Philly Lax Showcase Features SOL Players

Fab Forty all-star listings as well as article below provided courtesy of www.PhillyLacrosse.com. Visit the web site for all the latest lacrosse news.

White All-Stars
Connor Haab, A, Episcopal Academy
Ryan Ambler, A, Abington
Zach Rego, A, Haverford School
Connor Frisina, A, Conestoga
Dillon Walker, A, Salesianum School, DE
Aaron Murphy, A, Downingtown East
Matt Figueroa, M, Abington
Will McNamara, M, Haverford School
Paul Finley, M, Malvern Prep
Graeme Weaver, M, Malvern Prep
Jack Mott, M, Conestoga
Brett Incollingo, M, Pennsbury
Eddie Morris, D, Malvern Prep
Casey Eidenshink, D, La Salle
Zach Micciche, D, Eastern, NJ
Connor Bailey, D, Haverford School
Tanner Biemesderfer, D, Warwick
Kevn Samolsky, D, Malvern Prep
Jackson Tamasitis, G, Penn Charter
Andrew Fritschi, G, St. Anthony’s, NY

Blue All-Stars
Tyler Brooke, A, Conestoga
Shane Carr, A, Penn Charter
Parker Self, A, Central Bucks East
Calvin Hopkins, A, Pennsbury
Henry Blynn, A, Haverford School
Tyler Earley, A, Penn Charter
Sam Rohr, M, Haverford School
Vincent Loscalazo, M, Rocky Point, NY
Jake Durkin, M, Hatboro-Horsham
Evan Casterson, M, Pennsbury
Michael Buysse, M, Malvern Prep
Gregory Shildkrout, M, Germantown Academy
Miles Thomas, D, Conestoga
Ryan Guittare, D, Garnet Valley
Paxton Moore, D, Haverford School
Ryan Lehman, D, Garnet Valley
James Burke, D, Lower Merion
Tyler Morrell, G, Episcopal Academy
Travis O’Connor, G, Abington

White All-Stars
Kohl Batdorf, A, Owen J. Roberts
Cory Scheuerle, A, St. Joseph’s Prep
Michael Bernier, A, Malvern Prep
Andrew Grabowski, A, Penn Charter
Shane Morrell, A, Episcopal Academy
TJ Hanzsche, A, Malvern Prep
Julius Mouser, M, Shipley
Bradley James, M, St. Joseph’s Prep
Keith Dreyer, M, Malvern Prep
Bill Flatley, M, Conestoga
Keegan Lawton, M, Bishop Shanahan
Bryan Barry, M, Duxbury, MA,
Brendan Montrello, M, Niskayuna, NY
Trevor Hornby, M, Avon Grove
Ryan Crane, D, Germantown Academy
Alex Warden, D, Garnet Valley
Dan Marr, D, Pennsbury
Kevin Barrow, D, Avon Grove
Jim DeCarlo, D, La Salle
Beau Gomez, D, Wissahickon
Grant Nice, G, Souderton
Corbin Booker, G, Chestnut Hill Academy

Blue All-Stars
Andrew Blundin, A, Salesianum, DE
Joel McGowan, A, Bishop Eustace, NJ
Mike Devine, A, Malvern Prep
Colin Joka, A, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Matt King, A, Don Bosco Prep, NJ
Aiden Scott, A, Ridgefield, CT
Drew Kennedy, M, Malvern Prep
Jake Cabble, M, Sachem North, NY
Vincent Travaglini, M, Malvern Prep
Billy Schwartz, M, Bergen Catholic, NJ
Gryphin Kelly, M, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Will Glover, M, Abbey Park, Ontario, Canada
Richard Graf, M, Conestoga
Ryan Nowell, D, Bayard Rustin
Carl Lampe, D, Episcopal Academy
Bobby Tait, D, Germantown Academy
Dylan O’Donnell, D, Penncrest
Tim Cloud, D, Severna Park, MD
Chase Whittingham, D, St. Ignatius Prep, CA
Victor Garcia, G, La Salle
Hank Altschuler, G, Lower Merion

