Lax Links 1-26-12

It’s been about a week, so let’s dive right into the links.

High School/The Next Level

So peaceful.

Cranbrook’s oval is snow-covered (well, that depends on whether it’s 60 or 20 degrees out on any given day) and waiting for the spring season to begin.

Okemos junior Bobbie Hall has committed to the UConn women’s team as a member of the class of 2013.

Bloomfield Hills Lahser alumnus Justin Tuma is prominent in a youtube documentary about last year’s Roanoake College team, which advanced to the D-3 final four.

The next next next level: Former Michigan State goalie (from the waning days of the varsity era in East Lansing) Jason Tarnow will be the first lacrosse coach at D3 Baldwin-Wallace.

MCLA

The MCLA Preseason coaches poll includes Michigan State at No. 6 in D-1, and a handful of notable teams in D-2:

• 1. Davenport
• 4. Grand Valley State
• 19. Hope

Strong at the top in Michigan.

Thanks to 412 Lax, let’s experience at some of Grand Valley’s 2012 equipment:

White gloves.

This would look awesome with a matte finish.

Excellent West Michigan theme

More at the link.

Division 1

Detroit’s official site kicks off its own season preview with a look at the goalies (particularly A.J. Levell, the starter and only returning player at the position). I’ll recap all of those posts when they’re done for the season preview bonanza currently under way.

Quint Kessenich’s schedule analysis for the 2012 season is deep and insightful:

Michigan — The Big Blue will be hard-pressed to win a game in Year One. They face Ohio State on April 14 in Ann Arbor.

Not particularly enlightening. He also mentions that North Carolina’s opening stretch – including a game against the Titans – should allow them to start the season 5-0.

Michigan’s Team One had their “judgment day” in early January. Fortunately, there is video:

You can pick up a “Team One” schedule poster for the Michigan Wolverines at the ticket office in Ann Arbor.

Incoming Recruits

Michigan has picked up a commitment from Portsmouth Abbey (R.I.) attackman Mitchell Kelln. LaxLessons goes into depth with both Kelln and last week’s commitment, Christian Wolter:

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Wolter, a physical, two-way player with strong offensive skills, finds that his ability to get after ground balls has been boosted by his play as a defenseman in hockey.

“I have always played defense and quarterbacked my hockey teams from the point,” Wolter said. “Hockey is a fast game with a lot of puck movement and corner work which has helped me see the lacrosse field and in ground ball situations, which I just love. Anticipation is a big part of hockey and again this skill translates well to lacrosse.”

…

Kelln is also looking to help Michigan grow into a Division I power.

“One of the decision factors appealing to me that Coach Paul laid out was being a part of something that will grow exponentially very quickly,” he said. “The resources Michigan has are unmatched by any school and I am very excited to be a part of this program headed for excellence in the very near future.”

Much, much more at the link. Wolter’s Lacrosse Recruit profile has plenty of video and information. Inside Lacrosse touches on Wolter’s commitment.

If web streaming high school lacrosse is your thing, you’ll have a chance to see a few recruits of interest this spring, thanks to Kudda.com. The Haverford School (Paxton Moore ’12), Conestoga (Robbie Zonino ’13), and Georgetown Prep (Hugh Mosko ’14) all have Michigan-bound players.

…speaking of Mosko, Inside Lacrosse profiled the first Michigan commit from the sophomore class:

For me, Michigan had everything I was looking for in a school. It offered a perfect combination of strong academics, athletic tradition and a great college atmosphere. Coach Paul and the assistant coaches made me feel extremely comfortable, I really liked the guys on the team and the plan for the new facilities was amazing.

Much more at the link.

Michigan has picked up 2013 N.J. LSM/Defenseman Charlie McPeters.

I get the feeling this is going to just keep happening, but such is life: another Michigan-based or Michigan-bound recruit was ESPNHS’s top recruit commit story of the past week. This time around, it’s future Wolverine Sara Beach.

Internal Linkage

Take your first look at seven of Michigan’s 2012 opponents (those that they don’t share with Detroit).

The 2012 regions for the MHSAA Tournament were released over the weekend. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand why these come out before a single game has been played, but whateva.

Part one of an in-depth look at Detroit’s 2012 squad, starting with the offense. Part two looks at the defense. Part three will look at the possession game tomorrow.

Season outlook for the Michigan State Women’s Lacrosse squad.

Etc.

General “grow the game” westward expansion news: SMU is considering a Division-1 lacrosse program in the future. The Mustangs begin Big East play in all sports in the next couple years, so they’d have a natural home for lacrosse.