Last week, Whittier College in California became the first west coast college to earn a spot in the NCAA lacrosse tournament. They also became the first team to win an NCAA tournament game. Whittier has had a number of standout Washington State Players attend and compete at the school including Brandon Fortier (current Issaquah Coach) and Adam Burker (Seattle Men's Lacrosse Club).

Todd Thorpe, Former WA HS-All American from Curtis HS competed on the Whittier team for the last 4 years. He plans to move back to the Tacoma area this spring and continue to help Lacrosse grow in our state by working with youth and HS players.

Below are notes Todd Submitted for publication on walax.com about his final week of collegiate lacrosse:

What exactly does it mean to be in the NCAA lacrosse playoffs?  Well, in Division III it starts in May with 16 teams competing for the right to be called the national champions.  That is what is seen from the outside. 

On the inside the playoffs begin in September.  Together, you and your teammates make a promise with each other to sweat, bleed, and breathe together.  Because, without this commitment there is no chance to survive a season filled with ups and downs. 

MONDAY APRIL 29th

After a successful season finishing 10-1, we have a week to wait before the selection committee makes their decisions on which teams are in the tournament. 

SUNDAY MAY 5th

We meet at our coach�s house to watch the NCAA Lacrosse Selection show. At this time we know that we have made the playoffs, but who and where are we going to play.  The previous week was spent speculating all the possibilities that might occur.  We could be at home playing a lower seeded team or we could be getting on a plane tomorrow morning heading for the East coast.  Fortunately for us, we are selected to be the #4 seed in the Northern division giving us a first round home game against Eastern Connecticut.

WEDNESDAY MAY 8^th

The game is scheduled for 7:30pm and we have a team lunch/dinner at 3:30pm.  We are not required to attend classes during the day and have a �walk-through� at 1:00pm.  The excitement on campus is unbelievable.  All week students and faculty have been talking about the game and what happens if we win.  In a sense, it might be easier to be on the road because there are fewer distractions and all that you have to worry about is playing lacrosse.

The team seems to be relaxed and energized at the same time.  In the locker room everyone is quiet and focused at the task at hand.  When the next 60 minutes of lacrosse are over, we will either move on or my college lacrosse career will be over.  Fortunately we won and my college lacrosse career is extended for another 60 minutes. 

Up next, the defending national champs, Middlebury.

FRIDAY MAY 10^th

At 6:00am we leave campus for the airport, which begins the longest day of travel in my life.  Two flights later we arrive in Vermont at 10:30pm Eastern time.   

SUNDAY MAY 12^th

It is every competitors dream to become the best by beating the best.  Some people like the easy path, but true champions want to earn their title.  All year we have heard that �we play easy teams,� �west coast lacrosse can�t compete with the east coast,� �we made the tournament because we are an independent team not in a league,� and other remarks about why we had the easy path into the playoffs.  So for us, playing the defending champs is a dream come true�.a chance to prove ourselves.

After leading at half time by 3, we fall to Middlebury 13-12.  We did not play our best game, but the better team on May 12^th won and moves on.  There are not too many �good losses,� but if you are going to lose a game, there is going to be sweat, blood, and tears.  A win should never be easy and a loss should always be heart breaking�.because when winning and losing are easy; you have stopped giving 100%.