Lax Power: Wolves lacrosse slowly building into top-10 program

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — Like any new program, when Clarkston launched boys lacrosse a decade ago with a club team, coaches at the time figured it would take a few years until the ground work laid a solid foundation. Fast forward 10 years, and the Wolves are now benefitting from a decade of work from many involved.

Clarkston is off to 11-1-0 start this season with three weeks left in the regular season. The Wolves are currently tied in second place in the OAA Red Division with Birmingham United and face that same team Wednesday for the right to earn second place overall in the standings.

“I think last year we could’ve been good, but we had so many injuries that we never got to play with our best lineup,” said Clarkston coach Brian Kaminskas, who is in his seventh season with the Wolves. “This year things are really going well for us. We’ve never had a start like this one. We have never been 11-1.

“I think a lot of work has gone into this (over the years),” added Kaminskas. “I think the big thing is having a youth program in Clarkston. Having a feeder program is making us better at the high school level.”

Clarkston finished 8-9-0 a year ago and was riddled with injuries. This year there are only five seniors, four whom start, but a very talented junior class that will make this team even better next season.

Junior midfielder Kevin Horton and junior attack Jordon Kincaid are among the point leaders on this team. Senior Matt Burtnett leads the defensive unit, while senior Alexander Jevins and senior attack Kevin O’Grady have all been solid contributors.

“We have some very talented kids in our attack. We seem to be scoring a lot of goals this season,” praised Kaminskas. “I also really like Matt Burtnett on defense. There were a couple of games where we were giving up what seemed like a lot of goals. That’s when Matt was hurt. He missed a couple of games. Now that he is back, we’ve been solid defensively again.”

Clarkston added another rivalry win to its resume on Saturday, thumping Lake Orion 15-4 in an OAA crossover contest.

“We played really well offensively in that game,” said Kaminskas.”I thought Lake Orion has one of their better teams. I know their program is only 4-5 years old. But we were really moving the (ball) well and got off a lot of shots.”

Clarkston has six games to go in the regular season. The Wolves are currently ranked fifth in Division 1 and in the Super 25 combining all divisions, yet another first for a program only a decade old.

“We’ve never been ranked in the top five before this season,” noted Kaminskas. “I know that we’ve had some god teams, but I think we’re finally at the point where we can be a (consistent) top 10 team.”

Clarkston has its work cut out for it this spring, as the Wolves are in the same regional as nationally-ranked Birmingham Brother Rice, also the defending state champs and top-ranked schoolin Division 1.

“Being in the same region as Brother Rice, it doesn’t look good for us in terms of winning a regional. They are a very good team and everybody knows that,” offered Kaminskas. “If we get a chance to play them, then great, It will be another measuring stick to see how far we’ve come and where we can be.”

How far the Wolves have come is seen in a decade. A fledging club team to a top 10 team in the state — with room to grow.

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Tags: boys lacrosse

Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps