MBSLA Pre-season Top 10:
1. St. Louis Park - With last years defending champion Delano moving on to the MSHSL, last years runner-up naturally moves into the top spot in the rankings. But, we're not just ranking St. Louis Park #1 this year because they finished 2nd in the state, this team has a lot of talent returning from a very good 2012 squad. St. Louis Park always manages to come on strong at the end of the season, evidenced by their runner-up status the last two seasons and state championship 3 seasons ago. The Orioles return a strong core of defensive players led by all-state defenseman senior Eric Speicher, all-conference senior goalie Will Harkema and 2nd team all-conference defenseman junior Daren Martin. On offense, all-conference midfielder junior Carlos Siguenza and 2nd team all-conference selection, sophomore attack Matt Harkema lead the way. The Orioles did lose some firepower with attack Max Sherno graduating, but Coach Reed always seems to find replacements and it's quite likely his team will once again be there in the end playing for another state championship.
2. Shakopee - Like Hudson last year and Delano the year before, Shakopee is ready to make a big leap up the standings and challenge for a number 1 ranking. Shakopee was a very good team last year and made it to the final four at the state tournament. With one of the strongest groups of players returning from last season, Shakopee could make a run at a state title in 2013. Shakopee will be led by all-state midfielder, junior Sean Surbaugh. Along with Surbaugh, the teams second leading scorer, 1st team all-conference attack junior Bubba Kudes returns to give them a strong one-two punch on offense. The Sabers also return 2nd team all-conference selections seniorLSM Ethan Callies and senior goalie Chaydon O'Fallon. With experience at key positions will Shakopee be able to replace graduation losses on defense to compete for a state championship in 2013?
3. MontiQuois - While MontiQuois lost a host of top players to graduation (six 1st or 2nd team all-conference selections), they return two of their top three scorers from 2012 in 1st team all-conference selection junior attack Oliver Winsor and 2nd team all-conference sophomore attack Brady Artwohl. MontiQuois has a strong tradition and continues to develop new talent. They will have a major rebuilding job on defense to replace the graduation losses of 1st team all-conference goalie Aaron Job, 2nd team all-conference defensemen Matt and Mike Munson and FO specialist 1st team all-conference Alex Folkerds. If MontiQuois can do a good job rebuilding their defense, they will have a good shot to make it back to the final four again in 2013.
4. Hudson -Hudson proved us right last season as we predicted they would make a big jump up the standings, and they did. With 4 of their top 5 scorers returning this season, we think Hudson will remain atop the standings and perhaps challenge for a state title. While Hudson lost several all-conference selections to graduation including 1st teamers in midfielder Anthony Queener, defenseman Alec Vanasse, FO Spencer Knapp and 2nd team defenseman Connor O-Keefe, they return several standout performers at important positions. Returning 1st team all-conference selections for Hudson include junior midfielder McKay Potter, junior goalie Jordan Madden and 2nd team all-conference attack senior Taren Motte. They also return their leading scorer, senior attack Brandon Schwartz. If Hudson can replace a couple of all-conference poles on the defensive side, they should consider themselves a contender for the MBSLA title
5. Duluth - This position could easily be interchangeable with St. Cloud North. We're going to go out on a limb to predict that Duluth will finally get over on St. Cloud North and beat them in their head-to-head match ups this season. Duluth is a young up and coming team. While Duluth lost their leading scorer Steven Halver to graduation and also two of their starting midfielders, Tyler Kolquist and Zach Galo, we believe they'll find scoring from many more locations this season. When Halver was bottled up last season, the Chargers found it difficult to put points on the board. With second leading scorer, junior attack Brody Carlson returning along with a host of talented sophomores including attackmen Jesse Larson and Dan O' Connell and midfielders Beau Holappa, Xander Hasan and Zach Zierden along with senior attack Jimmy Bendas, junior midfielders Kevin Marshall and Aaron Kilpo and freshman midfielder Bryce Holak, Duluth shouldn't have too much trouble putting points on the board. Add to this mix senior midfielder Beau Hughes, who missed the entire 2012 campaign with a knee injury, and we believe this team will be stronger than last year. Even more promising for the Chargers is the return of their entire starting defense including 1st team all-conference goalie senior T.J. Vallie and 2nd team all-conference senior Tanner Fritsinger. If the young players step up as we expect, Duluth may find themselves near the top of the standings come playoff time.
