How did John Kemp become Notre Dame’s star goalie. What role did his family play in shaping his lacrosse career. How does the Kemp family’s dedication to sports reflect in John’s success.
The Kemp Family’s Extraordinary Commitment to Sports
The Kemp household in Potomac, Maryland, was not your average suburban family. With seven children involved in various sports, their days began long before sunrise and ended well into the night. This extraordinary commitment to athletics laid the foundation for John Kemp’s eventual rise to lacrosse stardom at Notre Dame.
Bob Kemp, the family patriarch, would rise at 4:12 AM to drive two of his daughters to their swim practice at American University. Meanwhile, his wife Cheryl managed the morning routines of the other children. Their 16-passenger van became a symbol of the family’s dedication, shuttling kids to and from swimming, lacrosse, hockey, and other sports throughout the day.
A Day in the Life of the Kemp Family
- 4:12 AM: Bob Kemp’s alarm goes off
- 4:45 AM: Daughters arrive at American University for swim practice
- Morning: Cheryl prepares the boys for school
- Afternoon: Various sports practices and activities
- 8:00 PM: Family dinner
- Evening: Homework and studying
This rigorous schedule instilled discipline and time management skills in all the Kemp children, traits that would prove invaluable in their future athletic endeavors.
John Kemp: The Youngest of a Lacrosse Dynasty
As the youngest of seven children, John Kemp’s path to lacrosse glory was influenced by his older siblings, particularly his brothers C.J. and Joey. Both C.J. and Joey had already made names for themselves as goalies, setting a precedent that John would eventually follow.
How did John end up as a goalie? It was a combination of family tradition and practicality. With older brothers already playing the position, the Kemp household had an abundance of goalie equipment. As Bob Kemp explains, “The only stick we had was a goalie’s stick — and we had a lot of ’em — so because we were paying all those tuitions, my wife said, ‘We don’t need to buy any other stick other than a goalie’s stick.'”
The Kemp Brothers’ Lacrosse Achievements
- C.J. Kemp: Honorable mention All-American at Fairfield University in 2002 and 2003
- Joey Kemp: First-team All-American as a senior at Notre Dame in 2008
- John Kemp: Star goalie at Notre Dame, following in Joey’s footsteps
This familial legacy in lacrosse goalkeeping provided John with a unique advantage, as he had built-in mentors and training partners from a young age.
The Backyard Training Ground: Shaping a Future Star
John’s journey to becoming a top-tier goalie began in the family’s backyard. Using hand-me-down equipment and his brothers’ old goalie sticks, John would practice for hours, often serving as a target for Joey’s shooting practice.
These informal training sessions proved invaluable, offering John early exposure to high-level shots and helping him develop quick reflexes. It also provided Joey with rare opportunities to experience being on the offensive side of the game.
Is backyard practice as effective as formal training? In John’s case, it certainly played a crucial role. The combination of sibling competition and constant exposure to the sport helped hone his skills from a very young age.
From Youth Camps to High School Stardom
As John grew older, he began attending local youth lacrosse camps led by Kevin Giblin, his older brothers’ high school coach. These camps not only improved John’s skills but also put him on the radar of college recruiters.
Kevin Giblin’s friendship with Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan would prove instrumental in John’s future. Corrigan recalls, “From the time John was probably in, shoot, eighth grade — seventh, eighth grade — Kevin Giblin started telling me, ‘Hey, I think John may end up being the best one of the whole group.'”
This early recognition of John’s potential led to an unusual recruitment process. Corrigan began showing interest in John during his sophomore year of high school, a time when recruiting high school sophomores was almost unheard of, especially for a player who hadn’t yet secured a starting position on his high school team.
John’s Path to Starting Goalie
- Attended youth lacrosse camps led by Kevin Giblin
- Caught the attention of Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan
- Overcame competition to become starting goalie at Georgetown Prep in junior year
- Recruited by Notre Dame before becoming a high school starter
John’s perseverance paid off when he finally secured the starting goalie position at Georgetown Prep in his junior year, overtaking Villanova recruit Dan Gutierrez. This achievement solidified Corrigan’s belief in John’s potential and set the stage for his future at Notre Dame.
The Notre Dame Connection: A Family Affair
John’s journey to Notre Dame was not just about his individual talent, but also about continuing a family tradition. His older brother Joey had already made a name for himself as a first-team All-American goalie for the Fighting Irish.
Kevin Corrigan’s decision to recruit John was influenced by both his potential and the success of his brother Joey. This familial connection to Notre Dame added an extra layer of meaning to John’s recruitment and subsequent career with the Fighting Irish.
How did Joey’s success at Notre Dame impact John’s recruitment? While John’s talent stood on its own, Joey’s achievements likely provided additional confidence to the coaching staff about the Kemp family’s ability to produce top-tier goalies.
The Kemp-Notre Dame Legacy
- Joey Kemp: Set the standard as a first-team All-American
- John Kemp: Recruited to follow in his brother’s footsteps
- Continued excellence in the goalie position for Notre Dame
This family connection to Notre Dame not only benefited the Kemp brothers but also provided the university with a consistent pipeline of talent in a crucial position.
The Unique Challenges and Benefits of Being the Youngest
Being the youngest of seven children presented John with both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, he often had to make do with hand-me-downs and serve as a “test subject” for his older brothers’ antics. John recalls with amusement, “I was standing on the armrest of the couch, and they did a choke slam down onto the couch, and believe it or not, I think I had a concussion when it happened.”
However, being the youngest also meant that John had the advantage of learning from his siblings’ experiences. He had access to a wealth of knowledge about lacrosse, particularly goalie play, from his older brothers who had already gone through the process of becoming collegiate athletes.
Can being the youngest in a family of athletes be advantageous? In John’s case, it certainly seems so. The combination of early exposure to the sport, hand-me-down equipment that steered him towards the goalie position, and the mentorship of his older siblings all contributed to his development as a player.
Advantages of Being the Youngest Kemp
- Early exposure to high-level lacrosse
- Built-in mentors in older siblings
- Access to goalie equipment and training
- Learning from siblings’ experiences in college recruitment
These advantages, combined with John’s natural talent and work ethic, helped him overcome the challenges of being the youngest and carve out his own success story in the world of lacrosse.
The Impact of Family Support on Athletic Success
The Kemp family’s dedication to their children’s athletic pursuits is a testament to the power of family support in nurturing talent. From Bob’s early morning drives to Cheryl’s meticulous scheduling of activities, the parents created an environment where their children could thrive in their chosen sports.
This level of support extended beyond just providing transportation and equipment. The family dinner at 8 PM, despite the hectic schedule, ensured that the Kemp children had time to connect, share experiences, and support each other’s endeavors.
Does family support significantly influence athletic success? In the case of the Kemp family, it appears to be a crucial factor. The parents’ willingness to invest time, energy, and resources into their children’s sports activities created an environment where talent could flourish.
Key Elements of the Kemp Family’s Support System
- Prioritizing sports activities in daily schedules
- Providing necessary equipment and transportation
- Maintaining family connections through regular dinners
- Encouraging sibling support and mentorship
- Balancing athletic pursuits with academic responsibilities
This comprehensive support system not only helped John and his siblings excel in their respective sports but also instilled valuable life skills such as time management, discipline, and teamwork.
From High School Prospect to Notre Dame Star
John Kemp’s journey from a high school prospect to a star goalie at Notre Dame is a testament to his talent, hard work, and the foundation laid by his family. His unique recruitment story, beginning in his sophomore year before he had even secured a starting position in high school, speaks to the potential that coaches saw in him.
At Notre Dame, John had big shoes to fill following his brother Joey’s successful career. However, he rose to the challenge, continuing the tradition of excellence in the goalie position for the Fighting Irish.
How did John transition from high school to college-level play? While specific details of his early college career are not provided in the original text, it’s likely that the experience gained from years of backyard practice with his brothers, youth camps, and high school competition prepared him well for the challenges of NCAA Division I lacrosse.
John Kemp’s Notre Dame Career Highlights
- Recruited by Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan
- Continued the family tradition of excellence in the goalie position
- Contributed to Notre Dame’s strong lacrosse program
John’s success at Notre Dame not only fulfilled his personal goals but also solidified the Kemp family’s legacy in collegiate lacrosse.
The Broader Impact of the Kemp Family on Lacrosse
The story of the Kemp family, particularly John’s journey to Notre Dame, illustrates the broader impact that dedicated families can have on a sport. The Kemps have produced multiple high-level goalies, contributing significantly to the talent pool in collegiate lacrosse.
This family legacy extends beyond just the players themselves. The relationships formed between the Kemps and coaches like Kevin Giblin and Kevin Corrigan have helped create pipelines of talent, benefiting both the sport and the institutions involved.
