Grand Rapids - 2013 Season Preview

Grand Rapids 2013 Season Preview

High School:  Grand Rapids

Coaches:

Head Coach: Brad Gallop - 4th year
Asst Coach: Jon Richardson - 4th yr

Last Year's Record:   7-6

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

Grand Rapids returns 8 starters from last years team.

Key Losses:

Grand Rapids lost several important seniors to graduation from last years team including 1st team all-conference selections midfielder  Brody Geisler and defenseman Zach Brist as well as 2nd team all-conference selections attack Joey Keating and defenseman Zach Grandia.

Key Newcomers:

The varsity team will welcome 3 young up and coming sophomores that spent the previous summer playing lacrosse with the North Coast Jaxx travel team - midfielders Nick Zerfas and Riley Jensen and defenseman Logan Anderson.


Team Strength:

Grand Rapids will rely on strong Goaltending, midfield speed and a veteran attack to find success in 2013.

Games to Watch:

An early game against top ranked St. Louis Park will provide a glimpse of what we can expect from this years Grand Rapids team.  A mid-season battle against conference rival Duluth may determine the outcome of the North Division in 2013.

Season Outlook:

Grand Rapids graduated 5 seniors last year, but expect to be a stronger team, with a handful of seniors along with a core group of juniors and a very good addition of underclassmen that will add speed and goal scoring.   The first test will come out of state, as Grand Rapids opens the season on the road in Omaha, NE and Des Moines, IA April 12-13.  

Proctor Rails - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

High School: Proctor High School

Coaches:  Head Coach- Steve Lokken - 1st year at Proctor

Last Year's Record: new team in 2012

Big Games/Games to See:  Proctor's first game of the season April 14 against local rival Duluth-Superior should be the big game of the year for the new team.

Season Outlook: Proctor is a brand new team in 2012.  The team was formed by a group of inspired and determined students wanting to build a new lacrosse program in the Proctor community.  The team perservered and created a club program to compete in the 2012 season with assistance from the Duluth-Superior club.  With some talented young lacrosse players, the team will grow as the season progresses under the guidance of coach Steve Lokken.  Wins may be hard to come by, as they are for all first year programs, but Proctor can be certain that the initiative shown by a group of young men who wanted to play lacrosse for their school will be rewarded with knowledge they are the pioneers of a new program in the North that will grow and win in the future.

St. Cloud North - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

High School: St. Cloud North (Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud Apollo)


Coaches:  Head Coach- Tyler Safranek, 3 years at St. Cloud North


Last Year's Record: 5-3


Returning Starters/Key Returning Players: junior attackman Andrew Lindmeier, senior attackman Michael Whitson, defenseman Tyler Minkel, FOGO Christian Murray


Key Losses:  Goalie Alex Hoalupczak


Big Games/Games to See:  Knights vs. Duluth on April 15 for what might determine the North Conference championship (note:  Knights defeated Duluth by one goal)


Season Outlook: With several key returning players for the Knights, they clearly are the favorite to win the North Conference title again in 2012.

Grand Rapids - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team: Grand Rapid High School

 Coaches: Brad Gallop - 3rd year at Grand Rapids

Last Year's Record:1-8

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:  Grand Rapids returns several starters from last season including senior scoring leaders Joey Keating, Aaron Smith and Brody Geisler.  Grand Rapids also returns senior starters midfielders Jace Martinetto and Doug Jensen and defenseman seniors Zach Brist, Zach Grandia, and Nate Bumgarner.

Key Losses: Attackman Ben Dunnell and defenseman Kirk Watson.

Key Newcomers:  Grand Rapids has some up and coming players that will contribute to a team led by seniors at all positions.

Big Games/Games to See: Big rivalry game against Duluth-Superior on April 26.

Season Outlook: In 2012, Grand Rapids will be led by a strong senior class.  With some solid contributions from some of their underclassmen, including a strong sophomore class, Grand Rapids looks to make some major improvements on last years 1-8 record.  With solid performances expected out of their senior class and better than expected support from their younger players, Grand Rapids might be looking at a run at a playoff spot in 2012 and a shot at the North Conference title.

Brainerd Warriors - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team:   Brainerd High School

Coaches:

Tyler Brown - 4th year coaching

Dustin Aune - 2nd year coaching
Zach Brown - 1st year coaching
Ben Berghuis - 1st year coaching
Jake Reichenbach - 1st year coaching
Zach Cadwell - 1st year coaching


Last Year's Record: 5-8

Number of Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:  Starters returning from last years team include John McGillis, Senior Defenseman, Mitch Howieson, Senior Attack/Midfield.

