High School Boys Season Previews Division I and II

Here are the 2011 preseason Division I and II rankings.  Games will start this weekend with many story lines and non-league exhibitions.  There will also be three invitational-jamborees this weekend that will a mass dozens of teams from Washington and the northwest.  So rant and rave yourselves into the season, but when it comes down to it, the games are decided on the field.  This season we will be providing all sorts of media coverage including write-ups, interviews, game highlight videos and lots of photos.  Visit Walax.com for your local coverage of the spring season.

Division I Top 10

This year, the talent pool is reasonably deep at some of the top schools.  That said, there are more teams in Division I than any year prior, and some would argue too many for the level of competition to be consistent.  Lets see how these teams stack up.  Some have new coaches, some have old, but make no mistake, the top 5 programs will slug it out from start to finish, and there just may be a couple of “Dark Horses” who may play for the title game bragging rights.

1) Issaquah

Issaquah tops our preseason rankings, returning top talent setting the stage to make a run back to the final game after finishing 12-2 in regular season last year.  Preseason All-Americans Jake Fritz (Sr. A) and Kevin Powers (Sr. M), both Dominican University recruits, lead the Eagles on the offense.  While arguably the best goalie in state O’Neill Hughes (Jr. G) posts up in the cage.  Add in Matt O’Neill (Jr. A) with vision and balance at the cage, Kole Lindor (Jr. LSM)  taking the face-off wing, and Austin Richert (Jr. D) on defense, making a balanced team at the state’s top as of now.  Off-season tragedy may find it’s bonding outlet on the field and be a boon for the team as they’ll look for their program’s third championship under Coach Fortier.  Issaquah will travel to New Jersey for spring break facing east coast power Lawrenceville, among others. 

2) Bainbridge Island

The Spartans sit at the number two spot after an 11-3 regular season last year. They should be back to their winning ways behind seven varsity returners including Alex Crane (Sr. M), Julian Skotheim (Sr. M) and preseason All-American Cameron Parker (Sr. A), a Fairfield commit.  Other members returning expected to make a big impact include Jacob “JLo” Goodman (Sr. A) and Sean Kennedy (Sr. M) making the Spartans fast and dangerous with the rock.  On Defense, look for Nick Lacy (Sr. D) and Quinn McMahon (Sr. D) commit to Providence to hold it down.  Bainbridge will need to start with a new slate and take each game in stride to make it back to the finals and earn another banner.  A large senior class of 15 will also serve to help the Spartans with a backbone of composure and leadership.  Although the Spartans will be without long time coach Dejon Hush, who is now head coach at the new Lake Washington program.  That impact is an unknown, as the seniors come together under long time head coach, Jack Visco.   

3) Bellevue

The 2010 Washington state champions return only five starters from last year, dropping them down to the number three spot.  However, a young, skilled and quick team can be asset when shepherded by talented veterans like preseason All-American Sam Leggett (Sr. D), a possible Ivy League recruit, Blake Samuel (Jr. A), Austin Boyd (Jr. G) and Tommy Spengler (Sr. A).  Largely composed of a solid junior class, look for impact players in Drew Douglas (Jr. A/M) Andrew Gulrajani (Jr. M) and Defensemen Clayton Federspiel (Jr. D) to carry the load a well. Head coach Jon Baumann emphasizes playing their best ball in May, a formula beneficial to last year’s championship run.  The Wolverines will head to Texas for spring break for out of state competition, Highland Park highlights competition.  

4) Mercer Island

The Islanders past two regular seasons in 2009 and 2010 resulted in undefeated regular seasons against in-state opponents and losses in the championship games each by one goal.  Will the third time be a charm? They sit at fourth place in 2011, returning seniors Doug Mahony and Colton Knebel at the midfield.  While their shake and bake attack will start senior Matt Shields and junior Connor Bernal. On defense senior Ryan Blumenstein will lead a new crop.  However, they have 12 seniors, a boon to remaining consistent and disciplined.  Their biggest task will be replacing an entire All-State defense from last year’s squad.  Mercer Island flies to Massachusetts for spring break, highlighted by a game against top ranked Duxbury.  

5) Skyline- ‘Dark Horse’

The Skyline Spartans are a dark horse alert for the preseason.  After finishing with a 9-5 regular season record in 2010, they will be a junior-senior heavy team returning an experienced attack unit in Max Saffle (Jr.A), Jack Pruitt (Jr.M) and Brennan West (Sr.A).  On defense, look for Phoenix Abernathy (Sr. Captain) to hold top scorers in check, though Corey larson (Sr. G) will also keep shooters honest.  They will give the Northeast Conference a shake up, adding more competition to an already stacked conference.  Can the defense keep pace with their weaponry on offense is the question for these underdogs.  The Spartans will be fighting against the rest of their I-90 ilk and should make for an interesting conference battle for the playoffs in May.

6) King’s Way- ‘Dark Horse’

King’s Way should be making a blip on the radar this season.  Emerging from Vancouver, WA with a 11-3 record last season they return 21 players from last year, including senior goalie Max Zandstra heading to Bellarmine University next year.  Also, Jack Beall (Soph. A.), who led all of Washington lacrosse in assists last season as a freshman.  Big and fast, last year’s coach of the year, Dave Holler will make a bid for the state finals this year if he can keep his team healthy.  Watch for them to make noise this season in the Southwest Conference and contend with Bainbridge for top dog.  

7) Mukilteo

Mukilteo comes into 2011 with some great athletes.  After a 6-8 regular season last year they will be led by Alex Okemah, (Jr. M,F/O).  Missing Linari, Wanzer Hodges, and a plethora of others from their senior class last year, Mukilteo may find this a blessing in disguise with a new head coach in Owen Corddry.  Junior standout Kevin McGowen (Jr. A) and up and comers Ryan Hooper (So. D) and Tyler Eli (So. M) continue to foster the hard work ethic begun last year.  Mukilteo will need to stay above .500 to make a playoff run and improving as the season progresses.  Their big games will come against Skyline, Overlake, and Northshore.    

8) Overlake

The Owls come into 2011 after a 9-5 regular season last year with a chip on their shoulder.  They will need to find answers for their offense after losing senior cannons in Devon Schmidt, Safadago and the Tweedie-Yates brothers.  That should come with Joe Dolack (Jr. M) and promising sophomores in midfielder Erik Risa and attackman Barrett Jenness (Sr. A).  Coach Valentine has a history of making the most of his opportunities, a master of doing more with less.  The Owls will look to make a climb to the top of the Northeast Conference ranks.    

9) Northshore 

Northshore will have to find answer for losing All-American Midfielder Taylor Wisman.  His younger brother, pre-season All-American, Foster Wisman(Sr. M)  will anchor a Northshore team that will have to rebuild.  Returning captain Miles Sokol (Sr. D), Alex Bus (Sr. M), and Kyle Barrett (Sr. A) will step up to a more pronounced leadership role to join the frenzy in the Northeast conference.  Though the split with Woodinville depleted some of the depth on Northshore, Coach Wisman’s boys always move the ball well.

10) Lake Washington

The Kangaroos moved up from Division II after an undefeated regular season last year only to fall in the semi-finals.  New head coach Dejon Hush will look to reform and rebuild this team.  They have young program and their need will need to adjust to the competitive level of Division I.  They pack a one-two punch in Jake (Sr. M) and Cody (Jr. A) Bernstein and a crop of talented sophomores and freshmen headed by Ben Anderson (Soph. A).  Their defensive core is athletic, but all this will be put to the test against the Division I titans.  Coach Hush is known for building steel from stoked fires.  If LW can respond, look for a hard late season run.

On the Cusp- Curtis & Eastside Catholic

Curtis  - has a new head coach, and the team will be led by Colby Carr (Sr. Capt M) Air Force recruit, and Quinn Moody (Sr. A) who will stride with Dillon Cavanagh (Sr. A) and younger Brandon Dean (Jr. M) filling his big brother’s very big shoes.

Eastside Catholic – Hard to tell how the Crusaders will look right now, but senior Attackman Kyle Decker and a strong freshman class of players look to make an arrival on the Lacrosse scene, in the top ten if they can put the pieces together in the big leagues.

Division I Preseason All Americans

*This year there may be more than just three All-Americans

Jake Fritz- Issaquah/Attack- Dominican University DII

Sam Leggett- Bellevue/Defense- Ivy League DI

Cameron Parker- Bainbridge Island/Attack- Fairfield University DI

Kevin Powers- Issaquah/Midfield- Dominican University DII

Foster Wisman- Northshore/Midfield- Rochester Institute of Technology DIII

Key Rivalries and Match-Ups

The Northeast Conference is stacked with most of the state’s talented teams.  Issaquah, Bellevue, Mercer Island and Skyline will battle each other for conference supremacy. While in the Southwest, Bainbridge will likely dominate the conference and fend off King’s Way and Curtis to reign as conference champion.  

“I-90 Rivalries”- 1Issaquah v. 3Bellevue v. 4Mercer Island v. 5Skyline

“Battle of the Islands”- 2Bainbridge Island v. 4Mercer Island

2Bainbridge Island v. 6King’s Way- April 9, 2011

Division II Top Ten

 

Here is a quick preview for the Division II preseason rankings.  The Metro and Cascade conferences will be the strongest this season.  Some Eastside and north teams will look to be the dark horses of the division and should shake things up.  