Can a single family significantly influence a sport? In the case of the Kemps, it’s clear that their dedication and talent have had a notable impact on lacrosse, particularly in the goalie position. Their story serves as an inspiration and a model for other families looking to support their children’s athletic aspirations.
The Kemp Family’s Contributions to Lacrosse
- Multiple All-American goalies at the collegiate level
- Establishment of connections between high school and college programs
- Inspiration for young athletes and their families
- Elevation of the goalie position in lacrosse
The Kemp family’s legacy in lacrosse extends far beyond their individual achievements, influencing the sport at multiple levels and inspiring future generations of players.
Lessons from the Kemp Family’s Approach to Sports
The Kemp family’s approach to sports and child-rearing offers valuable lessons for parents and young athletes alike. Their story demonstrates the power of family support, the benefits of early exposure to sports, and the importance of balancing athletic pursuits with academic responsibilities.
One key takeaway is the value of creating a supportive environment that allows children to explore and excel in their chosen activities. The Kemps’ willingness to adapt their lifestyle to accommodate their children’s sports commitments shows the level of dedication required to nurture high-level athletic talent.
What can other families learn from the Kemps’ approach? While not every family may be able to replicate the exact circumstances of the Kemps, there are several principles that can be applied more broadly:
Key Lessons from the Kemp Family
- Prioritize children’s interests and commitments
- Foster a supportive family environment
- Encourage sibling mentorship and support
- Balance athletic pursuits with academic responsibilities
- Be willing to make sacrifices to support children’s goals
By applying these principles, families can create an environment that supports their children’s athletic and personal growth, potentially unlocking hidden talents and fostering success both on and off the field.
The Future of Lacrosse and Family Legacies
The story of John Kemp and his family raises interesting questions about the future of lacrosse and the role of family legacies in sports. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, will we see more families like the Kemps producing multiple high-level athletes?
The increasing professionalization of youth sports and the rising costs associated with high-level competition may make it more challenging for families to support multiple children in a single sport. However, the Kemps’ story demonstrates that with dedication and the right approach, it is possible to nurture talent across siblings.
How might family legacies shape the future of lacrosse? While individual talent will always be the primary factor in an athlete’s success, family connections and legacies may play an increasingly important role in recruitment and player development. Coaches may look to families with a history of success in the sport as potential sources of talent and dedication.
Potential Trends in Lacrosse and Family Legacies
- Increased focus on multi-generational talent development
- Growing importance of family connections in recruitment
- Rise of lacrosse-specific training facilities and programs
- Expansion of youth lacrosse programs to new regions
- Greater emphasis on balancing athletics and academics from an early age
As lacrosse continues to evolve, the impact of families like the Kemps may inspire new approaches to talent development and recruitment, potentially shaping the future of the sport for years to come.
Notre Dame goalie John Kemp carries on a family tradition
A
s the final evening hours slowly faded into the night, many families in the Bethesda, Md., suburb of Potomac were nearly ready to climb into their beds as another day of work and school awaited. At the Kemp household, though, days that started shortly after 4 a.m. were far from over.
The days would start with Bob Kemp’s alarm clock going off at 4:12 — a time one of his daughters picked because 4:10 “was too early” and 4:15 “was too late” — so he could get two of his three girls to American University in D.C. by 4:45 a.m. for the morning session of their two-a-day swim practices.
By the time he got home, his wife, Cheryl, was getting the boys ready for school. Soon, they too would be out the door, leaving Bob the task of heading back to American to pick up the girls and drop them off at their schools.
After taking care of a laundry list of family errands while the children were at school, Cheryl was ready to hop into the family’s 16-passenger van and shuttle kids to and from swimming, lacrosse, hockey and any other sports they were playing that season.
“My mom used to always say, ‘Make sure you have your backpack,'” says Joey Kemp, the family’s fifth of seven children and second-youngest son.
“If you got that comment … you’d definitely be waiting a couple hours [for someone] to come pick you up,” said John Kemp, a senior goaltender at Notre Dame and the family’s youngest, on the need to get a jump on the night’s homework while waiting for a ride home and the start of the 8 p.m. family dinner that preceded any leftover studying.
Being the baby of the family was a mixed bag for John. It included nearly always getting hand-me-downs and being the test subject for his older brothers’ newest wrestling moves.
“I was standing on the armrest of the couch, and they did a choke slam down onto the couch,” he says with a chuckle, “and believe it or not, I think I had a concussion when it happened.”
Being the youngest was also how John found his calling in lacrosse.
• • • • •
When C.J. Kemp, the family’s third child and the second-oldest brother, transferred to Mater Dei School in fifth grade, he decided to trade in his baseball bat for a lacrosse stick because it was the sport everybody played at his new school. He earned the starting goalie position that year, and when the time came, Joey followed C.J.’s path to the cage. Those steps would wind up being traced one more time when John began playing the sport in the first grade.
“John kinda had no choice,” says Joey.
Having to pay tuition for the kids’ Catholic schools was the major reason, their father says, that John found himself between the pipes.
“The only stick we had was a goalie’s stick — and we had a lot of ’em — so because we were paying all those tuitions, my wife said, ‘We don’t need to buy any other stick other than a goalie’s stick,'” Bob says. “It ended up being the only stick in the house and, John being the caboose, he wanted to play lacrosse, he got handed a goalie’s stick.”
So John, sporting pads he wore playing forward in hockey, would take his goalie stick, trot out to the lacrosse net in the family’s backyard and take target practice for Joey. These backyard sessions were some of John’s earliest lacrosse experiences and served as the only times Joey could get a feel for what it was like not being on the receiving end of a shot.
Joey Kemp (1) was a first-team All-American as a senior at Notre Dame in 2008. C.J. Kemp, Joey’s and John’s brother, was an honorable mention All-American at Fairfield University in 2002 and 2003. Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics
By the time he was old enough, John started attending a local youth lacrosse camp led by his older brothers’ high school coach, Kevin Giblin. Although John didn’t know it at the time, he would learn that playing for Giblin through the camp would open doors for him.
One of Giblin’s longtime friends is Notre Dame coach Kevin Corrigan. It wasn’t long until the two were discussing John’s future.
“From the time John was probably in, shoot, eighth grade — seventh, eighth grade — Kevin Giblin started telling me, ‘Hey, I think John may end up being the best one of the whole group,'” Corrigan says.
This was high praise, as Corrigan had recently spent a scholarship on Joey to man the Fighting Irish’s cage.
As John continued to grow in and out of the net, Corrigan’s interest did as well. So much so that the coach entered relatively uncharted water. At the time, recruiting high school sophomores was almost unheard of — especially when that sophomore hadn’t started a game yet. It wasn’t until his junior year that John was able to overtake Villanova recruit Dan Gutierrez for the Georgetown Prep starting spot.
“We were going to take a goalie in the class in front of him, but we knew we wanted him and basically said to him, ‘You know, no pressure, we understand if you are not ready to make a decision and we’re not trying to pressure you to make a decision, but if you tell us that you want to come to Notre Dame, then we will not recruit a guy in the class in front of you,'” Corrigan says.
“At first, I was a little hesitant,” says John. “I hadn’t really thought about college. I hadn’t even started a lacrosse game in high school.”
To help find his way through the recruiting process, John turned to his family and Giblin. After a little guidance, John realized the decision to play in South Bend was “pretty much a no-brainer.”
• • • • •
With fall ball underway, John’s freshman year was supposed to be a learning one with redshirt senior and returning starter Scott Rodgers coming off a season in which he was named a third-team All-American. The plan was for Rodgers to play out his final year of eligibility while John would redshirt.
That all changed six games into the season.
On March 27, 2010, eighth-ranked Notre Dame hosted Rutgers. The tide turned in the second quarter as unranked Rutgers flipped a 1-0 deficit into a 5-2 advantage and an injured Rodgers left the game with 3:32 to go in the half. At the time, it wasn’t clear if he would be able to return. Not wanting to burn Kemp’s redshirt year, Corrigan called on Brendan Moore to finish the quarter.
Trailing 5-3 at halftime, Corrigan learned that Rodgers was done for the next handful of weeks because of a torn hamstring. That’s when he called on his future starter.
John made a couple early saves but gave up five goals before the clock reached zero. Rutgers had pulled off an upset, winning 10-8.
Back in Potomac, Bob Kemp — a regular at Notre Dame games despite John not playing — was finishing mowing the yard.
“I came inside, and I went on the computer to look to see what the score was,” Bob says, “and when I saw the score and it said ‘John Kemp in goal,’ of course I couldn’t believe it.”
