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| 2013 MBSLA 3rd Place Duluth Chargers |
Showing posts with label Grand Rapids Thuderhawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grand Rapids Thuderhawks. Show all posts
June 24, 2013
Northern Lacrosse Teams Fare Well in 2013
Northern Minnesota lacrosse teams represented the North well in 2013. The Duluth Chargers
completed the most successful season in Northern Minnesota lacrosse history by finishing the season winning the 3rd place game at the MBSLA State Tournament and sporting a 14-1 record in the MBSLA and 19-1 overall. Duluth also became the first Northern Minnesota team to win the Grand Rapids Shootout tournament with their victory over Grand Rapids. No matter who won that game, a Northern Minnesota team would have set a new standard. The Grand Rapids JV team finished the MBSLA season as the JV Division runner-up, losing a closely contested game to Hudson in the Championship game. Fargo won their first playoff game over St. Cloud North and Proctor made the playoffs for the first time in their two year history. The North Division also had All-State selections in Duluth defenseman Tanner Fristsinger and honorable mention Fargo attackman Carter Schulke and Duluth midfielder Cooper Carlson. It was good year for northern high school lacrosse in 2013!
May 10, 2013
Game Coverage of Big MBSLA North Battle
Northland News Center Channel 6 coverage of last nights big MBSLA North battle between Duluth and Grand Rapids. Duluth jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Grand Rapids battled back to tie it 3-3 before Duluth followed with two goals to take a 5-3 lead in the 4th. Grand Rapids would add another to make it interesting before falling in a close one 5-4.
December 7, 2012
VERY Early MBSLA Predictions
Looking at the remaining contenders, I think two teams stand out to me: St. Louis Park and Shakopee, with MontiQuois and Hudson close behind. Both St. Louis Park and Shakopee return several key players and all-conference selections this year. While MontiQuois and Hudson both lost many seniors, they return a few key players as well. However, I do see them as a notch behind St. Louis Park and Shakopee. Interestingly, if Delano had stayed in the MBSLA, I would have put them 4th behind St. Louis Park, Shakopee and MontiQuois based on their significant losses to graduation from their State Championship team.
Following the top 4, I see northern teams making a run, including a St. Cloud North team that had some significant losses to graduation and a very young, up and coming Duluth team that could make some noise this season. Another northern team, Grand Rapids, while losing several seniors, but returning some good young players, should be tough as well.
Stay tuned as we get closer to the season start for a complete and more detailed MBSLA Top 10.
April 14, 2012
Great Day for Lacrosse in Northern Minnesota!
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| Grand Cities facing off against Duluth-Superior |
March 31, 2012
Practices in Full Swing Throughout the North
With new teams entering the MBSLA North Division and new youth lacrosse teams also participating in the MBSLA this Spring, lacrosse in the North is as strong as ever. One of the longest running northern Minnesota lacrosse teams has also revamped their coaching staff for the coming year. As practices shift into full gear throughout the North, we'll start to look at team schedules and team previews in preparation for the first games of the season on April 14. We'll also look at can't miss games in the North during the season.
Grand Cities and Proctor are the two new teams in the North in 2012. Grand Cities is a co-op based team out of the Grand Forks, ND area that includes players from Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, MN and Warren, MN. Grand Cities head coach is Aaron Cabanaw and he will be assisted by Cameron Willox and Kelly Hurt. Grand Cities will play their first game on April 14 against Duluth in Duluth, MN.
Proctor will also be competing in the MBSLA North for the first time in 2012. Initiated by player interest, the team is looking forward to the coming season under the guidance of head coach Steve Lokken. Those familiar with Lokken, a former St. Johns University attackman, know that he will prepare his team well for their inaugural season. Proctor opens play against Duluth on April 14 in Duluth, MN.
Another great sign for the growth of the sport in the North is the addition of a 5/6 level team in Duluth that will compete in the Spring MBSLA league in 2012. The team presently has 25 players on its roster and the interest in the team has been almost overwhelming. The team will have an 8 game schedule with an additional tournament to be added at the end of the season. They will have a couple of scrimmages against the new Grand Rapids 5/6 team this Spring. In another great development for northern Minnesota lacrosse, Grand Rapids will also be fielding a 5/6 team this Spring. They won't be competing in the MBSLA this season but will be playing a series of scrimmages against other 5/6 teams including Duluth.
Stay tuned for more updates and the Spring lacrosse season in the North unfolds!
Stay tuned for more updates and the Spring lacrosse season in the North unfolds!
March 15, 2012
Swarm Stars Come to Grand Rapids
From Swarm News
Grand Rapids, Minn. - Corbyn Tao took a step and with a long windup, fired a hard shot towards the net.
A crowd comprised of boys and girls sitting only a few feet away in a row of bleachers, watched in awe as the ball whistled by and hit nothing but mesh.
“90 miles an hour,” yelled a brave parent, who clocked the shot with his radar gun near the net.
The now wide-eyed group of kids, applauded in excitement.
It might have been the Swarm’s bye week last weekend, but Tao still found himself doing what he does best: putting on a show with his lacrosse stick.
And Tao wasn’t alone on this particular afternoon. Alongside him was someone who is quite accustomed to finding the back of the net – fellow teammate Ryan Benesch – the Swarm’s leading goal scorer and the NLL’s defending scoring champ.The two found themselves taking shots 3.5 hours north of Treasure Island Field in the city of Grand Rapids this past Saturday while visiting close to 80 kids for a lacrosse clinic.
When Tao and Benesch entered Grand Rapids High School that afternoon, it took only a few short seconds before they felt right at home despite having traveled 200-some miles from St. Paul.
“See that, Corbyn?” asked a smiling Benesch, who pointed to a young girl down the hall sporting his No. 21 player t-shirt.
The two would soon discover that the city of Grand Rapids has been buzzing over the sport of lacrosse for quite some time – and with Swarm fans.
As Tao and Benesch made their way into the gymnasium, the dozens of laxers, who were anxiously awaiting their arrival, greeted the two pros in the midst of passing drill. Several kids in attendance were proudly sporting their orange and black Grand Rapids lacrosse shirts; others donned Swarm tees.
