The Vail Lacrosse Shootout moves to pool play in 2008 as we attempt to be an equal-opportunity tournament. Now, all teams will have their chance to prove their worth of playing at Ford Field for a shot at the championship. Look for exciting match-ups in each of the pools as there will be non-stop action on Day 1 of the Elite tourney. The top two teams from each will advance to the quarterfinals on Day 2 while the rest of the field will move to the consolation bracket. Let’s meet the 18 teams that will make up the 2008 Men’s Elite Division.
POOL A
Reebok
Coaches/Organizers: Jon Barocas, Ron Zwerin, Greer Hanlon
Key Players: Adam Doneger (Hopkins), Jason Doneger (Princeton), Pat Perrit (Syracuse), Doc Schneider (UMass), Evan Brady (Syracuse), John Galloway (Syracuse)
Team Statement: Reebok – formerly Team Go Fast – is locked and loaded with another talented group of has-beens and current college laxers to defend last year’s championship. Goalies Doc Schneider and John Galloway (Syracuse, ’11) will be anchoring the defense led by Evan Brady (Syracuse, ’08), Ryan Smith (Hofstra, ’09) and Diogo Godoi (UMass, ’09). The midfield is very solid with some former MLL players getting into the mix including Jason Doneger, Scott Davidson (Denver, ’05) and Brian Jacovina (UMass, ’07) and All-American Anthony Muscarella (Hofstra, ’09). The Doneger brothers of Adam and Michael (Hopkins, ’08) bring some meat to the attack along with slick lefties Jim Connolly (UMass, ’09) and Andrew Schwartzman (Maryland, ’05). Reebok boasts some fresh, home-grown Colorado talent in Spencer Cooperman (Colgate, ’09), Jordan Hendry (Sabbatical to Nepal, ’10), Tyler Morton (North Carolina, ’12), Isaac Neal (Hofstra, ’11), Adam Swarsen (Hofstra, ’09), Jon Urbana (Villanova, ’05) and Dave Watts (Middlebury, ’99). The team would like to thank their sponsors: Reebok, bieMEDIA, and Players Bench.
Team Merrill Lynch/Lacrossewear
Coaches: P.J. "Uncle Pauli" Landaiche, Todd Cliggett
Key Players: Shane Koppens (Loyola), Justin Pennington (Rutgers), Paul Richards (Loyola), Brian Christopher (Johns Hopkins), Ben Love (Roanoke), P.T. Ricci (Loyola), Drew Adams (Penn State)
Team Statement: Team Merrill Lynch is attending its eighth Vail Shootout and has earned a reputation as one of the premier Men’s Elite teams in the nation. We feature forty Division I-III NCAA male and female lacrosse players, many of whom are honored as All-America or All-league, and all are leaders both on the field and in their classrooms and communities. Out of the more than thirty teams that compete in the Shootout each year, the men and the women consistently finish in the top five, with the women’s team having taken the top spot in 2005 and 2006.
Team Merrill Lynch decided in 2005 that it was time to expand the scope and the impact of our involvement in the tournament by benefiting the American Cancer Society and organizations committed to finding a cure for breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Also, we are the first Elite team in the country to have a consistent focus on community involvement and philanthropy in addition to our athletic endeavors. With your support, we can continue our great efforts both on the field and in our local areas, highlighting the impact that the Merrill Lynch Principles can have on everyday lives. This year, the team has raised funds for the American Cancer Society through the United Way, a recipient of the Merrill Lynch Employee Giving Campaign, and will donate more than $10,000 toward cancer research. In addition, the team donates $1 for each goal scored by all teams in the Vail tournament. Merrill Lynch’s men’s and women’s teams show their support for breast and other cancers research by wearing custom-made uniforms in pink, the color representing breast cancer awareness and a visible reminder of our causes. And, we are pleased that we have encouraged and influenced the support of other corporate partners such as AEGON/Transamerica Capital, Inc., located in Denver, toward our fundraising goals. And, will see additional collaborative efforts this year from teams such as AIG-LIVESTRONG. Each year we move a step closer to a cure!
We would also like to thank our longtime partner, Lacrossewear, and Bo Lamon for his continued support. Lacrossewear specializes in custom manufacture of high-end team uniforms and sports apparel for the modern athlete. They combine creative design, high quality technical fabrics and exceptional product decoration/attribution to deliver the most functional, attractive and comfortable sports apparel in the Lacrosse industry. It is through their efforts that we are able to present each year a unique identity from conception to competition. Their shorts are legendary – and each year our players from college through the MLL tell us their products are simply the best.