“My dad has missed one game in my whole career, and it was that first game,” John says of his father’s decision to stay home that weekend while trying to financially juggle attending John’s games and sister Elizabeth’s final swim meets as a captain at Florida.
Corrigan kept the freshman in net for most of the next three games — a span in which the team went 1-2. Following an 11-3 win over Georgetown in early April, Rodgers was ready to take the field again, and Corrigan was forced to choose. He gave the nod to John, but the 5-foot-9, 170-pound freshman wouldn’t see another second of playing time that season.
It was 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22 — the night before Notre Dame was to travel to Queens, N.Y., and take on St. John’s — when the phone rang at the Kemps’ home in Potomac. Bob answered, but his son wanted to talk to his mother.
“I woke up with a huge stomachache, and I couldn’t really move,” says John.
Cheryl, a nurse, rattled off a series of questions and told John to head to the on-campus infirmary and call back after he was examined. About two hours later, the phone rang again. It was the doctor on call, who told the Kemps that John’s appendix had to be removed.
John’s roommate drove him to nearby South Bend Memorial Hospital, while back home Bob was booking the first flight he could to Indiana. Somewhere between 2 and 3 a.m., John had surgery. When Bob arrived at John’s hospital room around noon the next day, he found Corrigan’s wife, Lis, sitting with John and a four-inch scar on his son’s stomach.
“Kind of by default, he inherited the [starting goalie] position and it kind of became his to lose and he didn’t have a chance to lose it on the field; he lost it on the operating table,” Bob says, laughing.
There was a silver lining, however. Several weeks after the surgery, John got the go-ahead to dress for the team’s final game of the season, a 7-5 loss to Duke for the national title.
• • • • •
Now a senior, John is staring down one last opportunity to hoist the trophy that has eluded him and his teammates.
“You can probably count on two fingers the number of times that somebody’s won a national championship without their goalie being a central reason why, so he’s critical,” says Corrigan.
John says he’s up for the challenge. Last year, he led the nation in goals-against average and save percentage.
“He has an ability to make saves look easy that sometimes we don’t even notice it in the game, and it’ll be Monday morning when we’re watching film and we’ll be like, ‘Oh my Lord, how did he get a piece of that ball?'” Corrigan says.
John Kemp made 13 saves during a 7-5 loss in a semifinal to eventual 2012 national champ Loyola. Winslow Townson/Getty Images
For his efforts, Kemp earned first-team All-American honors. The achievement was just another notch in the Kemps’ athletic belt. Bob played football at William and Mary for Marv Levy and Lou Holtz. Two of John’s sisters were All-Americans in swimming, and Elizabeth won a national championship in her senior year. Joey was a first-team All-American as a senior at Notre Dame, and C.J. became Fairfield’s first lacrosse player to receive All-America recognition when he earned an honorable mention in 2002.
Sibling rivalries are bound to exist in any family. With how successful the Kemp boys have been, it’s no wonder that one of theirs is lacrosse.
“After a bad game, boy, they hear it from each other more than they hear it from me or anybody else,” says Corrigan.
Following a subpar performance earlier this year, John heard it. When he got to his phone he found a text from Joey with some “helpful” tips. John, though, was quick with a response.
“He said, ‘Well, it might mean something coming from someone who was a first[-team] All-American as a junior, not a senior like you were,'” says Joey.
Just like in the backyard when they were growing up, the little brother made another save.
Devon Heinen is a production assistant at ESPN.
Utah Lacrosse Signs 12 to National Letters of Intent
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SALT LAX CITY – Utah head men’s lacrosse coach Brian Holman continues to build upon the success the last two seasons as a Division I program and inked 12 players to National Letters of Intent.
“We are really happy with this signing class,” Holman said. “It is filled with really good kids, good students and even greater families. I think they add depth, lacrosse IQ and elevate our overall athleticism.”
The 2021 signing class includes players from nine different states across the country coast-to-coast. Positionally, Holman adds five midfielders and three defensemen while adding a pair of attackers and keepers to the mix as the program enters its third competitive season at the Division I level.
TREY AKABANE
Faceoffs/Midfield • 5-11 • 190
Danville, Calif. • The Salisbury School
High School
Spent his first three years at San Ramon Valley High School as a dual sport athlete, lettering in football and lacrosse before transferring to The Salisbury School his senior year where he plays alongside future teammate Conor O’Neill… led SRVHS to the 2018 CIF North Coast Section Division I Championship as well as back-to-back undefeated seasons (9-0) in the East Bay League his sophomore and junior year … named to East Bay All League Second-Team his junior season with the Wolves in lacrosse … also helped lead SRVHS to a 2018 CIF North Coast Section Division I title in football.
Personal
Son of Matt and Kristi Akabane … has two younger sister, Reagan and Kenidy, and a younger brother, Jordan … undecided on a major.
Holman on AKABANE
“Trey is a very tough, hard-nosed faceoff man and will add a lot of athleticism to our team.”
BRENDAN BELZ
Defense • 6-1 • 190
Strongsville, Ohio • St. Edward HS
High School
Four-year letterwinner at St. Edward High School … was the team’s defensive player of the year as a freshman and named second-team all-region … served as captain his sophomore season while garnering first-team all-region and third-team all-state honors … is a National Honor Society member.
Personal
Son of Geoff and Heather Belz … has an older sister, Lauren Marcinek, and an older brother, Jake Belz … father is an All-American football player and all-conference lacrosse player at College of Wooster … he was also inducted into the College of Wooster Hall of Fame in 2007 … undecided on a major.
Holman on BELZ
“Brendan is a fundamentally sound defenseman with a lot of toughness and is great when it comes to playing off ball.”
NICK CALLIS
Faceoffs/Midfield • 5-11 • 165
Leesburg, Va. • Riverside HS
High School
A dual sport athlete at Riverside High School, lettering in football and lacrosse … led the Rams to a lacrosse 4A State Championship in 2019 and semifinal appearance in 2018 … also helped RHS to the 2020 I-95 Cup Championship … caught 35 passes with six touchdowns for 463 yards his junior season … was an honor roll recipient his junior year … also played club basketball and ran club track.
Personal
Son of Warren and Carla Callis … has an older brother, Alexander, and an older sister, Capri … father played college basketball and rugby at Salve Regina University … plans on majoring in data science/data engineering field.
Holman on CALLIS
“Nick is an extremely athletic middie and will give us another dimension when it comes to faceoffs.”
ETHAN COX
Attack • 5-10 • 165
Marietta, Ga. • Lassiter HS
High School
A three-year letterwinner at Lassiter High School … led the Trojans to the GHSA 6A-7A Championship game as a freshman and followed with a semifinals appearance his sophomore year … helped LHS to a regional championship in 2019 with an undefeated mark of 7-0 … named the team’s offensive player of the year in 2019 … earned back-to-back principal awards (2018-19).
Personal
Son of Shane and Beth Cox … has a younger brother, Elijah … works closely with the shine & children’s ministry at the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church … undecided on a major.
Holman on COX
“Ethan is a left-handed attackman with a good shot and slashing dodging abilities.”
FREDDIE DIMARZO
Midfield • 5-11 • 200
Jacksonville, Fla. • Ponte Vedra HS
High School
A four-year letterwinner at Ponte Vedra High School … helped guide PVHS to the FHSAA State Championship as a sophomore … scored 24 goals with 12 assists and nine groundball in his first year on varsity … helped guide the Sharks to back-to-back district championships (2018-19) … a three-time scholar-athlete and member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society.
Personal
Son of William and Mary DiMarzo … has a sister, Charlotte, and two brothers, John and Billy … grandfather Fred Kemp and uncle John Kemp played football at Pittsburg State … volunteers with Blessings in a backpack and the American Red Cross … plans on majoring in business.
Holman on DIMARZO
“Freddie’s understanding of the game and his array of skill sets will allow him to be successful on the offensive end of the game for us.”
JOEY GARCIA
Goalkeeper • 6-1 • 215
Tustin, Calif. • Foothill HS
High School
A four-year letterwinner in goal for Foothill High School … compiled 1,335 minutes between the pipes for the Knights with 262 saves and a 20-8 overall record … heading into his senior season, he’s got 29 groundballs through 45 games … led FHS to a 39-14 record through three season, including a shortened junior season due to COVID-19 … earned OC Register’s Second-Team All-County honors in 2019.
Personal
Son of Eric and Cathy Garcia … has older sister, Ryann, and an older brother, Bobby … sister Ryann did Crew at San Diego while his brother Bobby played football at Saddleback College … plans on majoring in civil engineering.
Holman on GARCIA
“Joey will add depth to our goalie position and someone we think will have a huge upside.”
WILL LEESE
Defense • 6-1 • 185
Duxbury, Mass. • Duxbury HS
High School
A three-year varsity player at Duxbury High School … led the Dragons to back-to-back MIAA State Championship appearances, including a semifinal finish in 2019 … guided DHX to a Patriot League title in 2018 with a 17-4 overall record and 8-0 mark in league play while finishing 16-7 overall and 8-1 record in league play in 2019 … named team captain … also played varsity football his senior season, hauling in a touchdown with three receptions for 66 yards.
Personal
Son of Gordon and Maureen Leese … has an older brother, Parker … brother Parker played lacrosse at DIII Roger Williams University … plans on majoring in business or sports medicine … spends time volunteering at Holy Family Church.
Holman on LEESE
“Will is a tough, physical and hard-nosed defender that’ll fit right in with our team and his future teammates.”
AIDAN O’CONNOR
Midfield • 5-9 • 165
Danville, Calif. • The Governor’s Academy
High School
Played lacrosse at Monte Vista High School for three years before transferring to The Governor’s Academy in Massachusetts … helped guided the Mustangs to three-straight playoff appearances while he was there … selected to the 2020 Under Armour All-American (New England) team as well as the Nike National All-American (New England) team.
Personal
Son of Greg and Michelle O’Connor … has four brothers, Jameson, Griffin, Kiernan and Colin … volunteers with Special Olympics and local youth lacrosse in his free time … plans on majoring in business.
Holman on O’CONNOR
“Aidan is a good all-around lacrosse player who can play both attack and midfield.”
CONOR O’NEILL
Goalkeeper • 6-10 • 165
Sarasota, Fla. • The Salisbury School
High School
Started his prep career at Riverview High School before reclassifying to play at The Salisbury School with future teammate Trey Akabane … is a four-star recruit according to InsideLacrosse.com … guided RHS to an 18-6 record in 2017 and District 17 title with an undefeated 6-0 record … earned back-to-back first-team all-district honors (2016-17) … named to the InsideLacrosse.com All-Star team this past summer at the IL Invitational … selected to the dean’s list two-straight years (2018-20).
Personal
Son of Patrick and Heather O’Neill … has a younger sister, Emily … father played football at Syracuse before being drafted in the fifth round (135th overall pick) by the New England Patriots … mother played field hockey at Syracuse … currently undecided on a major.
Holman on O’NEILL
“Conor shows all the signs to be a good goalkeeper at the next level. He communicates well and is very sound with his positioning.”
COLBY PLOTTS
Defense • 6-3 • 190
Sparta, N.J. • Sparta HS
High School
A three-sport athlete at Sparta High School, lettering in football, basketball and lacrosse … led Spartans to a league title his sophomore year and NJSIAA playoff appearance in lacrosse … guided SHS to back-to-back league titles with undefeated 5-0 seasons his sophomore and junior year in football.
Personal
Son of Timothy and Jennifer Plotts … has an older sister, Bailey, and a younger brother, Ty … grandfather, Greg, played football at Delaware Valley College … father played football at William Paterson University … aunt, Amy, played basketball at Southern Connecticut University and uncle Bryan played football at Ramapo College … undecided on a major.
Holman on PLOTTS
“Colby will join us with a body ready for Division I and very athletic. He’ll be great for us off the ground and in transition.”
TYLER SCHIFKO
Midfield • 6-0 • 190
Catasaqua, Pa. • Allentown Central Catholic HS
High School
A three-sport athlete at Allentown Central Catholic High School, lettering in football, basketball and lacrosse … helped guide ACCHS to a PIAA District XI AA Championship in 2018 … tallied 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points in 2019 … named Brine Lacrosse All-American and Under Armour/Dick’s Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team in 2016 and a Warrior Lacrosse All-American in 2017 … IL Fall Recruiting Invite Session II All-Tournament Team (2017) … Lehigh Valley Live Player of the Week Honorable Mention (2019) … Bishop Scholarship Award honoree (2017) … National Honor Society member.
Personal
Son of Brad and Donna Shifko … has a younger sister, Caitlyn … father played football and club lacrosse at DII Shippensburg University … uncle, Greg, played football at DII Millersville University … volunteers with Northampton Area Food Bank and Central City Project in his free time … undecided on a major.
Holman on SCHIFKO
“Tyler’s size, athleticism, toughness and ability to be a two-way player is what we want in our program, especially at the middie position.”
RYAN STINES
Attack • 5-10 • 175
Cary, N.C. • Panther Creek HS
High School
Four-year letterwinner at Panther Creek High School … recorded 54 goals, 19 assists and 39 ground balls heading into his senior campaign … named all-conference honorable mention as a freshman … voted the team’s offensive player of the year as a junior … a three-time academic all-conference honoree and honor roll recipient.
Personal
Son of Reid and Susan Stines … has an older sister, Carly … grandfather, Robert, played football and ran track at DePauw … started his own non-profit, Endless Sports, Inc., eight-plus years ago with a mission to overcome obstacles so that all athletes regardless of disability or disadvantage can participate in sports and have raised over $10,000 of support … undecided on a major.
Holman on STINES
“Ryan possesses a very high IQ for the game and has the potential to be the QB of our offense moving forward.”
###
Larken Kemp: The Innovator – LaxWeekly
Photo Credit: Zach Babo
One of the biggest trends in the lacrosse world is the increased offensive role of long-stick midfielders. For many years, the LSM position was seen as relatively standard. LSMs would play on defensive possessions, clear the ball, and run off the field when the ball was on offense. Enter Larken Kemp, the 3 time All-American LSM who is considered a pioneer of the offensive LSM movement. LaxWeekly was fortunate enough to talk with Kemp about his career and the future of lacrosse.
Great Lacrosse Shaft: Maverik Range Defensive Shaft
The Greenwich, CT native originally wanted to be a college hockey player, and that desire led Kemp to attend Philips Andover– a prestigious secondary school in Massachusetts that is known for its academics and athletics. While pursuing hockey, Kemp realized that he had a deeply rooted passion for lacrosse. “My first love will always be hockey. I am fortunate that I had extremely supportive parents who pushed me to try any and everything and ultimately that allowed me to find my niche.”
Having grown up a short stick, Kemp quickly excelled once he switched positions to LSM his sophomore spring. His coach at Andover gave him the freedom to play man up, man down, run wings and stay on during some 6 on 6 sets. Despite Kemp’s versatility and talent on the field, he was not heavily recruited. After visiting a few schools, he committed to Lars Tiffany at Brown. Tiffany was able to identify Kemp’s talent and picked him up late in the recruiting process after only seeing Kemp play once in person. When more notable schools began to offer him, Kemp went with his gut and stuck with Brown. “I fear deeply that teenagers today in the face of mounting pressure and exogenous variables largely driven by social media usage often make recruiting decisions in an effort to appease. My biggest advice is to block out the noise; and make a decision that is in the best interest of your happiness.”
Despite Kemp’s play style, he had to earn the freedom to play both ways at Brown. “If teams were going to watch tape from my freshman year they would see something completely different from my junior year. I had to gain the confidence of the coaching staff and most of all my teammates.” Once he settled in as a do it all two way midfielder, Kemp began to create highlight plays week after week; creating turnovers and sparking transition. Kemp had catalyzed his team into a fast-paced lacrosse monster that nobody wanted to face.
Lacrosse Head for Defense: STX Hammer
During the playoffs in 2016, Kemp shined on lacrosse’s biggest stage by playing lights out against Johns Hopkins and Navy before facing Maryland in the Final Four. “I gave myself like 4-5 seconds just to look around and say ok this is pretty cool and then we put the blinders on and went to work.” Brown ended up losing to Maryland in a high-powered game by one goal. Despite the loss, Kemp and his dynamic team had made a statement of how a non-conventional team with true two-way LSMs could be a legitimate threat to win it all.
Kemp continued to dominate as a team captain during his senior year under the leadership of Mike Daly who had transitioned over from Tufts. Despite the change, his team rallied to a 10-6 record with Kemp tallying 8 goals and 9 assists and came within one goal of a NCAA Tournament berth. Larken leaves Providence having left a substantial mark on both the program and lacrosse landscape. The school record holder in Goals, Assists, Points, GB’s, and Caused Turnovers for a defenseman; perhaps more impressive is his 3.88 GPA, responsibility as an undergraduate Teaching Assistant, and CoSIDA Academic All-American recognition. This strong finish to a great career at Brown was capped off by Kemp being drafted to the Denver Outlaws in the 2nd round of the MLL draft. “Getting to play with and against my idols has been a dream come true. Playing professionally is a privilege and I am extremely motivated to put in the work necessary to hopefully add value to the Outlaws this spring and beyond.”