Sophomore Fab Forty Teams

Senior Fab Forty All-Stars
Blue All-Stars
Kenneth Warren, A, Pennsbury
Nate Hare, A, Upper Merion
Chris Brady, A, Neshaminy
Lee Minkoff, A, Cheltenham
Matt Macey, M, St. Augustine, NJ
Luke Laszkiewicz, M, Ontario, Canada
Ercol Acri, M, Mechanicsburg
Josh Sutterfield, M, Spring-Ford
Patrick Nolan, M, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Tom Sardelli, M, Notre Dame, (Rochester, MI)
Dawson Matter, M, Pembrooke, NH
Ryan Kreston, M, Hatboro-Horsham
Stephen Lewallen, D, Neshaminy
Will Thompson, D, Great Valley
Ben Vessels, D, St. Augustine, NJ
Ferrick Maxwell, D, Great Valley
Steve Oppenheimer, G, Germantown Academy
Chris Shubert, G, Pennsbury

White All-Stars
Jason Demato, A, St. Augustine, NJ
Nate Kotarra, A, Harriton
Dale Smith, A, Ridley
Daniele Weymer, A, St. Augustine, NJ
Alex Gibbel, M, Warwick
Gerry Smith, M, Episcopal Academy
Adam Yee, M, Penncrest
James Stanley, M, Bishop Shanahan
Craig Hunsberger, M, Pennridge
Johnny Gregitis, M, St. Joseph’s Prep
James Hennessy, M, Owen J. Roberts
James Lamb, D, Penn Charter
Michael Irvine, D, Malvern Prep
Jonathon Gilmartin, Malvern Prep
Shane Dacey, D, Holy Ghost Prep
Tim Durkin, D, La Salle
Adam Moore, G, Interboro
Mike Zikoski, G, St. Joseph’s Prep

Junior Fab Forty All-Stars

By Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/22/09

Only a month ago, La Salle junior midfielder Zach Jones fractured the side of his knee cap in a lacrosse tournament at Franklin & Marshall.

His doctors suggested Jones should not play in Saturday’s Philly Lacrosse Showcase at Episcopal Academy. But Jones was determined to get his shot at being seen by some of the 100 college coaches in attendance.

“They told me to take it easy,” said Jones, who admitted he went full strength for his three morning games on Team 11. “Nothing was stopping me. You have to get recruited and get your name out there.”

Jones was one of 325 lacrosse players – mostly from the Philadelphia area – that registered , paid $130 and competed in the inaugural Showcase, one of the biggest recruiting events of the season.

The event – run by Episcopal Academy head coach Andy Hayes and co-sponsored by Phillylacrosse.com – drew coaches from more than 70 Division I, II and III colleges. The players were placed on teams that featured an equal amount of sophomores, juniors and seniors. After each team played three morning games on six fields (two turf), All-Star teams were chosen by the coach (all from Philadelphia) to compete in the “Fab Forty” All-Star games for each class.

Jones said he felt the pain all day, but did not let it bother him. “It was the first time I had done anything in a month,” he said. “It was pretty bad, but I went out there and played. I had to get out there.

“So far, I have talked to a couple schools here and there, and I am in the process of setting up some visits. I’m pretty excited.”

From out of the area

Midfielder Will Glover, of Abbey Park High and a native of Oakville, near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, actually made three trips to the East Coast this month. Two weeks ago he competed for the vaunted Canadian Edge club team at the Quaker LaxFest at Radnor and last week he competed with Edge at the Ultimate Performance Shootout in Maryland.

Glover, who said he does not have a high school team but plays for a town squad, made the Junior Fab Forty team. Glover is looking at Villanova, Lafayette and Sacred Heart at the top of his list.

“There are a lot of scouts here so I can get exposure,” he said. “This is the place to be. This is really well run and the level of competition is really high.”

Junior attackman Kevin Teresky of Walt Whitman High, NY, enjoyed the intensity of the competition.

“I came in trying to win and trying to make the All-Star Game,” Teresky said. “It’s intense. It’s different from region to region, but the main thing is you have fun. Once you get a couple of possessions going, you get used to the guys on your team.”

The senior perspective

Germantown Academy senior goalie Steve Oppenheimer, who advanced to the Fab Forty Game, has been recruited by several Division III powers. He is hoping that the Showcase may open up other options.

