Week 7 is in the books and after some reflection it’s safe to say, that my guess is as good as yours moving forward. Watching March Madness basketball this weekend, in between some amazing college lacrosse battles, I saw many similarities—fast pace of play, close games, huge upsets, and fired-up sidelines. The reason we all have come to love March Madness is not really about a love of basketball, but rather, a love of sport. It demonstrates the scope of human possibility which is infinite. It is where the inconceivable is conceived and accomplished. It’s the beauty of seeing what can happen when 40 players BELIEVE in what they are doing and don’t care who gets the credit. The landscape has most certainly changed in college lacrosse and there are no more “gimme games”. The one constant I have been able to observe is the continued success our western players are experiencing this spring. This is a true testament to the growth of the game and the growth of the Adrenaline brand and model.

This weekend saw the last of the unbeaten, with UNC knocking off a Maryland team that has been dominant thus far. Maryland has been led all season by WCS alum Landon Carr and WCS coach Niko Amato. Underclassmen, Zach Fixen and Joey Kimpler, have been valuable in their reserve roles and are poised to be contributors down the line.

The Drexel Dragons continue to light it up. At 6-2 the Dragons are rolling and showing lots of resilience coming from behind in five of those wins. WCS alums are the driving the bus in west Philly, with WCS alums Robert Church going (1, 3), Aaron Prosser going (1,0) and Ben McIntosh adding a hat trick AND the game winner in overtime to beat Hofstra this weekend, 8-7.

Bucknell is the biggest surpise at the midway point. The Bison are reaffirming how strong the Patriot League really is and have been helped tremendously by the play of WCS and Adrenaline All American, freshman BrockGhelfi. Ghelfi was big again in the Bison win overAlbany this wknd finishing with (2, 1) from his first midfield line. The Bison also pulled the biggest upset of the wknd by beating Cornell, inIthaca, 9-8.

Cornell was able to rally back and win their Ivy League matchup with an upstart UPenn team, 10-5. Freshman Adrenaline All American and WCS alum Sean Doyle provided a nice spark off the bench for the Big Red.

Notre Dame has jockeyed their way to the #1 ranking, picking up two victories this week, soundly beating Ohio State and gutting out a workmanlike win over Rutgers, 7-6. WCS alums Eddy Glazener and Kyle Runyon are key members of the #1 team in the country, while Ryan Mix and Nick Osello have played huge roles thus far and are repping the West extremely well.

Colgate picked up a big Patriot League victory over Navy. Tewaarton winner Peter Baum was impressive, finishing with a hat trick and some unselfish play in the offensive end.

Hopkins made a statement to the country this weekend, dismantling Virginia from start to finish. WCS alum Pierce Bassett was stellar in goal all day, finishing with 16 saves. The Cavaliers have been on the short end of many close games this spring. Rhody Heller was impressive in net for UVA, and Adrenaline All Americans TannerOttenbreit, Tanner Scales and Matt Florence are all developing nicely as integral underclassmen on this team, while WCS alum Rob Emery continues to produce and remains one of the most dangerous players in the country.

Penn State got back to form with a win over interstate rival, St. Joes. WCS alum Erik Myers had a key goal and Steven Bogert continues to have a rock solid year from his defensive position.

Bryant and Vermont picked up their first wins of the season, both in one goal games. Adrenaline All American Collins Gantz had a huge game for the Bulldogs, with two goals on the day, while Stony Brook freshman phenom, WCS alum, Challen Rodgers was only able to manage 1 assist on the day.

Dartmouth had a tough week dropping games to Harvard and UNC, but saw some strong play out of WCS alum Adam Fishman (2 assists) and 10 groundballs from Adrln Awareness member, Bobby Osgood.

Fairfield picked up a much needed win over a Hobart. WCS alum and Tewaarton Watch List player, Sam Snow, dished out two assists in the victory for the Stags.

Brown traveled down to High Point for a non-conference game and really came out firing. Adrenaline Tropics team captain, Bailey Tills was hot, notching two big goals and helping the Bears to the win.