Recently Larken was added to an elite list in the history of United States lacrosse as the first American born player selected in the NLL Draft upon hearing the New England Black Wolves call his name. He is extremely excited about the challenge of learning the indoor game and the potential that the league has. “It is a grind it out blue collar type of league. I look at it as an extremely exciting opportunity to challenge myself defensively against some of the toughest, hardest working athletes on earth. To me, I feel an obligation to play. My hometown organization took a chance on me, and I intend to repay them. But it all starts with hard work.”
Larken Kemp is a lacrosse innovator and a pioneer for the growth of the sport. His electric play-style has left a permanent mark on the lacrosse community and has changed the game for all future LSMs. I guess we should not be surprised then that he still has the time to work as a Corporate Strategist at the Walt Disney Company. “My biggest frustration with lacrosse is that we have allowed it to stagnate. The product is fast, exciting, and (as a consumer) cheap. There is no excuse for the current lack of progress highlighted by figures such as attendance. As a community we need to come together and align goals. MLL, NLL, International Orgs, the NCAA, etc. How can we optimize the schedule and distribution system to create the best possible chance for real and substantial growth.”
We are excited to watch him continue to push the boundaries in the MLL, NLL, and beyond.
John Yozzo-Scaperrotta – Men’s Lacrosse
For three years John has been in the thick of everything we do, serving as a boisterous, entertaining competitor who could make the most athletic of plays. But his playing time on game day was limited due to a lack of experience relative to the other men in the program. This appears to be changing in 2016. John has taken a leadership role amongst his teammates, not only with his voice and charisma, but with his play as well. He has advanced his game to be able to utilize the skills he has acquired in college and combine them with the speed and physical tools that have always defined him. John will focus as a short-stick defensive midfielder this spring…2015: Saw action in 10 games for heh Bears…Netted a goal vs. Manhattan…Picked-up four ground balls, including two vs. Hartford….2014: Competed in five games for the Bears and registered a goal vs. Cornell….Picked-up four ground balls for the season…2013: Saw action in three games for the Bears…Secondary School Background: A graduate of Dobbs Ferry High School where he lettered in lacrosse (2), football (4), basketball (3) and baseball (1)…Lacrosse – 2-time Varsity Captain, 2011: All-League, All-Section Honorable Mention, League Champions…2012: All-League….Basketball – Captain…2011- League Champions, All League, All Tournament…2012- League Champions…Football- 3-year Starter, Senior Captain…2010- All League, Rivertowns first team…2011- Class C NY State Champions, Easter Regional Champions, Class C State Regional Champions, Class C Section Champions, League Champions, All State 1st Team, All-Section, All-League, Class C Running Back of the Year, MVP Section 1 Finals, Rivertowns First Team, Con Ed Award Winner, Member of the Golden Dozen…Academic Honors and Awards – National Honor Society Member…Peer Leader, Italian Honor Society Member…High Honor Roll (2008-2011)… IB and AP Student… U.S Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award…President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence…Personal: The son of Chris and Brenda Scaperrotta…Has a brother, Chris, and a sister, Brittany…Enjoys bowling, paintballing and snowboarding…Undecided on his concentration.
Navy Defenseman Michael Hirsch Named Lacrosse All-American
Story Links
May 26, 2011
BALTIMORE, Md. — Navy defenseman and two-time First-Team All-Patriot League selection Michael Hirsch (Schwenksville, Pa.) was among the 92 student-athletes named to the 2011 USILA All-America teams announced Thursday morning. Receiving his first All-America citation, Hirsch is the 272nd different player to garner the more than 425 All-America certificates in Navy lacrosse history. Navy has had at least one player recognized on the All-America team since the award was first handed out in 1922 (90 years). Meanwhile, it’s the eighth time in the last nine years (2010) that a Navy defenseman has been named an All-American.
Not only was Hirsch the most veteran member of Navy’s defensive unit this spring, the three-year starter was also assigned to the opponent’s most prolific player throughout the 2011 campaign. Hirsch made 45 appearances during his career, earning starting nods in each of the last 28 contests. After leading the Mids in caused turnovers a year ago with 17, he once again recorded 17 takeaways to pace the Mids in 2011 which included a career-high six against Colgate. Nationally, Hirsch stands 49th with 1.31 caused turnovers per contest. He was also one of the leaders in ground balls, picking up 21 over the course of the season.
The Mids’ defensive unit surrendered 9.62 goals per game in 2011 and ranked 37th nationally. Hirsch was also a member of the Mids’ man-down defense which squelched 27 of the opponents’ 40 extra-man opportunities for a 67.5 percentage and a No. 35 ranking.
2011 USILA All-Americans
First Team
Attack – Jeremy Boltus (Army), Rob Pannell (Cornell), Steele Stanwick (Virginia)
Midfield – Kevin Crowley (Stony Brook), David Earl (Notre Dame), Roy Lang (Cornell), John Ranagan (Johns Hopkins)
Long Pole Midfielder – Brian Karalunas (Villanova), Joel White (Syracuse)
Faceoff – Matt Dolente (Johns Hopkins)
Defense – Max Feely (Cornell), John Lade (Syracuse), Kevin Ridgway (Notre Dame)
Goalkeeper – John Galloway (Syracuse)
Second Team
Attack – Billy Bitter (North Carolina), Stephen Keogh (Syracuse), Mark Matthews (Denver)
Midfield – Zach Brenneman (Notre Dame), Colin Briggs (Virginia), Jovan Miller (Syracuse, Justin Turri (Duke)
Long Pole Midfielder – Brian Farrell (Maryland)
Faceoff – Tim Fallon (Hartford)
Defense – Tucker Durkin (Johns Hopkins), Ryan Flanagan (North Carolina), Brett Schmidt (Maryland)
Goalkeeper – Pierce Bassett (Johns Hopkins)
Third Team
Attack – Nicky Galasso (North Carolina), Zach Howell (Duke), Jordan McBride (Stony Brook), Ryan Young (Maryland)
Midfield – Joe Cummings (Maryland), Chris LaPierre (Virginia), Tom Schreiber (Princeton), Jeremy Thompson (Syracuse)
Long Pole Midfielder – CJ Costabile (Duke)
Faceoff – RG Kenan (North Carolina)
Defense – Bill Henderson (Army), Tom Montelli (Duke), Chad Wiedmaier (Princeton)
Goalkeeper – Tyler Fiorito (Princeton)
Honorable Mention
Attack – Peter Baum (Colgate), Carter Bender (Hartford), Chris Bocklet (Virginia), Chris Boland (Johns Hopkins), Jay Card (Hofstra), Grant Catalino (Maryland), Dean Gibbons (Harvard), Matthew Gibson (Yale), JoJo Marasco (Syracuse), Trevor Moore (Robert Morris), Bryan Neufeld (Siena), Scott Perri (Drexel), Mike Sawyer (Loyola), Garrett Thul (Army), Kyle Wharton (Johns Hopkins), Jordan Wolf (Duke)
Midfield – Josh Amidon (Syracuse), Anthony Biscardi (Massachusetts), Chase Carraro (Denver), Jimmy Dunster (North Carolina), Cam Flint (Denver), John Haus (Maryland), Marcus Holman (North Carolina), Robert Rotanz (Duke), Charlie Streep (Bucknell)
Long Pole Midfielder – Tim Henderson (Army), Andrew Irving (Notre Dame)
Faceoff – John Antoniades (Hofstra), Curtis Holmes (Maryland), Christopher Mattes (Rutgers), Adam Rand (Stony Brook)
Defense – Sam Barnes (Notre Dame), Pat Dowling (Delaware), Barney Ehrmann (Georgetown), Peter Fallon (Brown), Michael Hirsch (Navy), Brett Hughes (Penn), Matthew Kawamoto (Ohio State), Alex Lyons (Bucknell), Jason Noble (Cornell), Mason Poli (Bryant), Max Schmidt (Maryland), Duncan Seale (Siena), Mike Skudin (Hofstra)
Goalkeeper – Jamie Faus (Denver), Adam Ghitelman (Virginia), Andrew Gvozden (Hofstra), Austin Kayt (Penn State), John Kemp (Notre Dame), Mark Manos (Drexel), Tom Palesky (Army)
### Go Navy ###
Brian Kemp – Baseball – St. John’s University Athletics
As a Sophomore (2008)
A preseason All-BIG EAST selection … played in and started 36 games … batted a team-high .360 with 20 RBI, three doubles, five triples and one home run … stole a team-best 16 bases in 21 attempts … had 15 multi-hit games … strung together a 15-game hitting streak … went 2-for-4 at then-No. 5 Rice in the NCAA Tournament (May 31) … had a double and an RBI at Pittsburgh (April 19) … combined to go 5-for-10 with four RBI, three runs scored, three stolen bases and a double in a three-game set at Louisville (April 4-6) … went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a triple and two runs scored against Seton Hall (March 29) … had three hits and two runs scored at Rutgers (March 20) … had three stolen bases in a 3-for-4 day at Fairfield (March 18) … combined to go 5-for-9 with three runs scored and two RBI in a double-header against Fairfield (March 15) … picked up two hits, two runs scored and an RBI against LIU (March 12) … homered and had a career-high four RBI in a 2-for-3 day at Cal St. Northridge (March 9) … tripled and had two RBI against Kent State (Feb. 28) … went 2-for-4 and had two stolen bases at Winthrop (Feb. 26) … went 3-for-5 with a run scored at Winthrop (Feb. 24).