6. St. Cloud North - As we said above,St. Cloud North could easily be placed in the top 5 and the tilt against Duluth mid-season will go a long way in determining where St. Cloud will finish. St. Cloud lost several important seniors from a talented 2012 team to graduation including leading scorer and 1st team all-conference selection attack Mike Whitson. Also lost were all-american selection defenseman Tyler Minkel and 2nd team all-conference midfielder Ryan Bidinger. St. Cloud returns two all-conference face-off specialists in Matt Worzala and Sam Wateland. St. Cloud North has been the strongest team in the North for the past several years. With a move to the West in 2013, it may be more difficult to secure the conference championship, but if they're able to replace significant graduation losses, particularly to their defense, they should remain near the top of the standings this season.
7. Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids had a breakthrough season in 2012, finishing the season with a winning record for the first time in their clubs history. While the team lost several important seniors to graduation, we think their younger players will step up, and Grand Rapids will challenge Duluth for supremacy in the North. Grand Rapids lost their top two scorers from last season, all-conference attack Joey Keating and all-conference midfielder Brody Geisler, but return their next three scorers in senior attack Jackson Schwartz, senior midfielder Brad Sandeen and junior attack Christian Higginbotham. Add to this mix several speedy young scorers in sophomore midfielders Nic Zerfas and Riley Jensen and junior midfielders Carl Kaase and Trevor Hopkins and experienced attackman senior Chase Hunter, and Grand Rapids should put points on the board. Defense is where Grand Rapids needs to find replacements for graduated all-conference poles Zach Brist and Zach Grandia. Fortunately for them, they have 2nd team all-conference goalie Grant Gunderson returning along with strong sophomore defenseman Logan Anderson to anchor the defense. We see Grand Rapids steadily improving again this season with a good chance to make some noise and rise toward the top of the standings in 2013.
8. Fargo - The trend toward North dominance continues with Fargo cracking the top 10 for the first time in their clubs history. The North has several established teams in 2013 and Fargo looks to see a lot of improvement with an influx of new talent this season. With the return of leading scorer and first team all-conference selection attack Carter Schulke, the offense has a strong anchor to rely on. Fargo did lose 4 all-conference selections to graduation in midfielder Aaron Monson, attack Aaron Vanyo and defensemen Mike Kringlie and John Deelstra. To offset these losses, Fargo was fortunate to have several new players with significant lacrosse experience move into the community with their families and join the team. The Halverson Brothers, Alek and Conner, arrived in Fargo from Texas bringing with them a lot of talent to the offensive side of the ball. Alek a senior, put up big numbers last season in Texas at attack, and his younger brother Conner beings speed to the midfield position. Tanner Brandt arrived from New York and will help anchor the defense. With the additions of these new and experienced lacrosse players to the Warriors roster, we predict Fargo will make a jump into the top 10 in 2013. Their improvement toward the end of the 2012 season also supports our prediction.
9. St. Paul - St. Paul is perennially a strong team in the MBSLA. With Rogers moving up to the MSHSL, the #9 slot should go to the Celts. With their top three scorers returning this season including all-conference junior attack Jesse Rice and senior attackemen Eric Basch and Billy Tapio, the Celts should have no problem scoring in 2013. Add to the mix all-conference defenseman senior Andy Brodnax and St. Paul may not only improve on last seasons 4-7 record and be in the top 10, but challenge for a spot in the top 5 as well.
10. Shattuck - St. Mary's - Shattuck - St. Mary's, once again an enigma, will most likely be the most talented team in the MBSLA in 2013. Once again however, with a short season and no chance to play in the playoffs, we put them in the top 10, but don't really know where to rank them. We predict they'll be good again and most likely finish the season with an unblemished record.
Honorable Mention:
Wayzata Club - We don't really know what to expect from this club team from a big school with a strong high school lacrosse tradition. They could be very good, or not.
Grand Cities and Brainerd - two teams from the North that should be much improved over 2012.
Look for an updated Top 10 as the season progresses.
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