By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

WHITTIER, Calif. -- Given an opportunity to showcase his skills, Rancho Bernardo junior Zach Weaver did not disappoint Sunday afternoon.

Playing in front of several college recruiters at the Adrenaline High Rollers event at Whittier College, Weaver made back-to-back, one-on-one saves during the fourth of his team’s five games. Several spectators took immediate notice of the West’s No. 4 ranked junior, who after the game talked about how impressed he was by everybody else around him.

“The talent pool here is great,” Weaver said. “This is probably the best talent I’ve seen so far, and I’ve played back East and I’ve played pretty much around the country. This is high quality.”

Weaver was just one of 279 top players representing nearly every region of lacrosse in the Western United States over the weekend. About 40 college recruiters representing NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III schools, as well as MCLA Division I and Division II programs, also came out to the three-day event to scout for talent.

And the consensus, once again, was they liked what they saw.

“It’s night and day from 10 years ago,” said University of Notre Dame head coach Kevin Corrigan, who was one of the first major Division I coaches to begin recruiting in the West.

“Ten years ago, you had athletes who picked up a stick. Now, you’ve got athletes who are playing the game and have been playing the game through youth leagues and things of that nature.”

Players were divided into 12 teams that participated in 50-minute games in the Whittier College football stadium and on the adjacent soccer field. Organizers attempted to make the teams evenly matched, and every team mixed players from different regions.

“I like the event a lot,” said Lakeridge junior attackman Michael Hoch, who traveled from Oregon to participate. “It’s fun to play with very good players. It makes you better, and you can make other people better.”

The event started Friday night and had all the markings of a typical Adrenaline tournament. Aside from playing games, players participated in advanced clinics given by NCAA coaches, had film sessions, practices and a recruiting seminar.

But, as usual, the most important aspect was the playing time in front of college coaches, and there was plenty of it throughout the weekend.

“I love it,” said Juan Diego Catholic junior defenseman Zach Bullett, who traveled from Utah. “I think I play better when I have recruiters watching me. I play to my full, maximum potential.”