As a Freshman (2007)
Started 56 games and batted .348 … tallied team-bests with 53 runs and 25 stolen bases … earned freshman All-America honors from Louisville Slugger … named to the All-BIG EAST third team … went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases against Connecticut (May 24) … collected three hits and drove in five runs at USF (May 17) … scored three runs and went 3-for-5 at NYIT … drove in a run during a 3-for-5 day against Cincinnati (May 12) … went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored against Cincinnati (May 11) … was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored against Louisville (May 6) … went 2-for-3 with an RBI against NYIT (May 1) … combined to go 8-for-14 with five RBI in a three-game series with West Virginia (April 27-29) … drove in two runs and went 4-for-6 at Georgetown (Apr. 20) … drove in three runs and scored three runs during a 2-for-4 day at LIU (Apr. 17) … went 3-for-11 with two RBI during a double-header against Pittsburgh (Apr. 14) … scored three runs, stole three bases and went 3-for-4 in a double-header against Fairleigh Dickinson (Apr. 11) … was 2-for-4 with two RBI against Villanova (Apr. 7) … combined to go 3-for-9 with three runs scored in a double-header against Villanova (Apr. 5) … went 3-for-4 with two RBI against Rutgers (March 31) … went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored against Temple (March 21) … stole two bases and scored two runs during a 1-for-4 day against then-No. 8 Rice (March 6) … was 3-for-6 with three runs scored at Lamar (March 4) … went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored against Washington (Feb. 24) … went 3-for-4 against Duke (Feb. 24) … scored a run and went 3-for-5 against Texas Tech (Feb. 17) … was 1-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in collegiate debut against Dallas Baptist (Feb. 17) … tabbed by Baseball America as a top-10 prospect in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) … was named the Most Valuable Player of the NECBL … led the NECBL in batting average (.398), runs scored (38), hits (72), total bases (87) and stolen bases (32) … also named to the NECBL first team as a member of the Sanford Mariners.
At Chaminade
Earned two varsity letters in baseball and one in soccer … was an All-Nassau-Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association (NSCHSAA), All-Long Island and All-Star game Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2006 … named one of Metro New York[apos]s Top 10 Position Players by High School Sports Magazine … hit over .350 and led the NSCHSAA in stolen bases in both his junior and senior seasons … helped the Long Island Titans and Bayside Yankees summer league teams to national championships in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Brian Michael Kemp Jr. … born in Rockville Centre, N.Y. … son of Brian and Jane Kemp … has two older brothers, Terence and Patrick … was an Honor Roll student and a member of National Honor Society while at Chaminade … lists his parents as the people he admires most and Derek Jeter as his favorite athlete … majoring in management.
Brian Fisher – Men’s Lacrosse Coach
• One Conference Championship (2017)
• One NCAA Tournament Appearances (2017)
• One Regular Season MAAC Championship (2017)
• Four MAAC Tournament Appearances (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• 32 All-Conference Selections
• Three MAAC Major Award Winners
• Two Conference Coach of the Year Awards (MAAC-2017; ECAC-2017)
• One Major League Lacrosse Draft Pick
Seven Seasons at Monmouth
Career Record: 40-52
Career Record at Monmouth: Same
Career Conference Record at Monmouth: 19-18
Updated June 1, 2020
The first and only head coach in Monmouth University’s men’s lacrosse history, Brian Fisher will lead the Blue & White for a eighth season when the Hawks take the field in 2021.
Monmouth’s shortened 2020 campaign saw 17 student-athletes named to the 2020 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team, the second most in program history.
Fisher coached four All-MAAC honorees in 2019, including First Team selections Rudy Beck and Chris Hervada. As a team in 2019, Monmouth led the MAAC and ranked fourth in the NCAA in goals against average (9.19).
In 2018, Fisher led Monmouth to the MAAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and orchestrated the program’s first international trip, where the team traveled to Berlin, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic for a week in June.
The program had four players earn All-MAAC First Team honors (Bryce Wasserman, Dylan Schulte, Garrett Pfeifer and Noah Lode). Wasserman closed his standout career with program records in goals (99), assists (50) and points (149) and also became the first Monmouth player to be chosen in the annual Major League Lacrosse Draft when he was selected by the Denver Outlaws in the seventh round. Wasserman again made history when he became the first Hawk to play in an MLL game, when he suited up for the Ohio Machine on July 21, 2018.
In 2017, behind a senior-heavy lineup, Fisher directed Monmouth to the pinnacle of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference as the program secured its first conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
The Hawks achieved a number of program firsts in 2017, including defeating a ranked opponent with a road win at RV/16 Villanova to open the season. Monmouth went undefeated at home (6-0) and was perfect in MAAC play (6-0) en route to capturing the MAAC Regular Season Championship. In addition, the Hawks received votes in both national polls and rose to No. 19 in the Maverik Men’s Lacrosse Division I Media Poll after winning the MAAC Tournament title.
Fisher was voted as the MAAC Coach of the Year, while senior goalkeeper Nick Hreshko was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year in addition to his First Team All-MAAC selection. Hreshko was one of five first-team picks, marking the first time in team history the Hawks have had five first-team selections, along with classmates Tyler Keen and Andrew Grajewski and juniors Garrett Pfeifer and Bryce Wasserman.
In addition to the five First Team All-MAAC honorees, Justin Schwenk was chosen as the MAAC Rookie of the Year and was a Second Team All-MAAC honoree with junior midfielder Dylan Schulte and senior long stick midfielder Neil Ruppert. Monmouth also had 17 players named to the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team.
The Hawks were among the nation’s elite in a number of statistical categories, including second in scoring defense (7.39 goals allowed per game), third in clearing percentage at 90.6 percent and fifth in winning percentage (.778). Monmouth entered the NCAA Tournament with the nation’s longest winning streak with 11 consecutive wins from March 18 – May 7.
Prior to its breakout 2017 campaign, Monmouth reached the MAAC semifinals for the second consecutive season and captured seven victories in the 2016 campaign, including a perfect 6-0 record on the road. Monmouth won its first overtime game in program history, a 14-13 triumph at Siena, a victory which sent the team to the postseason on the final day of the regular season.
Individually, five Hawks earned All-MAAC accolades in 2016, highlighted by First-Team selection Andrew Grajewski. Cooper Glass secured All-MAAC second team accolades, while Eamon Campbell, Griffin Figel and Gordon Phillips were All-Rookie picks.In the classroom, Monmouth excelled as well, placing 18 student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team.
In the program’s second season, Fisher guided the Hawks to six wins, a league postseason berth and a nationally-ranked defense, while four members of the squad earned all-conference recognition. Paced by senior goalkeeper Garrett Conaway, who was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC, Monmouth finished fourth in the NCAA in scoring defense (7.64 goals/game), ranked eighth in man-down defense (.717) and 18th in saves per game (11.86). In addition, Conaway, who earned a spot on the USILA/LaxWorld 2015 All-Star Team, was the nation’s leader in save percentage (.614) and ranked third in goals-against-average (7.49).
The 2015 campaign included the program’s first-ever victory as the Hawks defeated Rutgers University of the Big Ten 10-9 on the road on February 28, while Monmouth went 3-3 in league play. Monmouth, which played in five game decided by one goal, competed in eight contests during the year that were decided by three goals or less.
In his first season with the Hawks, then freshmen Chris Daly and Dan Bloodgood earned MAAC All-Rookie Team selections.
Joining Conaway with postseason honors, were senior defenseman Ryan Horsch, who was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and freshmen Bryce Wasserman and Dylan Schulte, who secured All-Rookie Team status.
