The looming rain clouds held off from drenching the dozens of college recruiters and other spectators in attendance for Day 2 of High Rollers. Overcast skies laid the backdrop for the final day of competition between elite high school and middle school players from all over the West.
  
 

           

       At least a dozen new college coaches arrived Sunday morning to witness the talented high school freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors battle it out for a chance to impress the top college programs in the country. Programs at the Division 1 level such as Syracuse, Denver, Brown, Ohio State, Dartmouth, Hofstra, Air Force, Vermont, and many others. Championship programs and perennial contenders at the Division 2 and Division 3 levels and those representing the MCLA were also in attendance. 

 

 

 
 

 

            Much of the attention this weekend fell on the highly touted high school talent and the big name college recruiters lining the sidelines of Coronado High School. But throughout the weekend, high school players would clear the field to make room for Middle School games and clinics. It quickly became apparent that the smaller Middle School field was comprised of an impressive group of young men. There didn’t seem to be a weak link in the bunch, as a number of Middle Schoolers from the top club programs in the West decided to put on a show for college coaches as well.

 

The ball movement they exhibited all weekend long was some of the best Middle School lacrosse. Highlights from Saturday morning action included great play from crafty attackman Anthony DeMaio (Coronado, CA), who was taking checks with ease, always maintaining to keep his head up like All American attackman Rob Pannell from Cornell. Goalie John Vansickle also looked good in the cage, eventually bringing cheers from the local crowd after he took the ball coast to coast for a great goal of his own. 

 

 

 

            Everyone involved in High Rollers this weekend eagerly awaited the release of this year’s All Star Rosters. College recruiters met late Saturday night and reviewed notes from every game played on Saturday. After reviewing the hundreds of top high school players, 52 names were chosen to represent this age group at today’s All Star Game at 11am. They did not disappoint.

 

Dressed in white, Team # 1 displayed a high potent offense, led by attackman Ben Cummings (Brophy, AZ). Cummings has extreme quickness and uses his shifty first step to create separation on every dodge. The young attackman is very poised with the ball and seemed to be able to turn the corner at will. Keenan Assaraf (Cathedral Catholic, CA) continued his good play as one of the most impressive offensive studs from this weekend. Other good midfield play came from Josh Wellman (Oak Ridge, CA), who scrapped at the faceoff X. Cole Schleppy (Jserra Catholic, CA) asserted himself physically against the rest of the competition, as he had done all Saturday. At the defensive end, his teammate and goalie Gunner Garn was very impressive, playing well beyond her age. Finally, defenseman Tucker Guyot played well, moving very well for his size.

            Their opponents were led by Vegas standout Justin Anderson, who exhibited his athleticism, taking hard dodged down the alley on almost every shift. Troy Brown (Foothill, CA) was also dodging hard down the side of the field with a powerful overhand shot that had coaches talking. Defenseman Doug Strazza (De la Salle, CA)looked very athletic and had some well timed checks on the crease for the squad dressed in black. Overall, it was a very impressive game in front of a decent crowd on Coronado’s main stadium. 

 

            The rain couldn’t be stopped for the entire weekend and as Sunday wound down, the skies finally opened up and poured heavy showers on Coronado. Players and recruiters filed out of the stadium and off the island, making their way back to different parts of the country. College coaches who made their way to Southern California for Adrenaline’s third annual High Rollers event left with a number of prospects to fill their future rosters, both at the High School and Middle School level.

 
 

 

            This primetime event brought the top players from a number of Western states and Canadian provinces, all of whom converged at one location to compete against the top players in the West. This weekend provided an opportunity to gain valuable experience playing in front of some of the premier coaches from across the country, their parents were able to gain valuable insight into different recruiting practices, and ultimately, further establishing the West as a lacrosse hotbed.  Stay tune throughout the week for more content from this event from West Side Lax and great footage captured by Game Time Productions.