Founded in 1914, Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies, with offices in 40 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately $1.6 trillion.
Merrill Lynch offers a broad range of services to private clients, small businesses, and institutions and corporations, organizing its activities into two interrelated business segments - Global Markets & Investment Banking and Global Wealth Management, which is comprised of Global Private Client and Global Investment Management.
The Employee Giving Campaign is an integral part of Merrill Lynch's commitment to responsible citizenship. Each year's global campaign provides more than 60,000 Merrill Lynch Employees with an opportunity to give back to local communities collectively adding up to a significant impact on charities around the globe. As individuals and a company, Merrill Lynch supports thousands of health and social services causes through contributing to the annual Employee Giving Campaign and through events like the Vail Shootout.
Rocky Mountain Oysters
Coaches: Aaron Laaveg and Carl Schmidtlein
Key Players: Lance Vitt (Ohio State), Jon Rydberg (Ohio State), Andrew Jarolimek (Colgate), Nick Mirabito (Navy), Terrence Higgins (Navy), Brendan Teague (Navy)
Team Statement: The Rocky Mountain Oysters will be making it to the Vail Lacrosse Shootout for a 6th straight year and hope to continue having fun and playing at a high level. We are a traveling team based out of Colorado and make several stops around the country each year, including Tahoe, Vegas and South Beach among others. Most our players reside in Colorado, but we add in players from other parts of the country to form a competitive and fun team. A good crew of players from Navy, St. Lawrence, Hampden Sydney, Tufts and Ohio State will make up the Oysters 2008 team. We would like to thank our sponsors, LaxGear, Wells Fargo and Coors for their help and support. Looking forward to good times.
Team Valhalla
Coaches: Alex Hardy and John Knight
Key Players: Bruce Richardson (Salisbury), Ryan Brown (Salisbury), Zac Hopkins (Salisbury)
Team Statement: We are a team formed by a network of friends originating from Easton, MD. We are proud to have players from all across the country who have come together for one purpose. That purpose is simply to participate in a gathering of people who are as passionate about the sport of lacrosse as we are. Our sponsor is Valhalla, which is a company started by a good friend of ours, Dan Ernst, who handcrafts beautiful wooden lacrosse shafts out of Portland, Oregon. You can find pictures and more information at www.valhallax.com.
POOL B
LaxGrip
Coaches: Brad Brewster and Chris Sanderson
Key players: Chris Sanderson (Virginia/ Team Canada), Tom Hajek (Vermont/ Philadelphia Wings), Tom Phair (Delaware/ Team Canada), Matt Shearer (Loyola / Toronto Rock)
Team Statement: In 2007, little-known Team LaxGrip ran the table at Vail, ultimately losing in the Championship game by one goal. Older and wiser (and uglier), this year’s edition is again sponsored by the sensationally successful new lacrosse stick advantage “LaxGrip.” Team “LaxGrip” captain and “LaxGrip LLC” President Chris Sanderson and Coach Brad Brewster have put together a similarly eclectic combination of professional and current college player roster for the ’08 ‘Grips run for the Cup. With 2006 All-World goalie Sanderson again between the pipes, the ‘Grips are all about defense. Tom Hajek, Tom Phair, Justin Tishler, Brian Holden, C Farr and our alternate pipe-master Mickey Hover round out the defensive unit. Team “LaxGrip” also continues its distinctly “true north” flavor with Matt Hajek, Jamie Kirk, Nate Sanderson, Brad Favero, Pat Maddalena and former NLL great Matt “the Sniper” Shearer flying the Toronto red eye to Denver. In addition, a strong group of current college players from the most northern northeast are a key part of the ‘Grips. Fresh-off their recent NCAA Tournament appearances are Liberty League All-Conference attackman Petey Carroll and midfielder Alex Slausen, Ty Brewster and LSM Boomer Repko. Also from the New England Small College Association are midfielders Mark Squicciarino and Eric Doran. Finally the ‘Grips New Jersey home base will again be represented by PJ Martin, Kevin Hover, Sean Hover, Dave Deriso and Gary Gait – dek. Having narrowly escaped several international episodes in ’07 the ‘Grips should again be ready to bring a serious “Cannuckle-head” attitude to this year’s Shootout.