“I am keeping my options open, I am not going to commit anywhere,” he said. “I’m trying to go somewhere where I can play and have fun. I felt I played pretty well in all three (morning) games and hopefully that helped.”

Penncrest senior midfielder Adam Yee likened the Showcase to other established tournaments.

“It was a great experience, it reminds me of all the Top 205 tournaments people are always talking about,” said Yee, who made the Fab Forty squad and is considering Hartford, Delaware and some Division III schools. “I didn’t play too much in the summer, so this helped me a lot.”

Hatboro-Horsham senior midfielder Ryan Kreston enjoyed playing in the Fab Forty game with many coaches lined up on the field.

“There were a lot of coaches at that last game on the sideline and I think I got a lot of good exposure,” he said, noting he has applied to several schools mostly for academics until now. “Everything is open.”

The junior perspective

Bishop Shanahan junior midfielder Keegan Lawton, who made the Fab Forty team, is considering several Division I colleges such as Notre Dame, Bryant, Lehigh, Georgetown and Penn. He welcomed the competition and was happy to stay in the Philly area.

“I just wanted to get scouted by all these D1 schools,” he said. “It’s the best lacrosse around; it’s starting to get as good as Maryland.

“And it’s great to not have to travel far. I have played against a couple of the guys before. Everyone wants to hog in and shoot (at first), but once you settle down it becomes like any other team. You kind of get a feel for each and then you go.”

Shipley School junior midfielder Julius Mouser said it was nice to play on a large stage in the Fab Forty game (he scored two goals). At Shipley, Mouser plays smaller schools in the Friends Schools League.

“Playing at Shipley, the teams usually double and triple-team me,” he said. “Playing with more (advanced) players helps me develop as a better player. My goals were to show off my ability and I feel I did that.”

Mouser is looking at Syracuse, Cornell, Drexel and Rutgers.

The Sophomore perspective

Garnet Valley sophomore defenseman Ryan Guittare was pleased to make the Fab Forty game and play against the top attackmen in the area.

“My goals were really to do the best I could against all these great attackmen,” he said. “I thought it was a great event, it was organized well. This prepared me for the season and all the other tournaments.”

Malvern Prep midfielder Graeme Weaver had three goals in the Fab Forty game, and felt he did better as the day progressed.

“I think my whole goal was to play hard and I think the first couple games I played OK and then when I made this team I stepped it up,” he said. “If you play hard, good things happen. It’s nerve-racking to see (all the coaches), but you just block it out. This gives you a lot of confidence. You got to work hard in the off-season.

“I don’t know where I want to go. When the time comes, and I get looks, I will make the decision then.”

Germantown Academy sophomore attackman Billy Oppenheimer was not surprised by the high level of talent.

“I pretty much expected the best guys from Pennsylvania to be here, and that’s pretty much what it was,” he said. “I am just starting to get into (recruiting). I would like to play at D1 somewhere, but I don’t want to sit the bench for four years.”

The college coach perspective

Mac Diange, a 20-year assistant at Army, said the talent pool Saturday was impressive.

“It’s a great event with a lot of good talent from Philadelphia, which is very attractive. It’s an opportunity to see a lot of kids. This is a perfect venue, well-planned, easy to recruit at.”

Diange said he was looking at players in each class. He said many players inquire about attending West Point, and that the coaches like to see players in person.

“We’re looking at all three classes; we have been in contact some of these kids and they have contacted us. So, it’s an opportunity to evaluate them for the first time.

“You’re looking for athletic ability and a sense of the game. We also want to see how well they play off the ball.”

What does Diange think of lacrosse in Philadelphia?

“This area is really exploding in the Northeast area,” he said. “It stacks up very well.”

The Philly coach perspective

Michael Friel, head coach for 2009 state semifinalist Springfield-Delco, got to see the Philly Lacrosse Showcase from many angles. He was coach of Team 4 and also got to co-coach in the Sophomore Fab Forty game. What’s more, several of his players participated in the event.

“It’s been great; the way it’s been run and that the kids are always playing,” he said. “My team had a great experience. We played three games back-to- back-to-back.

“The exposure we’re getting is awesome. For all these coaches to come to our own area to watch our Philly kids here is great. Look at it; they are all lined up here. Coach Hayes did a great organizing this.”