With the sound of a whistle, the group raced to the bleachers and gathered around their Swarm visitors.
A memorable afternoon had gotten underway.
The birth of a program
Four years ago, lacrosse was a foreign word to the 10,869 residents of Grand Rapids. Today, lacrosse has become the sport to play in town.
At first glance, Grand Rapids, which is located 1.5 hours both north of the Brainerd Lakes area and west of Duluth, might night not come to mind when thinking about some of the hotbed lacrosse communities in Minnesota.
But take a visit into town, and you’ll learn quickly that the community has developed a strong connection to the sport. You’ll also meet a group of people that is committed to helping it flourish both on the boys’ and girls’ level.
One of those individuals is Brad Gallop, who helped arrange this past Saturday’s clinic on behalf of the Grand Rapids lacrosse program. When Gallop learned that several Swarm players were going to be in the area to visit SAM 101.5 FM in Aitkin – the radio station that broadcasts Swarm home games in the Brainerd Lakes area – he made every effort to set up a unique opportunity for his program. After a few phone calls, the parties arranged a special meeting in Grand Rapids to have Benesch and Tao stop by for a clinic.
“We’ve been excited for the season to start for quite some time, and then to have it kick off with something like this is just awesome,” Gallop said on having the Swarm visit town.
Gallop, who serves as the head coach of the boys varsity team and wears many different hats in the program, helped jump-start what has become of the Grand Rapids program four years ago. It all started when he decided to host a lacrosse clinic at that time to gauge interest in the sport around town. His inspiration came after he re-discovered his lacrosse sticks that he had played with as a student at the University of North Dakota during the mid '80s.
“I didn’t touch a stick for 20 years, saw it on TV – a college game – pulled the sticks out and I’ve got twins – a boy and a girl – and at the time they were in 7th grade and I said, ‘What do you think about this game?’ They thought it was awesome.”
With his kids fascinated by their newly discovered sport, Gallop decided to send out an invitation at the local arena to attend an “intro to lacrosse clinic.”
“I had 100-some people show up just to see what it was about,” he explained.
But because springtime was winding down and the school’s registration process had already passed, the sport really didn’t take off until the following year. When it did launch, the Grand Rapids program started with just 15 kids. Today, that number has grown considerably to over 100 boys and girls, Gallop says.
“For the kids it’s a no brainer,” he explained. “We get the sticks in their hands, they’re sold.”
Last year, the Grand Rapids boys varsity team featured its first graduating class, and this year Gallop said he expects to have 50 kids competing for varsity and junior varsity spots in just its third year of competitive ball. Gallop also helped launched a 4th/5th/6th grade team this year in an effort to help get kids playing at a younger age.
“We’ve got kids competing, kids invested in it, and so this will be a breakout year for us that way,” Gallop added.
On the girls’ side, the sport has grown just as fast. Around 20 girls attended the clinic, which included a handful of girls who were inspired to pick up a stick for the first time after receiving word of the event.
“All of those girls were playing amongst the boys, wanting to learn, which was great to see,” Benesch said.
Renee Bymark, who serves as the head coach of the girls club team said the program began with 10 girls two years ago, and now has grown to nearly 50 participants.
“I’ve never been involved in a sport like this before, especially starting from the bottom and seeing it grow like it has and with the intensity of the lacrosse community,” Bymark said. “… I expect it to continue to grow.”
While the participation numbers continue to grow across the board, there might be no better way to chart the growth of lacrosse in Grand Rapids than to take a look at what will be taking place the first weekend in May, when the city hosts its annual LAX Shootout tournament.
Because of its size, the Grand Rapids LAX Shootout is held on a local golf course to make room for the 42 teams and 800 participants traveling to the area. All of the teams play a minimum of five games and the weekend event attracts teams from as far away as Winnipeg.
“A lot of organizations make it their primary event,” Gallop said.
To pull off such a large-scale event certainly deserves praise. Take in consideration the following factors: the location of the tournament is 3.5 hours north of a majority of the lacrosse programs in the state; the Grand Rapids lacrosse program is only its fourth year of existence; and most impressive of all, the tournament is held on a golf course. One has to applaud those involved for coordinating one of the premier lacrosse tournaments in the Midwest.
“Obviously to be able to take over a whole golf course and create an event like that and have the community support is huge,” Gallop said.
"Bringing kids together"
Sophomore Grant Gunderson entered Saturday’s clinic eager to take lessons from two of the game’s best. The sophomore midfielder, who was geared up in his “Swarm Lacrosse: It’s Like Hockey… With Balls” t-shirt, could be found with a stick in his hands 15 minutes after the clinic had concluded, still practicing away.
“As soon as I started playing, lacrosse was my new favorite sport,” Gunderson said.
Now in his fourth year of participation, Gunderson is one of the many kids who has joined the lacrosse movement in town, and is enjoying every minute of playing the fastest growing sport in America.
“For a small town, it’s exploded,” he explained. “It started out really slow, and then one year it doubled. It’s been doubling every year. The kids just love it.”
And when word of Saturday’s clinic reached town, the news traveled fast.
“A couple of the kids in attendance had never played before,” said Kayrn Surface, a parent who helped set up the event. “They heard the radio announcement, and saw it in the paper that the Swarm guys were going to be here, so they wanted to see what the Swarm was all about.”
With Benesch and Tao in attendance, the kids received tips on a wide range of skills ranging from the proper techniques on shooting, passing, dodging, and ground balls.
“It’s good to see that many kids interested in lacrosse and wanting to learn,” Tao said on the turnout. “It’s good for the sport.”
If there’s been one obstacle in the Grand Rapids program, it’s been a lack of coaches. Due to the large growth of the program over the past few years, both Gallop and Bymark noted that they’ll need more coaches to keep up with the rapid growth rate.
With that in mind, the program was ecstatic to have the Swarm around to help coach.
