2014 BOYS LACROSSE TEAM CAPSULES
2014 BOYS LACROSSE TEAM CAPSULES
Below are the 2014 boys lacrosse team capsules for teams located in the coverage region for www.northoaklandsports.com and The Real Deal Sports Magazine. Profiles compiled by Senior Editor Daniel Stickradt based on surveys emailed to coaches. Email updates, scores and other information to Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or Results@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans or on multiple other social media networks.
Auburn Hills Avondale
COACH: Stewart Kowalski, third season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 1-16-0, 0-6-0.
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-2 pre-regional to Royal Oak (16-8).
RETURNING STARTERS: George Fonville, jr. A; Rico Sacco, sr. M.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Unavailable.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Unavailable.
KEY LOSSES: Peter Kowalski (two-time all-league); Victor Fawaz, M; Hyunjae Song, G; Jess Shelton, D; JD Bootka, D; Andrew Reed, D.
NOTABLES: Avondale brought back its program two years ago after a five-year hiatus. The Yellowjackets found the going a little rough the past seasons with only a few victories combined, its only win last season came against new program Warren Cousino (9-6). There’s plenty of work to do at Avondale.
Clarkston
COACH: Brian Kaminskas, ninth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 16-3-0, 7-0-0 OAA Red Division (first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Romeo (16-3); def. Troy Athens (11-6); def. Holt (18-3); lost in D-1 state semifinals to Birmingham Brother Rice (22-9).
RETURNING STARTERS: Connor Ward, sr. A (All-State First Team); All-America; committed to Lake Erie College); Connor Dziewit, sr. A (committed to Otterbein College); Reid Kaminski, sr. M (committed to Roanoke University); Scott Allen, sr. D (committed to Michigan State); Jim McKillop, sr. LSM (all-State Honorable Mention); Jake Hendricks, sr. G (All-State Second Team).
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Robert Hall, sr. M; Austin Egler, jr. M; Keaton Mitchell, soph. M; Nick Werner, sr. M; Andrew Williamson, jr. A; Cole Phillips, jr. A; DJ Rogers, jr. D; John McClennan, jr. M; Matt Dargay, jr. M; Cooper Parks, sr. M.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Jason Setting, jr. D; Brent Farrugia, jr. LSM; Gaven Bertram, sr. A (transfer from Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; committed to Massachusetts-Lowell).
KEY LOSSES: Evan Kneisel, D; A.J. Schlaff, D; Kyle O’Grady, M/A.
NOTABLES: Like a slow-building single on the pop charts, Clarklston’s boys lacrosse team keeps climbing each year and has finally reached the level of one of the state’s premier programs, having advanced to the regional finals in 2011 and 2012 and the Final Four in 2013. Like everyone else in Michigan, the Wolves still need to find a way to beat Birmingham Brother Rice, which has not lost to a in-state school in a decade-plus. As for everyone else in Division 1 or Division 2, Clarkston has enough talent to beat anyone. The Wolves, 50-8 over the past three seasons, are favored to win their third straight OAA-Red title this season and are quite capable of making another deep run in the postseason with a loaded roster full of college prospects. This is no longer just a basketball and football school.
Lake Orion
COACH: Brad Thomas, third season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 13-6-0, 6-0-0 OAA White Division (first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. West Bloomfield (9-4); lost in D-1 regional semifinals to Birmingham Unified (13-10).
RETURNING STARTERS: Joey Friedman, sr. D; Kyle Pillivant, sr. A.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Tanner Seibold, sr. M; Kyle Marino, sr. M; Dom Giovannazzo, sr. M; Hunter Reid, sr. M; Justin Pavliscak, sr. M; Jordan Stross, sr. M; Joseph Friedman, sr. D; David Finneran, sr. D; Adam Korth, sr. M; Dimitri Grannies, sr. D.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Jack Angus, jr. G; Aaron Gies, jr. A; Jack Chapie, soph. AS; Zach Daining, soph. G; Drew Hubbard, fr. D.
KEY LOSSES: Zach Miller, A; Nick Booker, M; Nick DeAngelis, M; Mitch Leahey, D (Trine University); Mitch Holt, D (Michigan State).