Arizona Mermen
Coach/Organizer: Jule Dionne
Key Players: Brian Phipps (Maryland), Ben Hunt (North Carolina), Steve Boyle (Johns Hopkins)
Team Statement: The Arizona Mermen did not submit information in time for the program, but this second year team had a great tournament in 2007, mostly thanks to their young nucleus of stars from major NCAA programs. What will this team do for an encore of their impressive run last year? With a strong roster, expect this team to certainly finish in the top half of the draw and make a run for a Vail Championship.
Team Gutman
Coach/Organizer: Jamie Duke (Middlebury College)
Key Players: Eric Krieger (Middlebury College), Tom O’Connor (Middlebury College), Chip Campbell (Middlebury College)
Team Statement: For the 7th consecutive year Team Gutman is proud to represent Middlebury College and its venerable lacrosse manager, Myron “Gutman” Kohn, in the Vail Lacrosse Shootout. This year marks the triumphant return of Eric Krieger and Tom “Dink Dink” O’Connor from brief hiatuses. With their renewed leadership and the impeccable Crip Walk of newcomer Chip Campbell, Team Gutman fully expects to improve on its performance in 2007. Team Gutman is made up almost entirely of Middlebury Lacrosse alums/current players and plans on using the skill, hard work and sportsmanship developed at Middlebury College to make a run at the championship. Team Gutman would also like to thank the alumni and the rest of the Middlebury Lacrosse family for helping make this year’s team possible.
Team Rock-it Pocket
Coaches/Organizers: Flip Naumburg and Troy Ergenbright
Key Players: Michael Gvozden (Johns Hopkins), Brendan Shook (Johns Hopkins), Shay Cunningham (Vermont), Ryan Zordani (Denver), Troy Ergenbright (Rutgers)
Team Statement: Team Rock-it Pocket is back after a one-year hiatus and is looking to regain the form that saw the team reach the semifinals and a 3rd place finish in 2005. Rock-it Pocket has a strong Colorado State influence, coached by CSU head coach and Rock-it Pocket owner/founder Flip Naumburg. Several of the Rams’ brightest stars will be on hand alongside players from some of the best teams in the land. All-Vail performer Troy Ergenbright leads the defense in front of a solid goaltending crew while Vermont attackman Shay Cunningham helps bolster the offense. Several Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and other East Coast imports dot the roster as well as Team Rock-it Pocket has a nice balance of depth and skill at nearly every position.
Team Rock-it Pocket would like to thank its title sponsor Rock-it Pocket, the premiere custom lacrosse stringing and dying method in the game. Visit us in the vendor village or check us out online at www.rock-itpocket.com.
POOL C
Team 21
Coaches/Organizers: David Coors
Key Players: None listed
Team Statement: As the years pass and work and family obligations unfathomably outweigh 4 days in amazing Vail, CO, Team 21 continues to tap into fresh Cornell alums and current players. This year’s Team 21 combines 52 collective Ivy League Championships, 8 collective NCAA Division 1 semifinal appearances, 3 1st Team All Ivy and 2 All Americans.
Team 21 comes together every year to honor Mario St. George Boiardi, a Cornell lacrosse player and captain who fell during an early-season contest in the 2004 season. Wearing the number “21”, George exemplified everything it means to be a Cornell lacrosse player, showing not only incredible athletic ability and tireless work ethic on the field, but showing admirable character and a selfless lifestyle off the field. For the members of Team 21, it was not only George’s athleticism and character that we honor, but also the friendship we all shared with him.
We would like to thank our sponsors, Coors Light, Nike, Grand Marnier, Patron, Tap Room and Colorado Rising Stars Lacrosse for their generous donations and support. Without you this team would not be the same…
Team 21 is also playing to support the recently founded Mario St. George Boiardi Foundation. For more information or to make a donation please visit the website at http://www.boiardifoundation.org/.
“Mario St. George Boiardi. Tireless worker, selfless teammate and loyal friend who gave his life playing the game he loved.”