“We’ve never really had that sort of thing before,” said Alexis Tatter, a senior on the girls club team. “… It’s not everyday that we get to have professional people come up here for a sport that we like.”
At the end of the clinic, Benesch and Tao wowed the kids with a few stick tricks and electric shots to the net. The two then proceeded to sign autographs and posed for pictures afterward – several of which reached the phones of Benesch and Tao via Twitter on their drive home.
In just a short matter of time, it was evident that Benesch and Tao had made an impact.
“A few (kids) grabbed registration forms at the end,” Surface said. “…The sport is bringing kids together.”
A trip to ‘The Hive’
In just a little over a month, the Grand Rapids lacrosse program will make the 3.5 hour drive down to the Twin Cities with a group of over 150 people to attend the Swarm’s nationally televised game against current West Division leader Colorado on April 28.
“We’ll be there in full force,” Gallop said. “…It’s going to be a big weekend for Grand Rapids lacrosse.”
It will be a big weekend for the program, not solely because they’ll be at the Swarm game, but because all of the programs’ teams will be spending the weekend in the Twin Cities to compete in tournaments.
And when they do make their visit to Xcel Energy Center, Gallop said it will be fun for the kids to watch Benesch and Tao in particular, now that they’ve gotten to know them.
“It becomes much more personal and exciting for the kids, and I know they’re all looking forward to it,” he added.
Last Saturday’s clinic was certainly a special event for those in the Grand Rapids community, but it was just as enjoyable for Benesch and Tao, who likewise left smiling.
When Benesch learned that the Grand Rapids program would be making the trip down to St. Paul in the coming weeks, he was taken back by their generous support.
“It’s an honor,” Benesch said. “It’s a great feeling when somebody is willing to spend that much time to come watch our team play. We definitely need to put on a great performance for them.”
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| Ryan Benesch and Corbyn Tao in Grand Rapids |
A crowd comprised of boys and girls sitting only a few feet away in a row of bleachers, watched in awe as the ball whistled by and hit nothing but mesh.
“90 miles an hour,” yelled a brave parent, who clocked the shot with his radar gun near the net.
The now wide-eyed group of kids, applauded in excitement.
It might have been the Swarm’s bye week last weekend, but Tao still found himself doing what he does best: putting on a show with his lacrosse stick.
And Tao wasn’t alone on this particular afternoon. Alongside him was someone who is quite accustomed to finding the back of the net – fellow teammate Ryan Benesch – the Swarm’s leading goal scorer and the NLL’s defending scoring champ.The two found themselves taking shots 3.5 hours north of Treasure Island Field in the city of Grand Rapids this past Saturday while visiting close to 80 kids for a lacrosse clinic.
When Tao and Benesch entered Grand Rapids High School that afternoon, it took only a few short seconds before they felt right at home despite having traveled 200-some miles from St. Paul.
“See that, Corbyn?” asked a smiling Benesch, who pointed to a young girl down the hall sporting his No. 21 player t-shirt.
The two would soon discover that the city of Grand Rapids has been buzzing over the sport of lacrosse for quite some time – and with Swarm fans.
As Tao and Benesch made their way into the gymnasium, the dozens of laxers, who were anxiously awaiting their arrival, greeted the two pros in the midst of passing drill. Several kids in attendance were proudly sporting their orange and black Grand Rapids lacrosse shirts; others donned Swarm tees.
With the sound of a whistle, the group raced to the bleachers and gathered around their Swarm visitors.
A memorable afternoon had gotten underway.
The birth of a program
Four years ago, lacrosse was a foreign word to the 10,869 residents of Grand Rapids. Today, lacrosse has become the sport to play in town.
At first glance, Grand Rapids, which is located 1.5 hours both north of the Brainerd Lakes area and west of Duluth, might night not come to mind when thinking about some of the hotbed lacrosse communities in Minnesota.
But take a visit into town, and you’ll learn quickly that the community has developed a strong connection to the sport. You’ll also meet a group of people that is committed to helping it flourish both on the boys’ and girls’ level.
“We’ve been excited for the season to start for quite some time, and then to have it kick off with something like this is just awesome,” Gallop said on having the Swarm visit town.
Gallop, who serves as the head coach of the boys varsity team and wears many different hats in the program, helped jump-start what has become of the Grand Rapids program four years ago. It all started when he decided to host a lacrosse clinic at that time to gauge interest in the sport around town. His inspiration came after he re-discovered his lacrosse sticks that he had played with as a student at the University of North Dakota during the mid '80s.
“I didn’t touch a stick for 20 years, saw it on TV – a college game – pulled the sticks out and I’ve got twins – a boy and a girl – and at the time they were in 7th grade and I said, ‘What do you think about this game?’ They thought it was awesome.”
With his kids fascinated by their newly discovered sport, Gallop decided to send out an invitation at the local arena to attend an “intro to lacrosse clinic.”
“I had 100-some people show up just to see what it was about,” he explained.
But because springtime was winding down and the school’s registration process had already passed, the sport really didn’t take off until the following year. When it did launch, the Grand Rapids program started with just 15 kids. Today, that number has grown considerably to over 100 boys and girls, Gallop says.
“For the kids it’s a no brainer,” he explained. “We get the sticks in their hands, they’re sold.”
Last year, the Grand Rapids boys varsity team featured its first graduating class, and this year Gallop said he expects to have 50 kids competing for varsity and junior varsity spots in just its third year of competitive ball. Gallop also helped launched a 4th/5th/6th grade team this year in an effort to help get kids playing at a younger age.
“We’ve got kids competing, kids invested in it, and so this will be a breakout year for us that way,” Gallop added.
On the girls’ side, the sport has grown just as fast. Around 20 girls attended the clinic, which included a handful of girls who were inspired to pick up a stick for the first time after receiving word of the event.
“All of those girls were playing amongst the boys, wanting to learn, which was great to see,” Benesch said.
Renee Bymark, who serves as the head coach of the girls club team said the program began with 10 girls two years ago, and now has grown to nearly 50 participants.
“I’ve never been involved in a sport like this before, especially starting from the bottom and seeing it grow like it has and with the intensity of the lacrosse community,” Bymark said. “… I expect it to continue to grow.”