NOTABLES: The good news for Lake Orion is that it has claimed back-to-back league titles in the OAA White Division and has 30 kids on the varsity roster this season, including 12 returnees. The bad news is that only two starters return and the Dragons are now in one of the state’s top conferences, the OAA Red Division. It could take time for this team to come together, especially with 18 newcomers. But there is a plethora of young talent ready for their baptism under fire which hopes to help make this team a quality side in a tough league.
Oxford
COACH: Greg Normand, third season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 11-5-2, 5-1-0 OAA White Division (second).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-2 regional quarterfinals to Flint Powers Catholic (16-9).
RETURNING STARTERS: Noah Grove, jr. A; Scott Randall, jr. A (6-foot-5; All-State Honorable Mention); Lars Joergens-Kokate, jr. M; Austin Kreshock jr. A; Owen Dachasz-Bachusz, sr. M/A; Dominic Diolchini, sr. LSM; Jared Tasch, jr. G (All-State Honorable Mention); Bobby Carr, jr. LSM; Alex Schueter, sr. D.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Nathan Tilley, jr. M; Travis Simat, sr. A; Ethan Duke, soph. D; Jonathan Doslak, sr. M; Ryan Kimbrough, soph. M.
KEY LOSSES: Kyle Anderson, D; Kevin Dutzy, M; Joey Bonino, M; Adam Cole, A.
NOTABLES: Talk about a turnaround. After winning only four total games its first four seasons, Oxford has posted back-to-back 11-win seasons under Normand, also the women’s head coach at Michigan State. The Wildcats climbed into the runner-up slot in the OAA-White, falling only to two-time champion Lake Orion, which moved up to the OAA-Red. Is a first league title on the horizon for the wildcats. All indications point to Oxford as the favorite and more importantly, not the pushover program it was only a few short years ago. Now, Oxford is team on the rise.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
COACH: Ron Hebert, third season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 17-3-0, 6-0-0 CHSL Division B (first).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Rochester Adams (11-2); def. Royal Oak (11-3); lost in D-2 regional finals to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (13-10).
RETURNING STARTERS: Peter Eicchorn, jr. G (All-State third Team); Reid Siano, sr. D; Bo Fedorak, sr. D; Jake Jeszke, sr. A; Gavin Bertram, sr. A; Mark Thierbacker, sr. M.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Several.
KEY LOSSES: Graduated a dozen players, including five that earned some type of All-State recognition; Gaven Bertram, sr. A (transferred to Clarkston; commit to Massachusetts-Lowell); Kyle Beauregard, A; Alec Naseef, M; Frank Sardelli, M; Andrew Wodrich, D; Ali Beydoun, D.
NOTABLES: Losing multiple players to graduation, transfer or injury, five which made All-State last June, and NDP will have many holes to fill in a program that has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years. The Irish reached the regional finals in 2008, regional semifinals in 2009, was the state runner-up in 2010, played in the Final Four in both 2011 and 2012 and lost in the regional finals last season. The Irish need for some young players to step in and be consistent threats and finishers on the offensive end. Defensively, NDP returns several defensemen and one of the state’s better goalkeepers.
Rochester
HEAD COACH: Nick Facca, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 6-11, 2-4 OAA white Division (fourth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-1 pre-regional to Macomb L’Anse Creuse North (15-9).
RETURNING STARTERS: Sam Wolfe, soph. A (All-State Honorable Mention); Drew Harm, sr. A (All-State Honorable Mention); committed to Albion College); Tyler Caporoso, sr. M (All-State Honorable Mention); Vince Piacentini, sr. D; Jake Lansparger, jr. G; Beau Mierzwa, jr. D; Noah Kusky, jr. A; Nick Marek, sr. D.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: A.J. Beecher, sr. D; Andre Dyja, sr. M; Primar Black, jr. M; Curran Moffitt, jr. M; Zach Mueller, jr. A; Austin Smith, jr, M.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ethan Heberer, jr. D; Hunter Hansen, jr. M.
KEY LOSSES: Zach Libby, sr. (out for season with injury);
NOTABLES: This is the third season since Rochester split off with its own program and the Falcons have had some decent progress in that short span. There is a new coaching staff on hand as Rochester will try to cement itself as a quality program that will seriously contend for league championships down the road. That might not come this season, but it could not be too far off in the distance either.