On July 10, 2012, Fisher was officially introduced as the first head men’s lacrosse coach at Monmouth. Fisher, who came to West Long Branch with 11 seasons of assistant coaching experience on his resume, including the previous six at Notre Dame, also served as an assistant coach for five years at his alma mater, Rutgers. Fisher guided the Hawks into their first season of Division I lacrosse in 2014.
In six seasons with the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame and Fisher compiled a 74-21 record (.779) and earned an NCAA Championship berth all six seasons. Notre Dame, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2012 before falling to eventual national champion Loyola, advanced to the title game of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history in 2010. The Irish also reached the quarterfinal round in 2008 and 2011. Notre Dame received one of the eight national seeds and a first-round home game during the `08, ’09, `11 and ’12 tournaments.
Fisher also helped guide the Irish to three Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) regular-season titles and two GWLL tournament championships before the Fighting Irish moved to the BIG EAST in 2010, winning the 2012 BIG EAST regular season crown. Notre Dame head coach Kevin Corrigan along with Fisher and fellow assistant coach Gerry Byrne received the GWLL coaching staff of the year award in 2007 and 2009.
Notre Dame produced 29 All-America and 39 all-conference selections along with 17 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) draft picks over five seasons with Fisher on the coaching staff.
Fisher stated at the time of his hiring, “While there is much work to be done in starting a program from the ground up, I am excited about the vision that Jeff Stapleton and Marilyn have laid out for the lacrosse program and am very encouraged by the support shown from the University. Monmouth provides everything a student-athlete would ever want from their college experience; Division I athletics, an intimate and friendly campus, strong academics and of course the beach. I cannot wait to get started and introduce Monmouth University to the lacrosse community and potential recruits.”
Among other duties, Fisher worked with the Fighting Irish faceoff unit, which has been one of the best in the country over the six campaigns. Notre Dame ranked ninth in the nation in faceoff winning percentage in `09 with a .556 mark. Notre Dame ranked second nationally in 2008 with a .628 winning percentage, and was 15th in the nation in that category during Fisher’s first season with the Irish. The Fighting Irish were 17th nationally in faceoff percentage in `10 and `11.
Also in 2012, Notre Dame ranked first in the nation in scoring defense and man-down defense, while John Kemp led the nation in goals against average (6.27) and save percentage (.637).
Fisher was a standout midfielder and faceoff man for the Scarlet Knights for four seasons (1998-2001). As a coach at Rutgers, he worked extensively with the Scarlet Knight midfielders, was the assistant director of MVP Lacrosse Camps, was recognized as a member of the 2003 ECAC Staff of the Year and made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004.
Fisher, a top faceoff man in the nation throughout his Rutgers career, was awarded the Rutgers Lacrosse Knight Cup in `01, which goes to the player “who has played the game of lacrosse to the best of his ability, who has, by example, inspired or led his teammates both on and off the field and, who, above all, has consistently demonstrated the qualities of un- selfishness and loyalty to his team and Rutgers University.” That same season he was named the Rutgers Lacrosse Time Scholar-Athlete.
The Morton, Pa. native also was awarded the 2000 Frederick Fitch Trophy while at Rutgers, an honor presented to the varsity letterwinner who, through personal effort to develop his lacrosse ability, has shown the greatest improvement during the season.
Fisher married the former Lauren Vader from South Orange, N.J. on December 19, 2008, in the Caribbean and the couple has two daughters.
Upon his hire, Fisher added, “I want to thank Marilyn McNeil [Monmouth Athletic Director] and Paul Gaffney [former Monmouth University President] for the opportunity to start the men’s lacrosse program and become a member of the Monmouth family. It is both an honor and privilege to lead the first men’s lacrosse team at Monmouth and I am thrilled that they have the confidence in me to bring lacrosse to their university. From the moment I arrived at Monmouth I was very impressed with the intimate feel of the campus and support from the athletic department. My family and I are looking forward to getting back to New Jersey and being a part of the Monmouth community.”
Dr. McNeil stated, “Monmouth was very fortunate to have a superior pool of applicants to lead its inaugural men’s lacrosse program. Brian Fisher emerged as the number one choice and gave us all the confidence that he can both start and lead our program. Like the beginnings of our football program, we wanted a head coach that had the work ethic, the knowledge, the contacts, and the right personality to lay the foundation for future success. I believe Brian is undoubtedly the best fit. Throughout the search, we became more excited about the possibilities of men’s lacrosse at Monmouth, and we are thrilled to have secured the quality of Coach Brian Fisher to lead us forward.”
90,000 CONSIDERATIONS: SURFING IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SPORTS: ENDLESS SUMMER
REASONS: SURFING IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SPORTS
Surfing is ranked 23rd among the most challenging sports according to a study by ESPN, the largest US cable and satellite sports channel. Even lacrosse and field hockey beat him. Sports were assessed according to 10 criteria, such as strength, speed, power, duration of performance, endurance of an athlete, coordination, flexibility, agility, analytical component and psychological stress.
It’s not that we do not trust the 8 competent specialists who made such a verdict, but the question arises, did they forget about the Mavericks and the huge pipes of the Pipeline, when they put water polo far ahead in the ranking !? One way or another, today we are waiting for a serious discussion about surfing, its complexity (undeniable, so you know!). Such serious guys as Shaun White and John John Florence will tell about skate, snowboarding, waves and much more.
John John Florence: “Surfing is the hardest sport in the world.It is so difficult for him to learn. In any other sport, you can learn the basics relatively quickly, while surfing is time-consuming even initially. Catching waves is difficult because they are completely different every time. You will never find two waves that are the same. ”
Sean White: “Yes, I would rate surfing as the hardest activity for me. My rating is as follows (from difficult to simpler): surfing, skating, and then snowboarding. Snowboarding isn’t really tricky.Skateboarding is very difficult technically, the board is much smaller and is not attached in any way, that is, you have the task of controlling the skateboard with your feet, synchronizing your movements. Then surfing brings all of these things together: the environment moves around you, you move, and the board has no bindings. ”
What makes surfing so hard?
Sean White: “Half of the success here is learning to read the ocean. Understanding where and in what direction the wave breaks, what it will be, what is the period between sets.
In surfing, it is important to study each specific spot. It is very difficult, and if you are a person with no experience, then most likely you are thinking: “Why don’t I just row on the waves and roll?” But this is not a pipe or vertical ramp, which can be the same anywhere.
I’m almost sure that if two ideal identical waves come in a row to me in the same place, then I will make an excellent air, but, unfortunately, this does not happen. You see how the guys perform tricks, for example, Slater jumps his trademark 540, and it seems to you that this is a great wave, at the right time the limestone formed an excellent section, that everything is as simple as two or two.How many more of the same waves came after to make this jump again?
This is a fun sport. It’s all about being in control. ”
There are many surfers who are excellent skaters: Noah Dean, Julian Wilson, Kalani David. What does skate give to surfing?
John John Florence: “ Skateboarding gives you the chance to try something over and over again that you don’t get in surfing.”
Shaun White: “ This is a way to practice tricks without having to worry about the waves.”
About aggression in surfing
John John Florence: “Skaters are much more willing to teach each other tricks, help in the park, while surfing is a much more competitive sport. Everyone wants to be the best, to do the most difficult trick, to take the biggest pipe. Skate culture is much more relaxed. ”
Sean White: “I understand why there is aggression between riders in surfing. Limited ocean resource. A good wave can come, for example, only once every 20 minutes.And every surfer thinks the same thing: “This wave is coming right at me!” Everyone is rowing! There is no such thing in skateboarding and snowboarding. ”
Are there things in surfing that you think we’re doing wrong?
Shaun White: “ Some of the surfing tricks are a little weird. For example, the trick when the surfer grabs both rails in the air (double-grab), we jokingly call “truck driver”! ”
I wish you success in any sport and good holidays!
Heading moderators: Aleks_MacLeod Heading authors: Aleks_MacLeod, Claviceps P., Croaker, Kiplas, suhan_ilich, Verveine, Vladimir Puziy, WiNchiK, zarya, angels_tinese99, iro99, Kipulak, Petralinos febeerovez, FixedGrin, Snow, GrandDuchess, Saneshka, Pickman, Calendula, NataBold, sham, volga, Ghost of smile, DeMorte
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Flights Atak-La-Cross, plane prices / Tickets.md
Cheap flights from Ataq to La Crosse
Want to buy the cheapest flight from Ataq to La Crosse? We compare prices for direct Atac – La Crosse and connecting flights among 750 airlines and agencies.Why waste your time searching if there is a more convenient opportunity to take advantage of discounts, promotions and low-cost sales via the Internet. Using the complete Ataq – La Crosse flight schedule, you will quickly find the desired flight option, specify the days of flights and the availability of tickets for a specific date.