Key Losses:  Brainerd lost 8 of their 10 starters to graduation last year, and 10 of the 30 players on varsity from last year, including all-conference performers Zach Brown, Keith Haymaker, Jake Reichenbach, Ben Berghuis, and Mark Torgerson.

Key Newcomers: The Warriors will be a young team this year, with the majority of the team being sophomores or under. The young players will be looking to make an impact on the 2012 team

Brainerd player in white

Team Strength this season:  According to Coach Brown, "Our offense looks to be pretty solid, and our defense is improving with each and every practice, but our biggest strength will be our desire to compete. We look to be able to hang with any team we play."


Games to Watch:  The opening game of the season April 20 against St. Paul North will be a good indicator for this young team and will be a game to watch.  The first big game of the season will be April 25 against conference favorite and rival St. Cloud North.

Season Outlook:   With the loss of a very good senior class, the Warriors will be looking to grow their prospects for the next few years.  The coaching staff will be working hard to get them ready for the early season.  Coach Brown points out, "We have 3 players who have been playing since 8th grade who are just now sophomores, and a few 8th graders on this years team who are already showing great progress."  Brown believes the team will grow as the season progresses and he continues, "We hope to compete for a spot in the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year."

Fargo Warriors - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team: Fargo Warriors - The Warriors are made up of players from Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead High Schools.

Coaches:
Ben Fairbanks, Head Coach –
Second year with Fargo
Sam Morse, Assistant Coach –
First year with Fargo

Last Year's Record: 1-10

Number of Returning Starters/Key Returning Players: The Warriors return 6 MBSLA North All Conference players from last season who look to be a strong foundation for the team. Those players are Aaron Monson Senior midfielder, John Deelstra Senior Defensman, Ben Noah Sophmore Midfielder, Danie Evenson Junior Goalie, Mike Kringlie Senior Midfielder, and Joe Noah Junior Defense. Among this years Seniors Aaron Monson and John Deelstra are expected to make an strong impact as they step into leadership roles during practice and games to help guide the team through its second season.

Key Losses: Junior Attackman Tannor Lindstrom has moved his talents North as he will be playing with his hometown of Grand Forks as they play their inaugural season and help to continue the growth of lacrosse throughout North Dakota.

Key Newcomers to this years team: Junior Midfielder Carter Schulke looks to have an immediate impact on the team as he comes to the Fargo area with years of experience having played previously in the lacrosse program in Ohio.  Senior Defenseman Ben Nelson will give the Warrior defense the physical presence it needs in this years defensive scheme put in place by new Assistant Coach Sam Morse.

Team Strength this season: Determination & Optimism. Strong Goaltending and Midfield play will help the Warriors to control the game on both ends of the field.

Games to Watch:  With Grand Cities lacrosse joining the ranks of teams in North Dakota, meetings between the two teams have the possibility of growing into a great rivalry for years to come.  Games to watch this season will be when the Warriors face off against Grand Rapids on May 19^th and Brainerd on the 20^th.  Both of these teams squeaked by the Warriors with 1 goal victories last season and these match ups will be strong indicators of how the program has grown over the last year.

Season Outlook:   The Fargo Warriors will be returning every player but one from last year's roster.  With another year of experience and some new players coming in, the Warriors have high hopes for their team in 2012.  Coach Fairbanks believes that, "With there still being a lot of youth on this years roster we are looking to continue to grow game by game and stay determined throughout the season focusing on winning the small battles in every game."  With improvement throughout the season Coach Fairbanks adds, "Our ultimate goal will be a winning record and a birth into the state tournament."

Duluth-Superior Chargers - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team:  Duluth-Superior Chargers - comprised of players from Duluth East, Duluth Denfeld, Superior, Hermantown, Duluth Marshall, Harbor City International School, and Cloquet high schools.

Coaches: 

Scott Wishart – First year head coach  

Mat Koppang – Third year head junior varsity coach

Alex Rogers – First year

Brandon Nispel – First year

Kyle Limoseth - First year

Mike Vuchetich - Third year

Last Year's Record: 7-2

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

Duluth returns a small but extremely vital Senior class. Several key starters at the midfield line, a phenomenal athlete at the LSM position, 3 very talented attackmen and 3 very strong, nice sized defensemen return this year for the Chargers. Junior goalie T.J. Vallie is standing strong early in the season and the Chargers are hoping for a great year from him.

Key Losses:  

Duluth lost a lot of seniors last season including Northern Lights Lacrosse all-conference players Zack Thompson (A), Mike Hillman (M), Nate Pratt (D), Tyler Olson (G), Ian Wiczorek (M) and John Babick (D). 