Jacksonville remained unbeaten in conference play, defeating Manhattan, 10-7. Dakota Rohlin continues to be one of the most impressive freshmen of the spring.

Syracuse put an end to Providence’s strong start with Oregon native, Henry Schoonmaker netting a hat trick. Providence has been a wonderful story of 2013 and just really shows you how much coaching really matters at the NCAA level. We are very excited about where this program is heading.

In an epic Ivy League battle, Princeton outlasted Yale, 10-9. Several WCS alums were involved in this game, in the form of EricSanschagrin, JW McGovern, Micheal Keasey and Alex Moffit, all young players chipping away waiting for their opportunities.

Division II
In Division II action, Colorado Mesa picked up a nice win over NDNU. WCS alums were big in the win; Brad Bradenburg finished with 14 saves while Steve Bradenburg, Stephen Dunn and Matt Landon all chipped in with scores.

Division III
In Division III action, Tufts surged to the top of the polls with wins over Stevens Tech, Stevenson, Colby and WNEC. Minnesota native, JohnUpgren continues to be a key contributor as a freshman, finishing this weekend with four goals.

Bowdoin beat league and cross-town rival, Bates, this weekend, 12-11. WCS alum Connor O’Toole made the difference with two big goals and an assist.

Denison continued to flex their muscle beating a pesky Wooster team, with WCS alum Eddie Vita leading all scorers with 4 points.

Washington College picked up a big win over McDaniel, with Johnny Poe leading the team with 5 groundballs and WCS alum KodieEnglehart scoring two big goals during the Shoreman’s run.

It’s an exciting time for college lacrosse right now, and personally, has been a real treat following and catching up with many of our Starz and Adrenaline family members playing big roles on respective teams. Whether they are headlining the scoring columns or battling on the scout team, our boys are really working hard and making all of us here on the West Coast, very proud.

Adrenaline and a few of our resident LXM Pro's had another ubelivable time at the Rady Children's Hospital last week. This trip allowed us to connect with the patients on a more personal level, play games with them, design T-shirts, and simply hang out. Some of the patients there are going through a tough time and to be able to spend time with them in a positive environment was a very touching experience. It is our hope that we brightened their day as we are certain that they brightened ours. It is very humbling to see how positive and loving these kids all were considering the circumstances. With hopes of providing a fun environment for everyone, we set up a few stations where the kids could get to know us as a company.

Our first station was a "meet and greet" with LXM Pro's where the kids could come into our area and ask questions, check out the equipment, get an autograph and of course, grab some free stuff. Kids not only left with smiles but arms full of socks, hats, stickers, magnets and posters. Some of the kids left with a pretty good grasp on the fundamentals of lacrosse too and couldn't get enough passing and catching in! It was pretty awesome to see boys and girls ignore their IV's and toss the ball around!

The next station was a game area where kids could sit down with an LXM player or an Adrenaline Designer and battle it out in a serious game of Connect Four. Safe to say these kids are certified professionals...we couldn't buy a W! Again, there were smiles all around and we lost ourselves in moments of pure fun.

The last station was probably the coolest and most enjoyable for the kids (and us). This station featured blank Adrenaline T shirts and a bunch of T shirt paint with stencils, markers, sheets of paper and other fun design items. Everyone got to design their very own Adrenaline T shirt that they could take home with them, after using a hair dryer to cure the paint...of course. There were also lacrosse balls being decorated with markers, felt, and fake eyes--arts and crafts Adrenaline Lacrosse style!

The day couldn't have been better. The sun was shining and the mood was light. Carly's Garden served as the perfect venue for our trip and we are absolutely looking forward to coming back soon! 

Shortly after Adrenaline’s Black Card and NSCLA Championship, the most exclusive national recruiting weekend, the Adrenaline team will make its way back for the top western recruitment event, the Adrenaline Showcase.  It's springtime and collegiate coaches are immersed in driving their respective programs to championships while aspiring top-level high school players have their eyes glued to the TV hoping to get a shot to play at the next level. Adrenaline Lacrosse looks to bring these two worlds together officially on July 11^th -12th for the Adrenaline Showcase at Sonoma State University in Rohnert, California. As stated in its name, this event serves to provide western players with the opportunity to ‘showcase’ their talent in front of top tier college recruiters who will ultimately choose if they have what it takes to play at the next level.