July 30, 1981 – March 17, 2004
AIG-LIVESTRONG
Coaches/Organizers: Martin Sullivan and Lance Armstrong
Key Players: Hanley Holcomb (Virginia), Blaine Mitten (Loyola), Kyle Frigon (Notre Dame), Logan Bobzien (Ithaca), Nick Sciubba (Bucknell)
Team Statement: This year the Jammin’ Salmon are returning with a new look. We have decided to go corporate and partnered with AIG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation to help promote the new LIVESTRONG SurvivorPlan. The LIVESTRONG SurvivorPlan helps organizations empower their employees by delivering the education, resources and benefits needed to live healthier lives. Plus, the LIVESTRONG SurvivorPlan provides access and tools that support the mission of the Lance Armstrong Foundation should a cancer diagnosis occur. For more information please visit www.aiglivestrong.com. On the field Team AIG-LIVESTRONG (the lax artists formerly known as Jammin’ Salmon) is comprised of many DI and DIII All-Americans, former MLLers, a couple NLL players and a few former Team USA players. We don’t plan on winning the Tour de France 7 times in a row but we do plan on winning the Vail Shootout this year. We would also like to thank LacrosseWear, MGM Supply Company and X-Mint for their support.
Team Black Seal
Coaches: Jason Griffith, David Loudenslager
Key players: Matt Scheel (Army), Matt Wilson (Georgetown), Zach Heyl (Hofstra)
Team Statement: The Black Seals are back, and they are ready to black out Vail. In 2007 the Seals managed a 10th place finish. After a sloppy loss to the Jammin’ Salmon, the Seals walked over the teams in the consolation bracket before succumbing to dehydration and the Generals in the Consolation Championship. Coming back for 2008, the Seals have cut the fat and will have more talent with that same “west of the Appalachian” feel. The players all have connections to the mid-west/west and hail from programs like Hofstra, Denver, OWU, Washington College, Wooster, Army, OSU and some elite club programs. We will be looking to get into the championship bracket this year and finish near the top of the heap. Black Seal would also like to thank sponsors Inflatable Images and CG's Autopaint and Body for making this trip possible for all of our players.
Brine Elite
Coach: Matt Keller
Key Players: Ben Hunt (North Carolina), Edison Parzanese (Holy Cross), John Ortolani (Endicott)
Team Statement: Team Brine Elite will be making its second appearance in Vail this year thanks to generous sponsorship from Brine. With a much deeper roster than last year, Team Brine Elite will look to retain some of the grit that got them through the tournament last year. A squad with young college talent balanced by some veterans of the club lacrosse circuit will be looking to make plays all day and night in Vail.
Footclan/Team California
Coaches/ Organizers: Luga Podesta and Marc Frey
Key Players: Doug Abate (UCSB/ Los Angeles Riptide), Josh Austin (BYU), Elliot Grow (BYU)
Team Statement: This West Coast-based entry is primarily stocked with players from the MCLA and is looking to make waves at the 2008 Shootout. Expect a little of everything from this squad, who will feature some solid players and in hopes of competing with the big boys of Vail.
POOL D
The Lofers
Coaches/Organizers: Ted Baruch (Team Mom), Tom Konkel, Gary Secora and Dan Murray (Coaches)
Key Players: Alex Baruch (Denison), Brett Koll (Denver)
Team Statement: The team is sponsored by the Lacrosse Outreach Foundation (LOF) - hence the name Lofers - which is a Colorado based non-profit formed to promote the love of the game and to assist kids at risk. Many of the Lofers volunteer their time staffing LOF programs geared to attract kids to the great sport of lacrosse. In addition to helping grow the sport of lacrosse in Colorado for the last fourteen years, LOF hosts the annual Warrior Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Jamboree, Winterfest and, beginning this year, the Legacy through Art Show. Lofers field University of Denver players Austin Konkel (MVP U-19 Vail ‘06), Kyle Weiderstadt, Payton Sanders, Peyton Tyrie and Cory Schaeffler. DU is coming off their 2nd NCAA playoff bid in three years. There is also Stephen Gerhard (Scared Heart University ‘10/2007 Vail all-tournament selection at midfield), Brian Morgan (CU ’06/1st Team All American), Patrick Janson (CU ’06/Colorado Mammoth ‘08/ Team USA Indoor Warrior Cup Team 08), Josh Secora (RPI ’09/All Liberty Second Team) and Shane Anderson, who was Bellarmine’s leading point getter in ’08. The Lofers boast having the shortest midfielder in the tournament with no offensive skills whatsoever, the one and only Ryan Powell. Powell is joined by former teammates (Essex ’07), Nick Robinson and Luke Baruch. Joining the team as elder statesmen is Danny Murray, former 2-time captain of Colorado College. These young men will be coached to avoid the trappings of Vail Valley by Gary Secora (GQ ’52) and Tom Konkel.