While the participation numbers continue to grow across the board, there might be no better way to chart the growth of lacrosse in Grand Rapids than to take a look at what will be taking place the first weekend in May, when the city hosts its annual LAX Shootout tournament.
Because of its size, the Grand Rapids LAX Shootout is held on a local golf course to make room for the 42 teams and 800 participants traveling to the area. All of the teams play a minimum of five games and the weekend event attracts teams from as far away as Winnipeg.
“A lot of organizations make it their primary event,” Gallop said.
To pull off such a large-scale event certainly deserves praise. Take in consideration the following factors: the location of the tournament is 3.5 hours north of a majority of the lacrosse programs in the state; the Grand Rapids lacrosse program is only its fourth year of existence; and most impressive of all, the tournament is held on a golf course. One has to applaud those involved for coordinating one of the premier lacrosse tournaments in the Midwest.
“Obviously to be able to take over a whole golf course and create an event like that and have the community support is huge,” Gallop said.
"Bringing kids together"
Sophomore Grant Gunderson entered Saturday’s clinic eager to take lessons from two of the game’s best. The sophomore midfielder, who was geared up in his “Swarm Lacrosse: It’s Like Hockey… With Balls” t-shirt, could be found with a stick in his hands 15 minutes after the clinic had concluded, still practicing away.
“As soon as I started playing, lacrosse was my new favorite sport,” Gunderson said.
Now in his fourth year of participation, Gunderson is one of the many kids who has joined the lacrosse movement in town, and is enjoying every minute of playing the fastest growing sport in America.
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| Swarm all-star Ryan Benesch teaching lacrosse skills in Grand Rapids |
And when word of Saturday’s clinic reached town, the news traveled fast.
“A couple of the kids in attendance had never played before,” said Kayrn Surface, a parent who helped set up the event. “They heard the radio announcement, and saw it in the paper that the Swarm guys were going to be here, so they wanted to see what the Swarm was all about.”
With Benesch and Tao in attendance, the kids received tips on a wide range of skills ranging from the proper techniques on shooting, passing, dodging, and ground balls.
“It’s good to see that many kids interested in lacrosse and wanting to learn,” Tao said on the turnout. “It’s good for the sport.”
If there’s been one obstacle in the Grand Rapids program, it’s been a lack of coaches. Due to the large growth of the program over the past few years, both Gallop and Bymark noted that they’ll need more coaches to keep up with the rapid growth rate.
With that in mind, the program was ecstatic to have the Swarm around to help coach.
“We’ve never really had that sort of thing before,” said Alexis Tatter, a senior on the girls club team. “… It’s not everyday that we get to have professional people come up here for a sport that we like.”
At the end of the clinic, Benesch and Tao wowed the kids with a few stick tricks and electric shots to the net. The two then proceeded to sign autographs and posed for pictures afterward – several of which reached the phones of Benesch and Tao via Twitter on their drive home.
In just a short matter of time, it was evident that Benesch and Tao had made an impact.
“A few (kids) grabbed registration forms at the end,” Surface said. “…The sport is bringing kids together.”
A trip to ‘The Hive’
In just a little over a month, the Grand Rapids lacrosse program will make the 3.5 hour drive down to the Twin Cities with a group of over 150 people to attend the Swarm’s nationally televised game against current West Division leader Colorado on April 28.
“We’ll be there in full force,” Gallop said. “…It’s going to be a big weekend for Grand Rapids lacrosse.”
It will be a big weekend for the program, not solely because they’ll be at the Swarm game, but because all of the programs’ teams will be spending the weekend in the Twin Cities to compete in tournaments.
And when they do make their visit to Xcel Energy Center, Gallop said it will be fun for the kids to watch Benesch and Tao in particular, now that they’ve gotten to know them.
“It becomes much more personal and exciting for the kids, and I know they’re all looking forward to it,” he added.
Last Saturday’s clinic was certainly a special event for those in the Grand Rapids community, but it was just as enjoyable for Benesch and Tao, who likewise left smiling.
When Benesch learned that the Grand Rapids program would be making the trip down to St. Paul in the coming weeks, he was taken back by their generous support.
“It’s an honor,” Benesch said. “It’s a great feeling when somebody is willing to spend that much time to come watch our team play. We definitely need to put on a great performance for them.”
June 1, 2011
MBSLA North Teams Lose in First Round; Chargers JV Win Exciting game against Grand Rapids
It has been a tough week so far for MBSLA North teams in the first round of the MBSLA playoffs.
On Tuesday night, the Duluth-Superior Chargers drew a tough first round match-up against the #3 team in the state MontiQuois. The regular season loss to St. Cloud North hurt the Chargers playoff seeding with their first round match-up coming against the Western Conference. The MBSLA West, with the top three teams in the state (Delano, Orono, MontiQuois), presented a tough match-up for any team in the first round. With Duluth as the second seed in the North playing the third seed in the West, MontiQuois, the scene was set.
The Chargers came out fired up and ready to play. An early goal by Beau Hughes fired up the Charger faithful and it looked like the Chargers were ready to roll. In an ominous sign of things to come, the goal was nullified when the stick was deemed to be illegal. It was clear early on that the Chargers had the athletes to compete and win a game against a very good MontiQuois team. With the Chargers scoring the first goal, the first quarter ended with the score tied 1-1 and the Chargers looking like they had the momentum.
The Chargers defense played well throughout the game and goalie Tyler Olson made several nice saves to keep the game close. The story of the game turned out to be penalties and turnovers. Duluth-Superior simply couldn't overcome the lopsided number of penalties called against them during the game. In addition, it was clear that the offense was pressing trying to make something happen and there were too many turnovers while MontiQuois was more crisp with their passing on offense. MontiQuois controlled the ball not giving Duluth-Superior many opportunities on offense. In the end, two 4th quarter goals by Zach Thompson and Steven Halver cut the lead to three but it wasn't enough as MontiQuois responded with two goals of their own to take the 8-3 victory and end the Chargers season. The Chargers finished a successful season with a 7-3 record.