1) Snohomish 

Snohomish tops the preseason Division II rankings as they return a sizeable amount of players from last year, including a large sophomore class, but only three starters.  A new coach in Chris Cote will command this balanced team that draws players from five different schools.  The defense is a group of seasoned veterans including Jarred Booth and Tyler Follett.  These guys should anchor the young guns on offense, such as Brandon Todd (Jr. A/M), Austin Tippett (Soph. A), and Josh Pedersen (Jr. M).  The Panthers will have their hands full with Cascade Conference rival Providence, as the match-up between the two will surely be a nail-bitter this season.  That said, Snohomish is looking at the championship with a “no regrets” approach, and they will be tough to beat.

2) Sammamish

The Totems emerge on the scene ranked no. 2, bringing back lots of juniors.  Top scorer Brian Hedland (Sr.) leads the Totem offense along with face-off specialist Matt Young (Sr. ) and Tyler Wright (Jr. M).  On the defense, Sam Chapman (Sr. D) holds the core long poles together which will be important for Sammamish’s season.  In the last two years the Totems have been ousted during the playoff quarterfinals, could this be the year they reach the finals?  Also driven by a new coach, Tyler Farrar has his own ship after assisting at Blanchet, Overlake and Mukilteo.  Strong contenders in a conference they can dominate.

3) Providence- Dark Horse

Providence sits with a lot of team firepower.  They return their entire team from last year with returning senior captain in midfielder Ryan Morris, team leader and a probable DII point leader for 2011, Oliver and Hayden Thomas balance out the offense.  On defense, ground ball machine Luke Morris holds down the core.  The team’s strength is their unity, many players are brothers and friends and have played with each other for many years.  Look for Providence to give Snohomish a run this season.  The Highlanders hope the team chemistry and maturation will keep a consistent regular season and playoffs hopes alive.  Big Dark Horse the season.

4) Garfield

The Bulldogs should be a dominant power in the Metro conference this season returning top point leaders from last year’s squad.  Sophomore attackman Cedric Rhodes led in points last year and should be a corner stone to the offense.  He is supported by senior midfielder Andy Boelter  and junior loose ball machine/howitzer, Carl Barnes.  Look to find “Big Man” Justin Guity running by people, The Bulldogs will be the favorite for conference champion.  Their biggest competition will come from Blanchet and Roosevelt.

6) Wenatchee- Dark Horse

Wenatchee returns large balanced classes this season after a 12-0 regular season last year, making them a dark horse.  They fell in the semi-finals last year to the eventual champion Lynnwood.  Junior midfielder Mitchell Parks was the second top scorer on the team and leader in loose balls.  Senior Rawley Holmberg will lead the attack.  Returning senior captain Thomas Bass will lead the defense in the goal.  Wenatchee will often host their opponents this season with their biggest games coming against non-conference opponents Garfield and Blanchet.

7) Bishop Blanchet

The Braves return six starters from last season along with ten seniors.  They return the bulk of their offense, but have some large holes on defense.  Junior attackman Zane Zeilke, senior midfielder Connor Black, senior attackman Dylan Evans will headline the offense.  Other contributors in Soph attackman Taylor Bisett and Soph Midfielder Colin Evans will add balance and firepower to the senior strengthTheir key to success will be to maintain possession to help out their defense, senior captain will lead the core of long poles.  Blanchet’s program is the largest it has ever been, and Their Metro conference opponents will put up a fight like Garfield.  Wenatchee edged the Braves twice last season, knocking them out of the playoffs.  The rematch this season should be a cooker.  

8) Roosevelt 

The Roughriders come into 2011 after last season’s 10-3 regular season record, they we ousted from the playoffs last year by San Juan.  They have a young team with good parent board support.  This season sophomore goalie Kevin Ault brings an all around quality cage master will hold down the Rider defense.  Junior Michael Bennett brings athleticism and junior attackman Parker Williamson a knack for goal-scoring.  Roosevelt will face fellow Metro Conference rival in Blanchet and Garfield, their improvement on offense from last year will be crucial to a post season berth.  

9) Klahowya

The Eagles return six starters from last year with their strength coming from their experienced defense like John Wolfram.  The strong defensive base offsets the teams point leaders from last year in junior attackman Nick Johanson, senior attackman Nick Bastein, and senior midfielder Chris Maguire.  They expect a challenge for the conference title against the other Olympic Conference teams and will contend for a playoff spot.  Out of conference games against Redmond and Sammamish will be big tests for the team as well.     

10) Woodinville

The Woodinville Falcons return all of the players from last year losing no seniors to graduation.  Last season the finished 4-9 in the regular season, but the team chemistry should be at an all time high for Woodinville.  Senior captain JD Chapman (A) returns as point leader from last year, he is supported by the sizeable sophomore midfielder Colter Clinch, and senior midfield captain Tyler Paris.  On the defensive end, junior goalie Dalton Combs and senior defender Jacob Dransfield will be more cohesive after last season. Their main competition will be conference opponent Providence, as well as non-conference opponent Snohomish will be a big test for the Falcons. 

Key Games

Blanchet v. Roosevelt- March 16

Garfield v. Wenatchee- March 26

Blanchet v. Garfield- March 30

Providence v. Snohomish- April 14