As the premiere individual summer recruiting event in the West, the Adrenaline Showcase is back for its 6^th year, with talent easily trumping years past. With the support of its proud sponsors, STX, Gatorade, Knockaround, SKLZ, Athletes Performance, and Adrenaline Apparel, this has proven to be an extremely competitive event with an elite feel, offered to the top 2% of western players. This year’s Showcase players will represent ten states and two provinces: Minnesota, Missouri, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, California, and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. Over the course of the event, these players will come together to perform in front of over 90 NCAA and MCLA recruiters. Not only will players participate in scheduled games, but Adrenaline also organizes NCAA coach-led cutting edge clinics as well as Adrenaline-led recruiter education seminars. “One of the biggest differentials for us in addition to the Showcase itself is giving the recruiters a hands-on feel through coaches’ clinics,” says Jono Zissi, Director of Recruiting. “It gives them the ability to work with and get to know prospective recruits.” As an added bonus, the venue is set in the picturesque region of Sonoma, CA with wonderfully manicured fields and a first class operational set up.

The competition has achieved the highest levels in the West, as lacrosse has become a priority sport for many athletes on the West Coast. The Adrenaline Evaluation Team (AET) carefully selects the best players west of the Mississippi to play in the Showcase. The open selection process includes AET evaluations accumulated over the year from various Adrenaline and western events, trusted coaches’ recommendations, highlight video reviews, and specific player requests from college recruiters. Once the tournament reaches full capacity, players are assigned to rosters and set to play with their newly formed team in two days worth of games and clinics. The open and fair selection process has manifested itself in astounding college placement statistics and has established a trusting relationship amongst the college recruiters. “We are proud to say that this is the event that has taken the western player and put him on a national stage.  It has been hugely successful thanks to the hard work of our team and the trust in our system from mission-based coaches, club directors and community advocates who get their kids involved,” says Alex Cade, President and CMO of Adrenaline. In 2012, 89% of western players who attended the Adrenaline Showcase are now on NCAA rosters, adding to Adrenaline’s overall college placement success rate (CPSR) of 80%. From 2009 to 2012, Adrenaline saw a 53% increase in recruiters attending its events. Just as the talent level of players has grown, so has the awareness and need for college recruiters to attend such events. Beginning as an off the radar recruiting event and becoming a trip recruiters are reluctant to miss, more and more college recruiters have jumped on board. “The talent this year is unreal and as college coaches watch the number of players from our system having an immediate impact in today’s game, it should only get better,” adds Cade. Recruiters present at past Showcases include University of North Carolina, University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame, University of Denver, and Salisbury University.

The player experience is top flight, as they are adorned with customized and coveted Adrenaline Treatment gear as well as STX sponsored equipment. Players also get custom Knockaround sunglasses and Gatorade is fully activated on site with their G-Series line to be sure that athletes are properly fueled for optimal athletic performance. In addition, these players achieve maximum exposure to college recruiters with the Showcase as the precursor to the famed Adrenaline Shootout. Recruiters come for the three day experience to see the Showcase players perform in a small environment against the best players in the West, and can then track and follow these players in a team setting the next two days. Moreover, recruiters get to see how each of the Showcase players operate in a system and a team framework where they are more comfortable and familiar with teammates and coaches, allowing for a more thorough recruiter evaluation opportunity.

Adrenaline plans to take Sonoma by storm once again for the majority of July, starting the Shootout series off right with the Showcase, the top tier event that many players hope to attend.