In the other MBSLA North game, Hudson topped Brainerd 14-4. Brainerd finishes a good season, which saw them play several of the state's top MBSLA team, with a 5-9 record.
Also on Tuesday night, the Duluth-Superior JV team advanced to the second round of the MBSLA JV playoffs with an exciting 7-6 victory over Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids held the advantage for much of the evening playing with lots of heart and energy. Late in the game, Duluth scored to take a 1 goal lead. Grand Rapids responded to tie the game and then take a lead of their own. With the clock ticking down, Duluth scored to tie the game and send it into overtime. Duluth scored again late in the overtime period to take the win. With the win, Duluth advances to play Thursday night June 9 against an opponent to be determined.
On Tuesday night, the Duluth-Superior Chargers drew a tough first round match-up against the #3 team in the state MontiQuois. The regular season loss to St. Cloud North hurt the Chargers playoff seeding with their first round match-up coming against the Western Conference. The MBSLA West, with the top three teams in the state (Delano, Orono, MontiQuois), presented a tough match-up for any team in the first round. With Duluth as the second seed in the North playing the third seed in the West, MontiQuois, the scene was set.
The Chargers came out fired up and ready to play. An early goal by Beau Hughes fired up the Charger faithful and it looked like the Chargers were ready to roll. In an ominous sign of things to come, the goal was nullified when the stick was deemed to be illegal. It was clear early on that the Chargers had the athletes to compete and win a game against a very good MontiQuois team. With the Chargers scoring the first goal, the first quarter ended with the score tied 1-1 and the Chargers looking like they had the momentum.
The Chargers defense played well throughout the game and goalie Tyler Olson made several nice saves to keep the game close. The story of the game turned out to be penalties and turnovers. Duluth-Superior simply couldn't overcome the lopsided number of penalties called against them during the game. In addition, it was clear that the offense was pressing trying to make something happen and there were too many turnovers while MontiQuois was more crisp with their passing on offense. MontiQuois controlled the ball not giving Duluth-Superior many opportunities on offense. In the end, two 4th quarter goals by Zach Thompson and Steven Halver cut the lead to three but it wasn't enough as MontiQuois responded with two goals of their own to take the 8-3 victory and end the Chargers season. The Chargers finished a successful season with a 7-3 record.
In the other MBSLA North game, Hudson topped Brainerd 14-4. Brainerd finishes a good season, which saw them play several of the state's top MBSLA team, with a 5-9 record.
Also on Tuesday night, the Duluth-Superior JV team advanced to the second round of the MBSLA JV playoffs with an exciting 7-6 victory over Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids held the advantage for much of the evening playing with lots of heart and energy. Late in the game, Duluth scored to take a 1 goal lead. Grand Rapids responded to tie the game and then take a lead of their own. With the clock ticking down, Duluth scored to tie the game and send it into overtime. Duluth scored again late in the overtime period to take the win. With the win, Duluth advances to play Thursday night June 9 against an opponent to be determined.
April 30, 2011
This Week in the MBSLA
It was a busy week in the MBSLA North. There were also a couple of other big games in the MBSLA that might provide a glimpse into the relative strength of a couple of teams.
In the MBSLA North Brainerd knocked off Grand Rapids 8-5 on Thursday April, 28. Also on Thursday in the MBSLA Delano proved they're for real in 2011 knocking off last years state champion St. Louis Park 12-10.
On Saturday Grand Rapids lost to a very good MontiQuois team 19-0. The previous day, MontiQuois showed how good they can be with a solid 7-1 victory over St. Paul. Also on Saturday, in their first game of the season (their earlier games against Tartan and St. Paul North were canceled), Duluth-Superior knocked off White Bear Lake 7-2. Brainerd also played White Bear Lake on Saturday, beating them 8-5. In the final game of the night, Duluth beat Brainerd 9-1. With this win over a good Brainerd team, Duluth takes its first step towards cementing themselves as the favorite in the MBSLA North. Tomorrows Duluth/St. Cloud North game will be the next telling game in the MBSLA North. Also Saturday Fargo lost to North St. Paul 17-9..
There are more MBSLA North games on tap tomorrow including Grand Rapids taking on St. Cloud North at 11:00 a.m., Duluth taking on St. Cloud North at 3:00 p.m. and Brainerd taking on St. Cloud North at 5:30 p.m. in games that could help determine who will be the MBSLA North favorite. We anticipate St. Cloud North being fairly tired after their game against Brainerd. Other Sunday games include Fargo against St. Louis Park and Tartan. Also in the MBSLA, the game pitting state runner-up Orono against Delano should be a good one.
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| Delano versus St. Louis Park |
On Saturday Grand Rapids lost to a very good MontiQuois team 19-0. The previous day, MontiQuois showed how good they can be with a solid 7-1 victory over St. Paul. Also on Saturday, in their first game of the season (their earlier games against Tartan and St. Paul North were canceled), Duluth-Superior knocked off White Bear Lake 7-2. Brainerd also played White Bear Lake on Saturday, beating them 8-5. In the final game of the night, Duluth beat Brainerd 9-1. With this win over a good Brainerd team, Duluth takes its first step towards cementing themselves as the favorite in the MBSLA North. Tomorrows Duluth/St. Cloud North game will be the next telling game in the MBSLA North. Also Saturday Fargo lost to North St. Paul 17-9..
There are more MBSLA North games on tap tomorrow including Grand Rapids taking on St. Cloud North at 11:00 a.m., Duluth taking on St. Cloud North at 3:00 p.m. and Brainerd taking on St. Cloud North at 5:30 p.m. in games that could help determine who will be the MBSLA North favorite. We anticipate St. Cloud North being fairly tired after their game against Brainerd. Other Sunday games include Fargo against St. Louis Park and Tartan. Also in the MBSLA, the game pitting state runner-up Orono against Delano should be a good one.
April 12, 2011
2011 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview - Grand Rapids Thuderhawks
High School: Grand Rapids
Coaches:Brad Gallop - 2nd year at Grand Rapids.