Key Newcomers:

  

Senior attackman Steven Halver

The Chargers are a very young team in 2012 looking to find contributions even from the middle school level.  With a heavy Freshman and Sophomore class, Duluth is hoping the younger players can step into the up tempo game at the Varsity level.

Big Games/Games to See:  

Duluth has a very big game early in the season with North Conference rival St. Cloud North on April 15th in a game that could determine who takes the #1 seed in the conference. MontiQuois and Delano, two of the top teams in the MBSLA, are also on the schedule in May on the same weekend and should give the Chargers a good idea where they stand in the state prior to entering the playoffs.

Senior LSM Matt Mensinger

Season Outlook:  With a very young squad in 2012, developing a winning team will be a real test of the new coaching staff.  While the team will feature several Freshman and perhaps even a couple of 8th graders as the season progresses, the Chargers can count on the leadership of a very strong group of seniors led by potential all-state players attackman Steven Halver and LSM Matt Mensinger.  The midfield line will be anchored by seniors Zach Galo and Tyler Kolquist.  Coach Wishart is excited to get the season rolling. "With the practices held thus far, it is exciting to see the development and improvement out of the players. It is going to be a fun year to watch the progress of this Duluth Superior lacrosse team."  How much this team progresses will determine how far they will go in the playoffs.  With the strong core of seniors, capable coaching staff and young up and coming players, the Chargers should still be a force to be reckoned with in the North Conference and should compete for the North Conference title again in 2012.

Grand Cities Predators - 2012 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview

Team:  Grand Cities - comprised of players from Grand Forks Red River and Grand Forks Central High Schools, East Grand Forks Senior High, and Warren-Alvarado-Olso High School, Central Middle School in East Grand Forks, MN and South Middle School in Grand Forks, ND

Coaches: 

Aaron Cabanaw – First year at Grand Cities

Cameron Willox – First year at Grand Cities

Kelly Hurt – First Year at Grand Cities

Brent Lindstrom – First Year at Grand Cities

Last Year's Record: Inaugural Season in 2012

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

Tanner Lindstrom (2011 First Team All North Conference Attack and Fargo Warrior scoring leader), Evan Larson, Brady McDonald, Jake Dunham, Christian Hanson, Trey Deck, Christian Hogness, Pete Schirrick, Nick Gaasvig, Jake Young, Tom Twedell, Aaron Sauve, Brandon Johnson, Colton Ramsey, and Tyler Lindstrom. These players all have some level of playing experience either through other programs before coming to Grand Cities or took part in summer clinics and scrimmages last year.

Predators Tanner Lindstrom in gold

Big Games/Games to See:  The biggest game for the season for Grand Cities will be their first game in program history against Duluth-Superior in Duluth on April 14.  The final game of the season against biggest rival, Fargo on May 20 will be the game the Pradators have circled on their calendars.

Season Outlook:  In less than a year, the Grand Cities Predators have grown from a dream to establish lacrosse in the Grand Forks area to a solid team preparing for the start of the 2012 MBSLA season.  Last summer, with the assistance of the University of North Dakota Men’s Club Lacrosse Team, Brent Lindstrom established the Grand Cities Lacrosse Club and the club held two 4 week familiarization clinics that had over 50 kids on the field.  Things progressed with the high school boys continuing practice and took part in a Fall Ball scrimmage against Fargo in October.  

As a new team, the Predators coaches are encouraged by the players who come to the field ready to learn and refine their skills.  The coaching staff feels fortunate to have some experienced players on this new squad but realize they have a lot of work to do to develop the rest of the team.  Team organizer and assistant coach Brent Lindstrom believes that the Predators schedule sets their team up for success.  Lindstrom stated, "If we can be competitive at the beginning of the year and keep pace, I think by the end of the year we will be a contender for a state tournament berth."  Lindstrom also mentioned that the Predators will also take on the task of promoting the sport, both in Grand Forks and beyond to gain support and grow lacrosse in the upper Red River Valley.  

With the new lacrosse program in the Grand Forks area, the boys participating on this inaugural team are proud to be the charter members of the Grand Cities Lacrosse club and look forward to writing the first chapter as a successful chapter in the lacrosse story of the Grand Forks area.

