Time to round up the latest. As always, links, press releases, college commitments, etc. can find the inbox on Twitter or via e-mail.
Division-1
The UDM athletic apartment is going ham on preseason preview videos. Most interesting to me (though it’s the oldest) was the practice report, so that’s the one that gets the embed:
Defense preview. Offense preview.
If you’re looking for tickets to Detroit’s games at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (against Mercer Sunday and Michigan next Wednesday), you can buy them through the UDM website.
The Titans received their MAAC Championship rings at a recent UDM basketball game. Outlook for this spring in the Metro Atlantic. Detroit was officially picked to finish second, with attack Alex Maini and midfielder Mike Birney named preseason all-conference.
College Crosse runs through the ECAC. Michigan will try to make some noise in the final year of the conference’s existence. You can see the official ECAC media guide here, and John Paul’s appearance at conference media day on Youtube.
After Gerald Logan was ruled out for the season, Michigan was in need of a new goalie for depth, and student body walkon Bobby Riso will be the man.
Michigan had a team head-shaving… uh… party? for the vs. Cancer foundation. Jason Rubenstein of the Michigan Daily covers the event. U-M freshman faceoff specialist discusses it in his Under The Arch blog.
LaxBuzz previews Michigan. Lacrosse All-Stars does the same.
The Michigan women are having an open practice in Oosterbaan Fieldhouse Saturday.
Division-3
Albion’s Kevin O’Grady and Kyle Formanczyk were the offensive and defensive players of the week in the MIAA last week.
MCLA
UM-Dearborn’s team is as serious as it gets when it comes to MCLA programs, what with press releases announcing new assistants and all. Patrick Riley will coach the goalies and defense in Dearborn this spring.
Lacrosse All-Stars grades the schedules for the entirety of the CCLA-1 and the CCLA-2. Michigan State and Davenport earn A+ marks for the top division, and Siena Heights gets the top honor in Division-2.
High School
The Saginaw Heritage lacrosse community was hit with tragedy in January when senior A.J. Stewart lost his battle with thyroid cancer. Obviously, lacrosse is the last thing on anyone’s radar when a high school kid dies, but that’s one more community Stewart touched.
Brother Rice takes the No. 6 spot in Student Sports Lacrosse’s preseason Midwest/West rankings.
Camps/Clinics
Robert Morris University is based in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Makes it tough to attend a girls’ lacrosse clinic there, right? Well, it’s your lucky day! (Or rather, March 8 is your lucky day). RMU head coach Katy Philllips, along with her assistants and players, will host a clinic at Country Day that afternoon, on the eve of the Colonials’ game at Detroit. It’s 60 bucks to attend, which includes the cost of a t-shirt. The high school girls hit the field at 1 p.m., younger girls at 4 p.m. Hit up Robert Morris’s website for more details.
The Brine National Lacrosse Classic tryouts took place last weekend at U-M, and TopLaxRecruits has your player reaction and final roster. The main event takes place this summer in Maryland. They also covered the girls’ tryout at Country Day.
The Wolverine War team camp in Ann Arbor will take place July 19-20 this summer.
True Lacrosse is holding a summer camp at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s June 23-26. There are options for commuters and overnight campers.
The Davenport women are hosting a clinic in just over a week. Separate events for offensive and defensive player Feb. 23 in Grand Rapids.
Recruiting
The Hometown Life article covering Signing Day in Bloomfield Hills includes to lacrosse players: Marie D’Angelo (Grand Valley State) and Emma Mucci (Detroit). “Hometown Life” remains an extremely bizarre name for a newspaper.
Inside Lacrosse runs down the commitment of 2014 D Will Kane to Detroit.
He is a three year letterman for Dallas Jesuit and was a starter my 2012-2013 season (junior year). This summer with Iron Horse Lacrosse Club he attended Baltimore Summer Kickoff, King of the Hill, and was an all star at Laxachusetts and at T99.
I presume he signed the first Wednesday of February, but I have seen no evidence of such.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2014 midfielder Brent Lubin committed to the new Division-1 program at NJIT.
Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga 2017 midfielder Bran Townsend committed to Michigan.
Clarkston 2014 defenseman Scott Allen committed to Michigan State. So too did L’Anse Creuse North defenseman Tevor Green. Spartans are loading up on D with Eric McLean of Rochester Adams also joining the class.
Due to the unfortunate rule of allowing a maximum of four poles on the field at a time, Michigan State will also have to recruit other positions. Fortunately, Rochester Adams midfielder Brendan Mamon has pledged to the Spartans.
Forest Hills Central midfielder Kevin Barissi committed to Trine University.
Class of 2016 defenseman Curtis Alexander of Deerfield (Mass.) Academy committed to Michigan this week.
Job Openings
Grand Blanc and Waterford are still seeking coaches.
Utica Ford is looking for a JV coach.
The Next Level
West Bloomfield graduate Caleb McCurtis is now plying his trade at Ohio Valley University in West Virginia. Not bad for a kid who didn’t give lacrosse a second thought when he first entered high school.
Tommy McKee, a Holt alumnus, and the rest of the Air Force attack earn distinction from Inside Lacrosse.