Last Year's Record: 1-13
Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:
seniors Ben Dunnell & Kirk Watson, junior scoring leaders Aaron Smith, Brody Geisler and Joey Keating. Other key returning junior midfielders include Jace Martinetto and Doug Jensen. Returning starters on defense - juniors Zach Brist, Zach Grandia, and Nate Bumgarner.
Key Newcomers: freshman Goalie Jace Ugrich
Big Games/Games to See: May 3 game against rival Duluth
Season Outlook:
In the two years since the Grand Rapids lacrosse program started in 2009, they've seen tremendous growth with 44 Varsity players and 30 middle school players in 2011. Grand Rapids is looking to turn that success into results on the field in 2011.
Grand Rapids will once again host the GR LAX SHOOTOUT. This event is held on 6 fields on Sugarbrooke Golf Course at Ruttgers Sugar Lake Lodge, and will host 32 teams, including 12 Varsity teams from throughout the state and Canada. 700 lacrosse players will converge on Grand Rapids for a full weekend of lacrosse. 3 Winnipeg teams will participate, making it an exciting International event.
Grand Rapids Varsity and JV squads kick-off the season with a scrimmage against Duluth at Public Schools Stadium on Thursday April 14.
Coaches:
Last Year's Record: 1-13
Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:
seniors Ben Dunnell & Kirk Watson, junior scoring leaders Aaron Smith, Brody Geisler and Joey Keating. Other key returning junior midfielders include Jace Martinetto and Doug Jensen. Returning starters on defense - juniors Zach Brist, Zach Grandia, and Nate Bumgarner.
Key Newcomers: freshman Goalie Jace Ugrich
Big Games/Games to See: May 3 game against rival Duluth
Season Outlook:
 |
| Grand Rapids Defense |
The Varsity team will return 14 starters from last year. With no seniors on the team in 2010, this years team will be seasoned and ready to compete in the MBSLA North.
Second year coach Brad Gallop believes defense will be the teams strength in 2011. "We had no seniors on last years team, and this years team will be led by two returning seniors," said coach Gallop. On defense three returning starters will provide the anchor this year with a couple additional underclassmen stepping up to complete the unit, according to Gallop. Coach Gallop believes, "In our second varsity season we expect to compete in every game and we're making a .500 record our goal."
Second year coach Brad Gallop believes defense will be the teams strength in 2011. "We had no seniors on last years team, and this years team will be led by two returning seniors," said coach Gallop. On defense three returning starters will provide the anchor this year with a couple additional underclassmen stepping up to complete the unit, according to Gallop. Coach Gallop believes, "In our second varsity season we expect to compete in every game and we're making a .500 record our goal."
Grand Rapids Varsity and JV squads kick-off the season with a scrimmage against Duluth at Public Schools Stadium on Thursday April 14.
March 23, 2011
Reflection on Homegrown Lacrosse's Week in Duluth
I was fortunate to be able to meet Jesse and Chaun from Homegrown Lacrosse at a couple of the afterschool clinics they put on in Duluth. The second clinic had over 40 kids running all over the gym with lacrosse sticks in hand! Jesse and Chaun did a great job working with the kids. It was also nice to see several of the Duluth-Superior Chargers high school players come out one night to help work with the kids. Judging from all of this, the future of lacrosse in Duluth and Northern Minnesota appears to be bright.
Many good things were also said about Homegrown Lacrosse and the work they did with the in-school P.E. program at several Duluth grade schools. Homegrown was able to put a lacrosse stick in the hands of just under 1,000 kids during their time in Duluth. As we've said before, we're very fortunate in Minnesota to have an organization like Homegrown Lacrosse here to help grow the sport of lacrosse in the state. Without a group like Homegrown, it's not hard to believe that lacrosse would not be growing as fast as it is in Minnesota outside of a few select areas. One needs only look to the south to the state of Iowa. There is a small group of very dedicated individuals, led by the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association, who love the sport and want to see it grow. However, without resources or a group like Homegrown, lacrosse is still languishing in the state with only two high school teams playing lacrosse and a couple of newly formed youth lacrosse associations. They're working hard in Iowa, but without the organization of a group like Homegrown, it's difficult.
So, what really is the future of lacrosse in Duluth? Hopefully a lot of those kids who had a lacrosse stick in their hand will play in the Duluth YMCA summer youth league. If they do, it will be a really fun summer for youth lacrosse in Duluth and a great start for developing lacrosse at a young age and providing a pipeline of players for the high school programs. The 3rd and 4th graders picking up sticks this summer will be pioneers of the sport in Duluth. They'll be some of the first lacrosse players in Duluth that started at a young age and worked their way up to high school and perhaps beyond. It will allow Duluth and other Northland Schools to start catching up to the Twin Cities programs to an extent.
I heard from a lot of kids who plan to play in the YMCA youth league this summer. However, I also heard from several kids who said they might be playing summer hockey or baseball and might not play in the youth lacrosse league. I've also heard from several kids at the middle school level who have chosen to play spring and summer hockey or spring soccer as opposed to trying a new sport like lacrosse. In a hockey-mad town like Duluth, how do the lacrosse programs entice those hockey players who might really have fun and make an impact on the lacrosse team to give it a try? Lacrosse is a great crossover sport for soccer, hockey, football and basketball. The fitness level the kids will get from lacrosse is tremendous. And, once a kid plays lacrosse, he/she's usually hooked. It's that much fun.
Perhaps transitioning to an MSHSL team would help entice some kids. Making it a varsity sport on par with hockey and soccer would perhaps make it more attractive to students looking for a sport to play. And, despite all of the great work Homegrown has done in Duluth, lacrosse still needs to be more visible. We have a quality college program at UMD and good high school programs with the Chargers and Grand Rapids teams, even a professional team in St. Paul, but you still never see anything about lacrosse in the newspaper - not even box scores. Lacrosse has to become more visible. Even more kids have to try it and see how fun it is.
Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player ever, loved lacrosse and understood its benefits. He said, "When I was growing up, I used to love this time of year(spring). It was when I put my hockey equipment away and I was absolutely ecstatic to see the end of the hockey season. One of the worst things to happen to the game, in my opinion, has been year-round hockey and, in particular, summer hockey. All it does for kids, as far as I can tell, is keep them out of sports they should be doing in warmer weather. I could hardly wait to get my lacrosse stick out and start throwing the ball around. It didn't matter how cold or rainy it would be, we'd be out firing the ball against walls and working on our moves as we played the lacrosse equivalent to road hockey. All the good hockey players seemed to play lacrosse in those days and every one of them learned something from the game to carry over to the other - things athletes can only learn by mixing up games they play when they are young." If it worked for Wayne, it seems like it might work for some of the other hockey, soccer and basketball kids in town. Perhaps having some support for lacrosse from the hockey programs would help as well.
Hopefully we'll see the sport of lacrosse begin to flourish in Duluth and Northern Minnesota. There's still work to do, but with the help of Homegrown, we're definitely on the right path.
See Homegrown Lacrosse's blog for more about their time in Duluth.
Photos courtesy of Homegrown Lacrosse
So, what really is the future of lacrosse in Duluth? Hopefully a lot of those kids who had a lacrosse stick in their hand will play in the Duluth YMCA summer youth league. If they do, it will be a really fun summer for youth lacrosse in Duluth and a great start for developing lacrosse at a young age and providing a pipeline of players for the high school programs. The 3rd and 4th graders picking up sticks this summer will be pioneers of the sport in Duluth. They'll be some of the first lacrosse players in Duluth that started at a young age and worked their way up to high school and perhaps beyond. It will allow Duluth and other Northland Schools to start catching up to the Twin Cities programs to an extent.
Perhaps transitioning to an MSHSL team would help entice some kids. Making it a varsity sport on par with hockey and soccer would perhaps make it more attractive to students looking for a sport to play. And, despite all of the great work Homegrown has done in Duluth, lacrosse still needs to be more visible. We have a quality college program at UMD and good high school programs with the Chargers and Grand Rapids teams, even a professional team in St. Paul, but you still never see anything about lacrosse in the newspaper - not even box scores. Lacrosse has to become more visible. Even more kids have to try it and see how fun it is.
Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player ever, loved lacrosse and understood its benefits. He said, "When I was growing up, I used to love this time of year(spring). It was when I put my hockey equipment away and I was absolutely ecstatic to see the end of the hockey season. One of the worst things to happen to the game, in my opinion, has been year-round hockey and, in particular, summer hockey. All it does for kids, as far as I can tell, is keep them out of sports they should be doing in warmer weather. I could hardly wait to get my lacrosse stick out and start throwing the ball around. It didn't matter how cold or rainy it would be, we'd be out firing the ball against walls and working on our moves as we played the lacrosse equivalent to road hockey. All the good hockey players seemed to play lacrosse in those days and every one of them learned something from the game to carry over to the other - things athletes can only learn by mixing up games they play when they are young." If it worked for Wayne, it seems like it might work for some of the other hockey, soccer and basketball kids in town. Perhaps having some support for lacrosse from the hockey programs would help as well.
See Homegrown Lacrosse's blog for more about their time in Duluth.
Photos courtesy of Homegrown Lacrosse
January 31, 2011
Northern Lacrosse Nuts and Bolts
The facts about Northern Minnesota lacrosse:
High School teams in Northern Minnesota:
MBSLA teams: MBSLA high school teams listed below participate in the North Division
Brainerd Warriors - location: Brainerd, MN
Duluth-Superior Chargers - location: Duluth, MN. Comprised of kids from Duluth area schools.
Fargo High School - location: Fargo, ND
Grand Rapids Thunderhawks - location: Grand Rapids, MN
St. Cloud North Knights - location: St. Cloud, MN. Comprised of kids from Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Apollo and other surrounding area high schools
MSHSL teams:
St. Cloud South Tigers - location: St. Cloud, MN. The only MSHSL team presently located in the north.
Girls Lacrosse in the North:
Two active girls teams participate in lacrosse in Northern Minnesota. In Duluth, the Knighthawks girls lacrosse team has been active in Duluth for several years. The Knighthawks include players ages 13 and up, from all area high schools and middle schools. In 2010, the team finished fourth place in the Northcentral Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association with a 4-3 record. Girls lacrosse is also being played in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids team also participates in the Northcentral Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association. Here's a video of the Grand Rapids Girls Lacrosse team in action. For more information about either team, go to the team contact page on the NSLA website.
Youth Programs and Lacrosse Associations:
Duluth YMCA Youth Lacrosse League - In 2011, this league will be expanding to include 4 teams at the 3/4 and 5/6 grade levels. Practices will be held on Tuesdays throughout the summer (first week in June until last week in July) with games every Thursday. The Y league is hoping to recruit more kids at the 3rd through 6th grade levels to allow for the formation of teams at both age levels and a more competitive and fun league. In addition, a travel team will be formed at both the 3/4 and 5/6 grade levels to participate in a couple of tournaments later in the summer. UMD Bulldog lacrosse players and coaches provide the coaching and instruction for this league, making it a very attractive league for kids just getting started.
Grand Rapids Lacrosse Association - Will have a 5/6 grade team play in the MBSLA spring league in 2011
Fargo Lacrosse Club - Fargo offers a youth spring lacrosse league for kids ages 9-14.
College Lacrosse Teams:
University of Minnesota - Duluth Bulldogs - MCLA Division I: The UMD Bulldogs lacrosse team is one of the most successful college lacrosse teams in the Midwest. Currently ranked #9 in the nation (MCLA pre-season top 10 - 1. Michigan, 2. Arizona State, 3. Chapman, 4. Colorado State, 5. Florida State, 6. Brigham Young, 7. Colorado, 8. Oregon, 9. Minnesota-Duluth, 10. Simon Fraser), this team plays, and quite often beats, the big boys. Last year, the Bulldogs were one game away from the MCLA Final Four, finishing the season #5 in the nation. The Michigan Wolverines were last seasons MCLA National Champion. Though competing as a club team, UMD operates as a "virtual varsity" squad with top-notch coaches and players. On an equal playing field, UMD would give most NCAA teams a run for their money.