For online shopping or booking, you need to decide on only a few points: type of flight, number of passengers, class and date of departure and arrival. Then go to pay for the ticket, and the job will be done.You will receive an email with order information.
Air ticket price Atac – La Crosse
How much is a plane ticket to La Crosse from Ataq and how to get it cheaper? We have several recommendations taken from the calendar of the best prices for air tickets on this route:
1) Pricing depends on the month of departure, we advise you to book first and business class in advance. You shouldn’t delay buying an economy class ticket either – do it in 2-4 months.
2) The cheapest flights AXK – LSE are available on Wednesday and Thursday.They tend to be more expensive on weekends.
3) It is more profitable to buy tickets in both directions at once than there and back separately.
Useful information before booking your trip from Ataq to La Crosse
On our service you can find out:
- Distance and duration of the flight (how long is the flight from Ataq to La Crosse?)
- Airlines operating direct flights to La Crosse from Ataq
- Airlines providing the cheapest tickets from Ataq to La Crosse
- How long does a flight from Ataq to La Crosse
- Airports of departure to La Crosse from Atak
How far is the Attack from La Crosse?
From the city of Ataque to La Crosse 12251 km.
What airports are there for the Atac – La Crosse route?
In the city of Attack: Attack. In La Crosse – La Crosse Munisipal.
90,000 “That was amazing!” How the Russian goalkeeper Khudobin managed to score a goal at the junior world championship – May 1, 2021
This year, special attention is riveted in Russia to the junior world ice hockey championship, which takes place in the USA. Our team brought a very strong line-up to Texas, in which the attack stands out, and managed to surprise us a couple of times already in the group stage.For example, in the opening match against the hosts, Albert Leshchev’s team bounced back from the score 1: 5 and put the squeeze on the opponent in overtime – 7: 6.
And the game against the Germans into his solo concert was turned by the SKA prodigy Matvey Michkov. Poker, lacrosse, goal underfoot – just fantastic!
While the Russian national team continues to prepare for the final meeting of the group stage against the Czech Republic, Sport24 recalls a bright event with the YUCHM-2004 – there one of the players of the Russian national team threw an incredible puck, which everyone forgot about over the years.
In general, we must admit: a goal by a goalkeeper in any sport for any sport is something out of the ordinary. How you can forget about such an event if it happens at the level of the primacy of the planet is a mystery. But this is exactly what happened to the feat of the current Dallas Stars goalkeeper Anton Khudobin. Probably, we would not have talked about his puck at the junior world championship even now, if a year ago he had not remembered about it in an interview on Nikolai Khabibulin’s YouTube channel:
“In 2004, at the world championship in Minsk, I scored a goal.Nobody believes, but I scored then. It was in the match with the Finns, in that match they had Rusk, he always tells me on purpose that he does not remember this goal. ”
Yes, and other Russian goalkeepers scored at the highest level. The first thing that comes to mind is Evgeny Nabokov’s goal, scored by him in 2002 in the NHL regular season match Vancouver – San Jose. This puck can be called legendary.
But Khudobin did not receive any special honors. Therefore, it is important to remind once again what happened in the group stage game of the YChM Russia – Finland.One and a half minutes before the end of the game with the score 3: 2 in favor of Valery Bragin’s team, Finnish coach Harry Ahola decided to replace Tuukka Raska with the sixth field player. Coach Suomi regretted it quickly: the puck was at Khudobin, and he hit the empty goal with a throw across the entire area. The Finns did not return Rask to the frame and soon missed it again, now from Alexander Radulov.
A word to the protagonist of that meeting, whose feat was undeservedly forgotten:
“When the puck was on my stick, the thought immediately arose: I’ll try to hit it myself.You know, since childhood, I dreamed of scoring a goal; in training, I regularly practiced a throw across the entire site. Well, I took a chance. I never thought it would happen so soon and in such a serious match. At the World Championship!
Valery Nikolaevich [Bragin] gave me this puck. The organizers of the championship also said kind words. You have no idea how nice it was. In general, all the guys congratulated each other, because we won.
I’ll come home to Magnitogorsk and put the puck on the shelf where I keep all the awards.Diplomas, certificates, medals and cups. Dad came with me to the World Championship (the tournament was held in Minsk), and my mother stayed at home. After the game, I dropped an SMS to her: they say, we won, and one goal was on my account. Mom, naturally, did not understand anything. In the morning I called back and immediately asked if I was joking. I was very happy, because she knew about my dream. ”
Sergey Fedoseev, photo.khl.ru
The Russian team won gold in Belarus, Khudobin got into the symbolic team of the tournament, but his goal was somehow quickly forgotten.Although the direct participants to some extent of the historical event, of course, remember this puck. For example, 2 years ago, when Alexander Polunin scored from the center of the site in the MFM quarterfinals, Valery Bragin mentioned Khudobin’s puck. But this amazing moment definitely deserves much more attention.
“- Is Polunin’s goal the most amazing one you’ve seen in the national team?
– No, somehow Khudobin hit someone else’s gate, even if it was empty. That was amazing! ”
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Baseball Vanderbilt Commodores
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Vanderbilt Commodores Baseball | |
---|---|
2021 Vanderbilt Commodores Baseball Team | |
Founded | 1886; 134 years ago (1886) |
University | Vanderbilt University |
Sports Director | Candice Storey Lee |
Head Coach | Tim Corbin (Season 19) |
Conference | South Conference East Division |
Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
Home Stadium | Hawkins Course (Capacity: 3700) |
Nick | Commodores | Black 9092 | Colors [1] |
NCAA Tournament Champions | |
2014, 2019 | |
World College Series Finalist | |
2015 | |
Series | |
Series | 2011, 2014, 201 5, 2019 |
NCAA Regional Champions | |
2004, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
NCAA Appearances | |
1973, 1974 , 1980, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
Champions of conference tournaments | |
1980, 2007, 2019 | |
Conference Champions | |
1910, 1912, 1973, 1974, 1980, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2019 |
B Baseball Vanderbilt Commodores Team American National Student Sports Association (NCA) Sports Association college baseball team, and the ruling Division I national champion.From Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, the team participates in the SEC Eastern Division and plays their home games on campus in Hawkins Field. Kommodorov is coached by Tim Corbin, three-time National Trainer of the Year and three-time SEC Trainer of the Year. [2] During Corbin’s tenure as head coach, Vanderbilt became one of the leading college baseball programs in the United States, in charge of 12 first-round picks for the MLB draft. [3]
History
Vanderbilt first played on the baseball team in 1886. [ citation needed ] Herbert Charles Sanborn From 1921 to 1942 he headed the Department of Philosophy and Psychology and was also President of the German American Society in Nashville. [4] Baseball became a scholarship sport in 1968. [ citation needed ]
The Commodores provided only three NCAA appearances in the 20th century — 1973, 1974, and 1980.They only had three other winning seasons in the SEC game in the first 35 years of the scholarship era. However, since 2004, they have been in all but one NCAA event. [5] The team qualified for the NCAA Super-Regional Competition in 2004 and had the best recruiting class in the country in 2005. Baseball America , [6] re-entered the NCAA field in 2006 and won the 2007 SEC regular season crowns and SEC tournaments. The Commodores ranked first in most polls for most of the 2007 season and came in first in the national rankings.2007 NCAA Tournament. Vanderbilt’s victory over the University of Virginia in the 2014 NCAA tournament finals marks the program’s first national title and second appearance in the World College Series, first appearing in 2011. In 2019, when Vanderbilt competed in the fourth World Series of soccer championships, they beat Michigan by 2 : 1 in the final, winning his second national title.
Stadium
The original venue for the Commodores Ballroom was Dudley Field. [7] The Commodores are currently playing their home games at Hawkins Field, which is located on the 3,700-seat campus.Temporary field stands were installed for the 2007 regional competitions and the entire 2008 season, resulting in a capacity of 3,535 people. In May 2008, Vanderbilt announced ambitious plans to modernize its sports facilities, including the addition of permanent first baseline seats and additional seats in both left center and right field. These additions increased the size of Hawkins Field to its current capacity of 3,700. It adjoins both Vanderbilt Stadium and Memorial Gymnasium and is across the street from McGugin Center.Hawkins Field opened in 2002 and is named after a donor who provided $ 2 million to fund the construction. The stadium was also the site of the first NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament ever hosted by Vanderbilt when it was the site of the 2007 Nashville Regional Baseball Tournament. Vanderbilt and Hawkins Field once again hosted regional events in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, and hosted Superregional events in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019.
Head Coaches
- Records until the end of the 2011 season
- Entries taken from the 2011 Vanderbilt Baseball Guide. [8]