2011 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview - Brainerd Warriors

High School:  Brainerd

Coaches: 

Tyler Brown-3rd year at Brainerd
Andrew Roach-2nd year at Brainerd
Mitchell Kalenberg-2nd year at Brainerd
Dustin Aune-1st year at Brainerd

Last Year's Record:  4-9

Number of Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

First Team All Conference Attack Zach Brown and Second Team All Conference Midfielder Keith Haymaker.  Jeremy Young, Jake Reichenbach, Cam Waby, and others on offense. Second Team All Conference Goalie Kevin Lechner, Defenseman Zach Cadwell and others.

Key Losses:  Dustin Aune-Second Team All Conference Attack in 2010

Big Games/Games to See: Starting the season against state runner-up Orono and defending state champion St. Louis Park back to back (Friday 4/8 and Saturday 4/9)

Season Outlook:

Brainerd Attackman Zach Brown

With several returning offensive players including Attackman Zach Brown and Midfielder Keith Haymaker, the Warriors will be relying on a potent offense to lead them in 2011.  Third year Coach Tyler Brown believes that Brainerd will have the depth and talent to be a dangerous offensive threat to any team they play in 2011.  "We look to have a lot of fire-power with the likes of Brown and Haymaker running the offense," opined Coach Brown.

While the 2011 Warriors will be a senior-heavy team, they've nearly doubled the number of players on the team from 2010 according to Coach Brown and believe that this will provide them with more depth.  Coach Brown says, "We're looking to capitalize on the experience we gained from last year and improve the talent we returned."  

Coach Brown and his staff fully believe that Brainerd can compete for the conference title and progress to the state tournament. According to Coach Brown, "With the depth at key positions that we have, nothing is out of reach. We have the most dedicated, hard-working athletes, and they do not know the definition of giving up."

Look for Brainerd to be improved from 2010 and provide a stiff challenge to Duluth and St. Cloud North for the MBSLA North Division title and state tournament bid.

The Warriors kick off the season tonight at Orono High School against last season's state runner-up Orono Spartans.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.