With roots in lacrosse, Adrenaline is one of the most unique companies in all of sports due to its multi-faceted and truly authentic nature. Adrenaline fosters the lacrosse lifestyle through cutting edge apparel, charity Awareness initiatives, LXM PRO professional tour, training programs, recruiting events, Starz Clubs, tournaments, camps and leagues.  Training programs, designed by professionals—Trylax, Skills, LXM Positional, Adrenafit, and K18 Impact—are based on the Adrenaline Cyclical Developmental model, which allows players to progress in an organized manner through a powerful lacrosse system.  Adrenaline’s robust Recruiting system boasts the top Collegiate Placement Success Rate (CPSR) and owns the top national recruitment event the Black Card. Adrenaline Starz is the largest Club network in the sport including the top ranked Adrenaline West Coast Starz Teams. Corporately, Adrenaline dedicates much of its efforts towards enacting a positive social change by utilizing the power of sports under the Adrenaline Movement. This movement includes our Awareness Initiative, which calls on the lacrosse community to rise above the “lax bro” stigma, lead by example, and partake in positive social movements and charities. Tired of the average and mundane? Adrenaline is the antidote.

For more information, visit: http://www.adrln.com/events/adrenaline-boys-showcase/

Check out LXM Pro and Adrenaline Sales Director, Max Ritz, at the Total Lacrosse store opening in Chicago!

Week 8 of our western player tracker, did not disappoint. Like any good team, it’s always nice to see balance across the board. Every week I look at the teams of Adrenaline alumni playing in college, somebody else seems to be stepping up and making waves. This weekend’s games really opened my eyes to how well our freshmen class of kids is representing the West on the national level.

This week’s western top performers:

Wes Berg (WCS alum/Denver Univ) Berg led the Pioneers for the week scoring nine goals and adding three assists to finish with 12 points in two games for a 63.2 shot-on-goal percentage. Berg started the week with a six-goal, one-assist performance against the Air Force Falcons to record his eighth career hat trick and second career sock trick. Berg then recorded three goals and two assists against the Hobart Statesmen on the road. Berg’s performance sealed the Pioneers’ 11-10 overtime win over the Falcons and the 14-5 win over Hobart, improving the Pioneers to 7-2 overall, 3-0 in ECAC play.

Drexel’s 3 Amigos- Robert Church, Aaron Prosser& Ben McIntosh( WCS alums/Drexel) This trio is single-handedly propelling Drexel into the national spotlight. The Dragons defeated Delaware this weekend thanks to a combined 10 points from this WCS crew.

Tanner Scales (Adrln All American/Virginia) Scales is starting to catch the eye of many lax enthusiasts as the premiere freshman defenseman in the country. His coming out party began with a blanketing of Rob Pannell and was on display on national television this weekend in a loss to Maryland. Scales is a physical specimen, precise with his checks and has that confrontational mentality that all of the great ones possess.

                                 

BrockGhelfi (Bucknell), Challen Rodgers (Stony Brook), Dakota Rohlin (Jacksonville) & MikeHernandez: In addition to Scales, these four WCS alums and Adrln All Americans are making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. Ghelfi continued his offensive explosiveness with a 3 goal outing in a win over Holy Cross this weekend, giving him 14 total on the season. Rodgers has been impressive with his play in between the lines. He bolstered his stats with a goal and an assist in a win over Vermont this week. Rohlin who was tabbed the MAAC Rookie of the week last week, continued his impressive play with a 2 goal outing in an overtime defeat of Detroit. Hernandez set a school record with a 4 goal outing against High Point and is currently the second leading scorer for the Wolverines. He finished with 2 goals in a loss to Air Force this weekend. We still want to give kudos to other Adrenaline family rookies who are stepping up this season, Bailey Tills (Brown), JW McGovern (Yale), Sean Doyle (Cornell), Collins Gantz (Bryant), JohnUpgren (Tufts).

Landon Carr & Niko Amato (Maryland) WCS family members really showed the country how good they are with impressive performances in a big ACC win over Virginia. Carr is arguably the best athlete in college lacrosse and Amato continues to be the hottest goalie in Division I. 

Division III

Matt O’hara(WCS alum/Skidmore) O’hara had a huge weekend for the Thoroughbreds, scoring 5 goals in their win over Vassar.

Eddie Vita(WCS alum/Denison) Vita continued his prolific career with another 5 goal performance in a win over Oberlin.

Sayre Thomas(WCS alum/Colorado College) SCAC defensive player of the week with 12 groundballs, 3 caused turnovers.

