ARIZONA YOUTH LACROSSE LEAGUE DIVISION I

The Team to Beat: Chaparral

The defending state champion Firebirds are once again the top dog in the Valley of the Sun after dethroning Brophy Prep in last season’s title game. Chaparral’s strength this season will be in the back, where it brings back all three starting defensemen, its starting long-stick middie and its starting goalie.

Chaparral will be led by UMBC-bound senior defenseman Ian Gray, who will anchor a back line that also includes one of the state’s best in junior Jake Bolwar, who in January also committed to UMBC. If anyone gets past Gray and Bolwar, they’ll still need to shoot one past Mesa State-bound senior goalie Kody Klimes, who is one of the top rated goalies in the West.

Senior attackman Jeff Petznick and senior middie Craig Erickson both started as juniors and should provide a little extra offensive punch for the Firebirds.

Contenders: Brophy Prep, Chandler

Brophy Prep has reached the state championship game four straight years, but the Broncos graduated 16 seniors off their 2009 runner-up team, including two first-team All-State selections. Senior attackman Adam Fishman, a first-team, All-State selection last season, is Brophy Prep’s top player, and he will be looked at to carry the load, especially on offense.

Chandler appears to have one of its strongest teams in quite some time. The Wolves will be led by senior middie Andrew Muscara, a first-team All-State selection who is the No. 4 ranked senior in the West. Senior defenseman Austin Marie, another first-team All-State player, will also be back, as will standout junior middie Brandon Moranz and senior goalie Brian LaFlam.

Sleeper: Tucson Salpointe

Tucson teams promoted from Division II have traditionally outperformed expectations in their first season in Division I, and look for the Lancers to continue that trend. Salpointe enters the season on a 12-game winning streak after having won the Division II, and the Lancers are a senior-heavy team with talent. Senior attackman Cameron Wilhite leads a tough and gritty group, which graduated one senior, has all 10 starters back and will have a new head coach in Kevin Krieger, who played NCAA Division I lacrosse at the Air Force Academy.

NCAA Division I Recruits: Jake Bolwar, Def., Chaparral (UMBC); Ian Gray, Def., Chaparral (UMBC).

The No. 2 ranked senior in the Western United States on WSL’s Elite 25 list, Gray committed to Baltimore-based UMBC during his junior season, a rare accomplishment for an Arizona native. As of the end of 2009, he was still the only Arizona-based senior to commit to play Division I lacrosse for 2011.

Other Top Players: Ramie Arbid, Def., Mesa; Ryan Baker, LSM, Tucson Salpointe; Matt Barney, MF, Highland; Ryan Berns, Def., Corona del Sol; Erik Carter, G, Tucson Salpointe; Ian Connell, Def., Chaparral; Phil Coogan, MF, Tucson Tanque Verde; Jensen Cruse, Def., Desert Mountain (Arizona State); Craig Erickson, MF, Chaparral; Adam Fishman, Att., Brophy Prep; Michael Giffen, MF-Att., Chandler (Mesa State); Ian Harris, MF, Gilbert (Mesa State); Sean Harris, MF, Gilbert (Mesa State); Spencer Heath, Def., Horizon; Bobby Hilton, Att., Mountain Pointe; Charles Hushek, Def., Brophy Prep; Hayden Kimmel, MF, Saguaro; Kody Klimes, G, Chaparral (Mesa State); Tyler Kunce, MF, Desert Vista; Grayson Kupfer, MF, Desert Vista; Brian LaFlam, G, Chandler (Arizona State); Justin LaLonde, Att., Hamilton; Brett Lawless, G, Desert Vista; Austin Marie, Def., Chandler (Mesa State); Kyle Mason, MF, Chaparral; Zachary Mendoza, Def., Desert Mountain (Arizona State); Paul Montano, MF, Tucson Salpointe; Brandon Moranz, MF, Chandler; Kevin Murney, Att., Brophy Prep; Andrew Muscara, MF, Chandler (Mesa State); Ben Nielson, Att., Tucson Salpointe; Clay Perry, Att., Saguaro; Beau Peterlin, Def., Brophy Prep (Wittenberg); Jeff Petznick, Att., Chaparral (Arizona State); Adam Schubert, Att., Horizon; Thomas Slezak, MF, Saguaro (Arizona State); Justin Straker, Att.-MF, Saguaro; Austin Thibault, Def., Corona del Sol; Cody Wagner, MF, Corona del Sol; Cameron Wilhite, Att., Tucson Salpointe.

Preseason Top 10: 1. Chaparral, 2. Brophy Prep, 3. Chandler, 4. Saguaro, 5. Desert Vista, 6. Corona del Sol, 7. Desert Mountain, 8. Gilbert, 9. Mountain Pointe, 10. Tucson Salpointe.

Notes: Division I has expanded to 15 teams this season with the addition of 2009 Division II state champion Tucson Salpointe, Division II runner-up Horizon and Mesa. As a result of the expansion, the state playoffs have been expanded from six to eight teams....Gilbert returns six starters, including its entire first-line midfield....Horizon brings back six starters, including two on attack, two in the midfield and two on defense....Desert Vista returns three starters, but one of those is one of the top goalies in the state in senior Brett Lawless....With seven returning starters, Highland could be much improved. The Hawks bring back their entire defense, and a few impact freshmen are expected to make the varsity....Corona del Sol returns half its starting lineup but graduated its NCAA Division I-bound goalie....This will almost certainly be a down year for Tucson Tanque Verde, which lost two of its top players -- Ryan Braun and Shane Oaten -- to relocation. There will be at least nine freshmen on the varsity, two of whom are expected to start.....Brophy Prep head coach Beau Pich did not return a voicemail message seeking comment for this preview section....Two Arizona natives and former AYLL players who are now attending high school on the East Coast have also committed to play NCAA-sanctioned lacrosse. Senior defenseman Alexander Blonsky, who transferred to Georgetown Prep (Md.) from Brophy Prep after former head coach Derek Drogowski was fired following the 2008 season, is heading to NCAA Division I Pennsylvania. Deerfield Academy (Mass.) senior defenseman Geoffrey Vrla, who played at Phoenix Country Day as a freshman, has committed to NCAA Division III Middlebury College.