Rochester Adams
COACH: Scott Glowacz, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 9-10-0, 1-6-0 OAA Red Division (seventh).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Farmington (12-7); lost in D-2 regional quarterfinals to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (11-2).
RETURNING STARTERS: Jack Ronan, jr. A; Parker Monahan, sr. M/A; Cody Davis, jr. A; Alex Shell, jr. A; Eric McLean, sr. M.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Zach Olsen, jr. M; Brandon Mamon, jr. D; Grant Dewey, jr. A.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Not available.
KEY LOSSES: Kevin Kureja, A; Lee Raymond, LSM.
NOTABLES: The Highlanders took their lumps in the OAA Red Division last season and look to return to their winning ways this season. Adams drops down to the OAA-White and figures to give Oxford a battle for the league crown.
Rochester Stoney Creek
COACH: Michael Dungan, fifth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 8-9-0, 3-4 OAA Red Division (fifth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Sterling Heights-Warren Mott Unified (17-16); lost in D-1 regional quarterfinals to Holt (16-3).
RETURNING STARTERS: Unavailable.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Unavailable.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Unavailable.
KEY LOSSES: Ross Payne, G.
NOTABLES: The Cougars had some struggles in 2013 after some modest success in 2011 and 2012. Can Stoney Creek turn the corner this season and climb into the upper echelon of the OAA-Red?
Troy
COACH: Nathan Reynolds, second season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 11-7-0, 3-4 OAA Red Division (fifth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Lapeer Unified (16-2); def. Macomb Dakota (14-8), lost in D-1 regional semifinals to Birmingham Brother Rice (17-6).
RETURNING STARTERS: Jay Darish, sr. M (two-time All-State; singed with Albany); Justice Bigelow, sr. A/M (All-State Honorable Mention); Quinn Hayden, sr. D; Jacob Parry, jr. A (All-State Honorable Mention); Kyle Fietsam, jr. M; Jack Percy, jr. M;
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Joe Harden,m sr. A; Chad Nicol, sr. A/M; Jon Honsby, jr. D; Harry Stoolmiller, sr. M; Peace Baker, jr. M/A.
KEY NEWCOMERS: David Fracassa, jr. M (transfer from Birmingham Brother Rice); Burgess Young, jr. G; Spencer Strefling, soph. M; Andrew Hadad, jr. D/M.
KEY LOSSES: Colin McLean, A; Connor Hayden, D; Brian Johnson, D (Davenport University); Dan Birkett, D.
NOTABLES: Troy had its share of struggles last season in a rebuilding campaign. This season there seams to be plenty of experience returning and it would have been more if it weren’t for injuries. The jury is out whether the Colts can make a move in the OAA-Red standings and earn a few more wins this season.
Troy Athens
COACH: Justin Suarez, second season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 9-10, 3-4 OAA Red Division (fifth).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Warren Cousino (18-3); def. Grosse Pointe South (17-8); lost in D-1 regional semifinals to Clarkston (11-6).
RETURNING STARTERS: Brad Barnhart, sr. G; Craig Bazin, sr. D; Jake Nelson, sr. D; Nick Boynton, jr. M; Joe Coussens, sr. M; Chris Dowd, sr. M; Alec Aretakis, sr. A.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Matt Poulos, sr. A; Brennan McHugh, jr. M; Josh Edwards, sr. M; Luke Spinek, sr. D; Luke Copley, jr. LSM; David Wozniak, sr. G.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Brad Robinson, soph. A; John Murphy, jr. M; Derrick Nelson, jr. M; Nick Heyden, soph. D; Jake Lining, fr. A.
KEY LOSSES: Matt Dougherty, Max Blank, Ian Munro, Brendan Birney, Danny Harris, Joe Thill, John Claude Thome.
NOTABLES: Three years ago the Red Hawks reached the D-1 state semifinals with a very deep team with multiple college prospects. Last season Athens dipped its wings a little bit with a young team and a new coach, but has shown some promise early this season of climbing back up the charts. There are seven returning starters and 13 total players back, plenty to build upon for a quality season.
Above are the 2014 boys lacrosse team capsules for teams located in the coverage region for www.northoaklandsports.com and The Real Deal Sports Magazine. Profiles compiled by Senior Editor Daniel Stickradt based on surveys emailed to coaches. Email updates, scores and other information to Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or Results@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans or on multiple other social media networks.
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