NCAA Coaches

Brett Holm (Providence), Jim Mitchell (Bellarmine) and Mike Daly (Tufts) Big weekends for these Adrenaline family member coaches who have really overcome early season odds to be some of the best stories of the 2013 season. Providence and Holm are already 6-2 with a huge conference victory over Rutgers. The program won only 1 game in 2012 and there is a buzz of optimism in the air down in Rhode Island this spring. Bellarmine has literally come out of nowhere and slowly and steadily sits at 7-2 notching a huge conference win over Fairfield this weekend. Coach Daly and the Jumbos overcame the suspension of 27 players in their first two games to beat top ranked Stevenson and Stevens Tech en route to a current record of 5-2 and scoring 15 goals per game. Hats off to these coaches on exceptional turnarounds in the face of adversity.

AdrenaFit – Recovery Series – Performance Nutrition

These 4 weeks we will be diving into recovery and how it can improve each athlete’s performance.  We will be covering self-myofascial release, movement preparation, static stretching, and nutrition.

Before starting any program I would recommend that every athlete get a movement assessment from a qualified athletic trainer.  This is always the first step in the AdrenaFit program.  By giving each athlete a movement assessment we can determine if there are any muscular deviations and can create a personalized program to help correct these issues. 

The last and the most important installment in our recovery series is nutrition.  We break our nutrition into 3 stages; prior to the event, during the event, and after the event.  An event can be a game, practice, weight lifting session, or speed-training workout.  We will also be discussing hydration and its role in performance.

The pre-event meal should consist of mostly of carbohydrates with a small amount of protein and fat.   This meal should be consumed about 1-2 hours prior to the event.   Make sure to drink at least 16 ounces of water with this meal.   Everyone is different and you may need to tinker with the size of the meals and the time before the event to see what feels best.

Examples of pre-event meals are:

• Low-fat cottage cheese or greek yogurt with fruit and granola
• Turkey sandwich with cheese on whole wheat and a piece of fruit
• Peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat and a banana
• Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and 3-4 oz. of mozzarella cheese

During the event you want to make sure your energy level stays up.  The goal should be to drink 4-6 oz. of some type of sports drink every 15-30 minutes after the first 45 minutes of physical activity.  The purpose of these sports drink is to supply the body with some simple carbohydrates, potassium, and electrolytes.  During a longer event like a game you may want to snack at half time if you feel jittery. 

Examples of snacks during an event are:

• Piece of fruit like an apple, orange, or banana
• Small cookie
• Granola bar or energy bar
• Gel packs or gummy snacks like the ones made by Clif Bar and Gatorade

The post-event meal is extremely important to aid in recovery and regeneration.  This meal should consist of protein and carbohydrates and should be consumed within 30 minutes if the event.

Examples of the post-event meals are:

• 12-16 oz. of low fat chocolate milk
• Protein Shake mixed with apple juice
• Scrambled eggs with toast and jelly
• Whole wheat past with sauce, cheese, and lean meat

The last piece of performance nutrition is hydration.  Fluids are responsible for many actions that are essential for performance.  Being hydrated helps regulate body temperature, cushion joints, and helps the body absorb nutrients, as well as a list of other actions that help us perform at our peak level.  To make sure you are well hydrated you should avoid caffeine and high sodium foods.  Make sure you are drinking 16oz. of water for every pound lost during an event.  A simple way to know how much you lost would be to weigh yourself prior to the event and then right after the event.  Another way to tell if you are properly hydrated is by looking at your urine.  If it is clear or barely yellow then you are good to go.  If not its time to up your fluid intake.  Athlete should be drinking at least ½ oz. of water for every pound of body weight per day.  So a 160 lb. player needs at least 80 oz. of water a day.

By combining the 4 steps of the AdrenaFit Recovery System (foam rolling, movement prep, static stretching, and nutrition) you should have a solid routine to not only keep you healthy throughout the season but should help you perform better on the field. 

