Rounding up the latest in lacrosse around the state of Michigan. As always, tips can be tweeted or e-mailed any time.
NCAA
Titans coach Matt Holtz speaks with Woody Woodriffe of Fox2 News.
UDM players are working with the Detroit PALto teach young kids in the city the sport of lacrosse. Great to see the Titans doing their part to grow the game.
Grand Valley State assistant coach Sean Blair resigned from his position with the Lakers to take one at Hope. The Flying Dutchmen will play their inaugural season of NCAA Division-3 ball in the spring.
High School
Mike Costello takes a look, eight years later, on the effect that MHSAA sanctioning has had on the sport in this state. He brings up a lot of salient points (including some I’ve made before), and in all honesty, it’s a post worth looking at in a deeper way sometime soon.
The Boo Bash fall lacrosse tournament is open for registration.
MCLA
Internal linkage for an interview with new Michigan State coach Brandon Schwind. (And thanks for the shoutout, Spartans).
Tryouts approach for MSU.
Spartans Brad Crimmins and Dave Stead were named MCLA Scholar Athletes. Western Michigan’s Matt Holden joins them on the MCLA-1 list. In Division-2, a trio of in-state players earned the same honor: James Burkhardt (Aquinas), Will Franken (Hope), and Ryan Holmes (Hope).
Recruiting
I missed this a while back, but Cranbrook midfielder Matthew Giampetroni committed to Duke. That’s a big-name school for a Michigan guy (biggest since… Andrew Cote to Hopkins and Joey Fontanesi to Maryland in 2008?), and as far as I’m aware, the first 2014 verbal from the state – Jason Alessi’s Michigan commitment didn’t come until a couple weeks later.
Queens University of Charlotte drops a blurb on Holt midfielder Stevie McKee’s All-American selection.
Michigan has picked up a 2014 commitment from St. Paul’s (Md.) attack/midfield B.J. Mattheiss, according to Inside Lacrosse:
B.J. Mattheiss, A/M, St. Paul’s (Md.) has verbally committed to play at Michigan. As a starter he was the fourth leading scorer on the Crusaders varsity team this year. This past summer he participated in King of the Hill, Up Lax, Summer Sizzle, Crab City Challenge and Baltimore Summer Kickoff for the Baltimore Breakers. In addition, he played in the Brine Shootout with St. Paul’s. He also attended Nike Blue Chip and the Maryland Free State Games in 2012. He also is a two-year varsity soccer player and plays basketball for St. Paul’s. Also strongly considered Penn State, Duke and Princeton.
By my informal count, that’s about six public 2014 commits for Michigan.
Michigan has picked up a 2014 commitment from John Jay (N.Y.) attack/midfielder Shawn Smith, according to Joe Lombardi of LaxLessons.com.
Brendan Gaughan helped move La Costa Canyon into the national spotlight.
Lax All-Stars points out that Carlsbad (Calif.) La Costa Canyon graces the cover of the most recent issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Prominently featured? Michigan freshman attackman Brendan Gaughan.
New content-sharing partner PhillyLacrosse.com posted my rundown from the Michigan lacrosse team camp.
Etc.
Mike Costello names his “Mount Rushmore of Lacrosse” in the state of Michigan, including a few obvious names. Anyone that he omitted?
Thanks for visiting GreatLaxState.com
Thank you for the Mt. Rushmore of Michigan Lacrosse link. I agree with all of the author’s selections and appreciate their contributions to the sport. However, the mountain just doesn’t seem complete without Ron Hebert’s mug on it.
R.I.P. Buckey
Tough to pick just four. I would also add Hebert, Rich Kimball, Bob DiGiovanni and John Paul as considerations. If you’re just considering founding fathers who got it all going than Lutz and Riley seem like no brainers.
I gotta agree with Joe. Hebert’s a must.