones and a fresh crop of players look to make 2001 a fun and successful season.

Franklin Quakers

Head Coach: Web Hutchins

  After squeaking into the playoffs in 2000, the Quakers look to improve in 2001.  With the top two teams moving on Franklin has its eyes set on the “B” Division finals.

Maple Valley

Head Coach: Scott Droppleman

The Maple Valley B Team for 2001 will be a totally new team of rookies with the exception of a few 1 year "veterans" as most of the team members from last year have gone up to the new A division squad. The B team will led by returning sophomores Bryce Cline, Dan Aas, and Adam Sterling.

Panther Lacrosse Club- Seattle Prep

1^st year Program

Head Coach: Matt Cone Asst Head Coach: Tim Price

The Panthers Lacrosse Club makes its inaugural debut in the WA Boys HS League this Spring. The team is comprised of 12 Juniors and 3 Freshman from Seattle Prep. Alex Aigner and Adam Sangeorsan bring the experience to the Midfield, having played 2 years for Eastside Middle School. Joe Grant is looking strong in the cage during pre-season practices. Ian Ross and Tyler Carr will anchor the defense and Rookies Juniors James Bangasser, Nick Heilbrunn, Cary Ward and Erich Kunz should all contribute to a successful first year season.

Port Angeles Roughriders

Head Coach: Bob Baumstark

Assistant:       Mike Serrianne

The PA Roughriders have made the playoffs the past two seasons only to lose to eventual champion Maple Valley.  Last year the program finished with 45 players on the roster.  Turn out this year is about the same and PA will have a varsity "B" division entry and also a JV team for new players.  Although seven starters graduated, including all league players Jack Waknitz (middie now at WSU), Jon Cummings (attack now at WWU), and James Crabb, PA is returning 11 letterman.  Players to watch are junior attack Scott Cline, last year's leading scorer, junior defenseman Jim Baumstark who brings all-league linebacking skill to the lacrosse field: both are two year letter winners.  Other key players are midfielders T.J Serrianne (sen), Brandon Melville (sen), and Ryan Anderson (soph),  attack Pat McEachern (jun) and Ryan Weed (jun), and defensemen Joey Leonard (jun) and Paul Schaaf (jun).  PA should be strong, athletic and a fun team to watch.  They hope to be playing in the championship game this year.

                                                                                                -Bob Baumstark

Roosevelt Roughriders

1^st year Program

Head Coach: Scott McFarlane

Roosevelt brings a number of kids with 1-2 years of playing. The defense should give most teams problems. The better players all play "D"; Kurt Preuss, Sam Harlow, Rick Martell-Scott, and one of  2 girls on the squad, Odile Valenzuela will all play significant minutes on "D". Over 20 students show interest in playing.

Coach McFarlane adds “I think we should do well in the B-League this year, we should win more than we lose.” The Roughriders would also like to thank Mark and Mary Preuss for all their efforts in helping bring the team into existence!!!

Vashon Pirates

Head Coach: Charley Rosenberry

 Vashon Lax will be a very new, yet enthusiastic squad in 2001. We have three players with two years' experience, five players with one year and thirteen first year players. Really, we don't have any players "to watch." It will be a learning season for us. We have some speed and some physical players but we have a ways to go to develop lacrosse skills.                                                                                                 -Charley Rosenberry