Club All-Stars
Organizer/Visionary: Mike Johnson
Key Players: We all play equally key roles in being awesome
Team Statement: For the 13th or so year The Club All-Stars will be taking the field in Edwards most of the time probably, for the 2008 Vail Shootout. We are proud to be once again representing The Club, which if you are not in the know, is the place to be in Vail no matter what season. You guys are the best. The Club All-Stars are made up of well, you guessed it, all-stars. We may not be all-stars on the field per se, but our stunning good looks and charming personalities makes us winners off the field. We do not consider ourselves individuals but rather a team that strives for excellence where it counts the most – off the field extra-curricular activities. Here is a quick positional breakdown of The Club All-Stars. Our goalies are usually seeing double by game time, we don’t play defense, our middies will be lucky to make it up and down the field once, and our attack is the strong point of our offense, if you consider offense turning the ball over every time we get it. Ladies, if you are looking for out of shape, washed up, lacrosse players with drinking problems, we are your guys. We’ll see you on the field, boyz.
Generals
Coaches/Organizers: Mark McLewee
Top Players: Peter Fell (Bates), Bernard Norton (Washington & Lee), Seth Fishman (Washington & Lee), Stephen Murray (Loyola)
Team Statement: Antol brothers Nick (Notre Dame '03) and Matt (Towson '08) anchor a deep defensive unit for the Generals, who look to build upon last year's 3-1 outing. Helping them will be Vail veterans Peter Fell (Bates '01), Jordan Austin (Salisbury '99) and Brian Leland (Lycoming '04). Last summer's team high-scorer Seth Fishman (W&L '08) will lead the attack with his deceptive quickness and signature bull dodge. The possibility of a Murray-to-Murray goal is high as the Charlottesville-area family is well-represented here by Brad, Derek, Jack, and Stephen.
5280/Tap Room
Coaches: Chris Spangler, Sam Allen, Kyle Malnati
Key Players: Max Key (Bowdoin), Alan Smith (Northern Colorado), Ian Ferrell (Dartmouth), Patrick Gowan (Team England)
Team Statement: TEAM 5280/TAP ROOM is returning for its eighth year in Vail and is coming off of a very tough but enjoyable tournament in 2007. We faced Lax Grip on the first day in ’07 and we had hard fought games every day after that at the best tournament in the country. We are looking to improve this year with the help of a young core group of talented players including Alan Smith and Alex Pritzlaff leading our aggressive style of defense. On attack we will have returning veterans Sam Allen and Jon Atwood along with Sam Fitzpatrick. With the expected stellar play of brother ball taxis Max and Rob Key we will yet again be a force to be reckoned with both on the field and at the bars.
In 2008 we are looking to do even better with our returning core of wily veterans lead by super chaperone Boyd Chastant who was in college when most of our players were in pampers. To help ease the burden of lacrosse at 8000’ we have had another aggressive year in recruiting and have signed a number of young guns back from successful seasons at Dartmouth, Fairfield, Bowdoin and Goucher. Our new blood draws mainly from the east coast but their roots are all Colorado. Our team is now made up of a number of All-America players and future all-stars and should prove exciting to watch in ‘08.
With our star studded roster and under the watchful ADHD eye of Coach Christopher Spangler this is going to be the best TEAM 5280/TAP ROOM to date. When not on the field in the greatest tournament of the year, you will find the team enjoying the Vail night life each evening at the The Tap Room, located at the top of Bridge Street (333 Bridge St.). Please come out and cheer us on or meet us for happy hour at the Tap Room. Good luck to all the teams and much thanks to the Tap Room and our family and friends for making this season possible. –LTMGNJ
Team Rubi Rey
Coaches/Organizers: Mark Parets (Player/Coach), Terri Hnatyszyn (Rubi Rey Liaison)
Key Players: Brian Miller (Hartwick), John Meade (Hartwick), James Goldberg (Duke), Taylor Smoke (St. Michael’s)
Team Statement: Rubi Rey Rum, Bacardi’s newest premium rum, has put together a team from the Sunshine State, and then added a few key players for its first shot at Vail. Players from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Orlando, team up with players from Duke, Hartwick, and St. Michael’s to battle against the best on the field during the day. At night, Team Rubi Rey will try to bring a little bit of our South Beach style to the streets of Vail.
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