2011 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview: St. Cloud North

High School: St. Cloud North (Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud Apollo)

Coaches:
Head Coach- Tyler Safranek, 2 years at St. Cloud North
Defensive Coach- Tyler Farrell, 2 years at St. Cloud North
Offensive Coach- Cody Otte, 2 years at St.Cloud North

Last Year's Record: 7-7

Returning Starters/Key Returning Players: 8 returning starters including all 3 starting attack from last season and goalkeeper Alex Halupczok

Key Losses:  Brandon Gabbert Defensive Captain

Big Games/Games to See:  Knights vs. Duluth on May 1st

Season Outlook:  St. Cloud North will be looking at their overall team defense and explosive attackmen to lead them through the season in 2011.  The Knights are presently 1-0 in the MBSLA North with a win over Fargo and 1-2 overall with their losses coming to two of the top MBSLA programs in the state - Delano and St. Paul.  Coach Safranek believes, "We have a much deeper roster this year with plenty of athletes.  It's now up to myself and the rest of the coaching staff to find ways to utilize our talents and find ways to get our newcomers up to speed quickly."  How well the Knights coaches can do that will play a big factor in the success of their 2011 season.  Coach Safranek has this to say about his team in 2011, "So far, we've seen dramatic improvement all the way around.  I like to think we are kind of like the Duke of the MBSLA: we may lay a few eggs at the start of the season, but once we find our rhythm and nail down the fundamentals we can play with anyone.  To say that I'm excited to see what this team is capable of is an understatement!"  With a playoff appearance last season and a tough 1-0 first round playoff loss to previously undefeated St. Paul to open the playoffs, St. Cloud looks to be a favorite in the MBSLA North with hopes of making it back to the dance and advancing past the first round in 2011.

2011 Northern Minnesota Lacrosse Season Preview - Fargo Warriors

High School:  Fargo Warriors (the Fargo team is made up of players from all Fargo high schools, West Fargo, Moorhead, and East Grand Forks)

Coaches:
Ben Fairbanks – First year at Fargo
Zach Hohloch – First year at Fargo

Last Year's Record: 1st season in the MBSLA (2-2 last season as 9/10 grade team)

Number of Returning Starters/Key Returning Players:

On last years tournament team that played in the Grand Rapids Tournament, 9 players return including sophomore Tanner Lindstrom, team co-captain freshman Nicholas Horski,  team co-captain junior Aaron Monson, freshman Jimmy Evenson, 8th grader Daniel Kasper, team co-captain sophomore Joe Noah, freshman Ben Noah, sophomore Dan Evenson and sophomore Gunnar Bossart.

Key Losses:  none

Key Newcomers:  All 24 players that make up the inaugural Fargo roster.  New players to the team looking to make an impact in 2011 include two Moorhead players junior Aaron Vanyo (midfield) and junior John Deelstra (defense) and one of the teams younger players 8th grader Zach Salmon (attack).

Big Games/Games to See:  The game against Brainerd in Fargo on 22 April (already played with Brainerd taking the win).  It will be the first ever game for Fargo in the first boys high school varsity game in North Dakota. This could be the first meeting in a budding rivalry.

Season Outlook:

action from Fargo's first lacrosse game against Brainerd

The Fargo Warriors believe that their team strength this year will be Optimism.  The brand new MBSLA team has sparked a lot of excitement about lacrosse in the Fargo area and the team is looking forward to competing against other MBSLA teams.

Many of the teams players learned the game in Fargo through club recreational play and Park District clinics consisting primarily of camps and inter-city scrimmages.  The youth lacrosse program in Fargo has been in existence since 2006.

Amazingly, less than 4 months ago, the team had no helmets, no uniforms, no money, no coaches, no practice field and a roster of 9 players.  They were entered in the MBSLA North Conference for 2011 and everything had to come together quickly.  It did.

Today Fargo has a roster of 24 with everything they were lacking in January now in place including brand new Cascade Pro7 helmets for every player compliments of a generous donation from Scheels Sporting Goods.  Their new coaches, Coach Fairbanks and Coach Hohloch come to the team after lacrosse careers at Minnesota State Moorhead.

Much of the success organizing the current Fargo lacrosse team comes from the efforts of team president Matt Noah, whose two sons play on the team after playing as 5/6 graders in Chaska and Minnetonka.  In addition to the helmets, Scheels Sporting Goods provided the team with a donation that helped to make the season a reality.

Coaches Fairbanks and Hohloch plan to take the season one day at a time.  Coach Fairbanks says, "Starting the season with only 9 players who have game experience we look to play hard and grow as a team as the season progresses with the end of the season goal being a trip to the state tournament."  In addition to the team goals, Coach Fairbanks hopes to, "spread the lacrosse word through the area in hopes of continued support from the Fargo-Moorhead community in seasons to follow and the continued expansion of lacrosse in the midwest."  Definitely a great start for a Fargo lacrosse team that looks to be in good hands and primed to grow in the coming years.

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:

Grand Rapids Defense

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.

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."

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.

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.

Team Previews and Player Spotlights Coming in March!

Look for previews of Northern Minnesota lacrosse teams at the end of March just before the season starts and weekly player spotlights during the lacrosse season.