St. Cloud State - MCLA Division I
Minnesota State Moorhead - MCLA Division II
Events:
Fargo Tournament - 2011 Fargo Ambush Tournament, May 14 & 15, 2011. Each team is guaranteed 3 games. Age divisions for boys are high school varsity, high school JV, high school 9/10, 7/8, 5/6 and 3/4. There is a single division for girls high school varsity. Contact Tournament Director, Matt Noah, matt@fargolacrosse.org if you have any questions.
Grand Rapids Tournament - Grand Rapids Lax Shootout is scheduled for May 7 & 8, 2011. This tournament will include varsity, JV, middle school and girls teams. For more information about this tournament contact lacrosse@mchsi.com
Future of Lacrosse in Northern Minnesota:
At the present time, there are only 5 MBSLA teams in Northern Minnesota and one MSHSL team. Where and how could lacrosse grow at the high school level in Northern Minnesota? Here are some possibilities:
Duluth-Superior Chargers - This team will most likely eventually be composed of students from the two Duluth high schools - Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld.
A team on the Iron Range is a distinct possibility in the near future. This team could be composed of Virginia-Eveleth-Mt. Iron and other Iron Range schools
Other possible northern teams could include a North Shore team composed of a combination of Two Harbors/Silver Bay/Grand Marais. Some other combination teams similar to some of the hockey combinations could include - Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, Hermantown/Proctor/Marshall, and Mora/Hinckley/Finlayson. Other teams located in the larger communities of Bemidji, International Falls, Thief River Falls, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area, Moorhead, Fergus Falls/Alexandria, and a Northern Wisconsin team composed of Superior/Ashland are also possibilities.
Of the most likely teams, two solid Northern Divisions could be formed:
Northeast Division, composed of - Duluth, Grand Rapids, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, Hermantown/Proctor/Marshall, Iron Range, International Falls and Superior.
Northwest Division, composed of Brainerd, St. Cloud North, Fargo, Bemidji, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls and Moorhead.
The North Shore, Mora/Hinckley, and Fergus Falls/Alexandria may be a little further out based on their respective school sizes, proximity to other schools and distance between schools.
High School teams in Northern Minnesota:
MBSLA teams: MBSLA high school teams listed below participate in the North Division
Brainerd Warriors - location: Brainerd, MN
Fargo High School - location: Fargo, ND
Grand Rapids Thunderhawks - location: Grand Rapids, MN
St. Cloud North Knights - location: St. Cloud, MN. Comprised of kids from Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Apollo and other surrounding area high schools
MSHSL teams:
St. Cloud South Tigers - location: St. Cloud, MN. The only MSHSL team presently located in the north.
Girls Lacrosse in the North:
Youth Programs and Lacrosse Associations:
Duluth YMCA Youth Lacrosse League - In 2011, this league will be expanding to include 4 teams at the 3/4 and 5/6 grade levels. Practices will be held on Tuesdays throughout the summer (first week in June until last week in July) with games every Thursday. The Y league is hoping to recruit more kids at the 3rd through 6th grade levels to allow for the formation of teams at both age levels and a more competitive and fun league. In addition, a travel team will be formed at both the 3/4 and 5/6 grade levels to participate in a couple of tournaments later in the summer. UMD Bulldog lacrosse players and coaches provide the coaching and instruction for this league, making it a very attractive league for kids just getting started.
Grand Rapids Lacrosse Association - Will have a 5/6 grade team play in the MBSLA spring league in 2011
Fargo Lacrosse Club - Fargo offers a youth spring lacrosse league for kids ages 9-14.
College Lacrosse Teams:
St. Cloud State - MCLA Division I
Minnesota State Moorhead - MCLA Division II
Events:
Fargo Tournament - 2011 Fargo Ambush Tournament, May 14 & 15, 2011. Each team is guaranteed 3 games. Age divisions for boys are high school varsity, high school JV, high school 9/10, 7/8, 5/6 and 3/4. There is a single division for girls high school varsity. Contact Tournament Director, Matt Noah, matt@fargolacrosse.org if you have any questions.
Grand Rapids Tournament - Grand Rapids Lax Shootout is scheduled for May 7 & 8, 2011. This tournament will include varsity, JV, middle school and girls teams. For more information about this tournament contact lacrosse@mchsi.com
Future of Lacrosse in Northern Minnesota:
At the present time, there are only 5 MBSLA teams in Northern Minnesota and one MSHSL team. Where and how could lacrosse grow at the high school level in Northern Minnesota? Here are some possibilities:
A team on the Iron Range is a distinct possibility in the near future. This team could be composed of Virginia-Eveleth-Mt. Iron and other Iron Range schools
Other possible northern teams could include a North Shore team composed of a combination of Two Harbors/Silver Bay/Grand Marais. Some other combination teams similar to some of the hockey combinations could include - Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, Hermantown/Proctor/Marshall, and Mora/Hinckley/Finlayson. Other teams located in the larger communities of Bemidji, International Falls, Thief River Falls, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area, Moorhead, Fergus Falls/Alexandria, and a Northern Wisconsin team composed of Superior/Ashland are also possibilities.
Of the most likely teams, two solid Northern Divisions could be formed:
Northeast Division, composed of - Duluth, Grand Rapids, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton, Hermantown/Proctor/Marshall, Iron Range, International Falls and Superior.
Northwest Division, composed of Brainerd, St. Cloud North, Fargo, Bemidji, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls and Moorhead.
The North Shore, Mora/Hinckley, and Fergus Falls/Alexandria may be a little further out based on their respective school sizes, proximity to other schools and distance between schools.
January 30, 2011
WDIO News Report on Northern Minnesota Lacrosse
This old clip from WDIO TV news profiles the Grand Rapids and Duluth-Superior lacrosse teams. Nice to see some pub for lacrosse in Northern Minnesota
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