Here at Adrenaline we realize the great importance these steps have on the athlete’s performance.  Our hope is that we can help each player find find his next level on and off the field of play.  I hope you enjoyed the series and would love feedback from you on this series or any of the training articles.

Jesse Foss is the director of training at Adrenaline Lacrosse.  He attended Stony Brook University and was a two-year starter at midfield.  Prior to that he played at Nassau Community College where he won a national championship in 1999.  Jesse has been training high school and college athletes, as well as, the general population for the last 10 years.  He holds multiple degrees and advanced certifications in performance training, corrective exercise, and sports nutrition.  He is currently the head lacrosse coach at La Costa Canyon High School.  His teams have gone 40-5 in the 2 seasons and finished 2012 ranked #18 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse.  Jesse’s experience as a player, coach, and trainer give him insight to exactly what players’ need to be successful at the highest level.

Adrenaline Alliance Street Team is the newest national initiative composed of a select group of high profile leaders on and off the lacrosse field spreading the Adrenaline gospel. Alliance employs agents of change coming from diverse and eclectic backgrounds, united under the principles of the Adrenaline Movement. Bonded by and representing the best of sport, the Alliance Street Team members are upstanding leaders, mentors, and motivators. 

The Alliance mission is to live and preach the Adrenaline core values. Adrenaline relies on the Street Team spreading the word on major events, believing in the Adrenaline product, and awakening the public’s Awareness. Some of the main duties will include rocking tons of free Adrenaline gear, getting insider looks at our company and new products, building hype for local showcases and events, and assisting LXM Professionals as they lead the charge on a multitude of national Adrenaline Awareness initiatives. Alliance works towards preserving the true culture of lacrosse and shaping its future.  United by the same passion for sport, Alliance members play a crucial role in expanding and continuing the Adrenaline legacy. 

The Alliance Street Team Members are meticulously selected by their character and involvement in their community. To become a part of the team, fill out the Alliance Application. Membership will be pending until the application is thoroughly examined by the CMO of Adrenaline, Alex Cade, and the marketing team. The national team will be announced May 31st.  Adrenaline is excited to involve the most elite and upstanding athletes to share the core values of the Adrenaline Movement. Think you have what it takes to be a part of the Adrenaline Alliance?  Apply today.

About Adrenaline

With roots in lacrosse, Adrenaline is one of the most unique companies in all of sports due to its multi-faceted and truly authentic nature. Adrenaline fosters the lacrosse lifestyle, introducing the sport by way of training camps that segue into high caliber events. Our training programs—Trylax, Skills, LXM Positional, Adrenafit, and K18 Impact—are based on the Adrenaline Cyclical Developmental model, which allows players to progress in an organized manner through a powerful lacrosse system. Adrenaline offers a variety of camps, tournaments, recruiting opportunities, Starz Club teams, LXM Pro games, and an exclusive apparel line. Adrenaline dedicates much of its efforts towards enacting a positive social change by utilizing the power of sports under the Adrenaline Movement.  This movement includes our Awareness Initiative, which calls on the lacrosse community to rise above the “lax bro” stigma, lead by example, and partake in positive social movements and charities.  Tired of the average and mundane? Adrenaline is the antidote. 

Week 9 of the Western Player Tracker saw another weekend of big rivalry games, upsets, role players stepping up, and high scoring shootouts. I, personally, took in A LOT of lacrosse this weekend. I was able to travel back East and watch some of my former players compete in the Harvard/Cornell game and the Providence/Notre Dame game as well as watch several games on tv and highlights of others on the web.

Top Western Performers
Henry Schoonmaker (Oregon/Syracuse): Schoonmaker had a career day for the Orange finishing with 4 goals and 2 assists. The Oregon product couldn’t have picked a better time, as Cuse narrowly nipped a strong Princeton team 13-12.
Collins Gantz (Kent Denver/Bryant): The former Adrenaline All American was huge on Saturday, in a must win game over Robert Morris. The freshman finished with a game best 3 goals and 1 assist and helped Bryant stay undefeated in Northeast Conference play.
Nick Ossello (Colorado Wild/ Notre Dame): Although Notre Dame played a very sluggish game against an upstart Providence team, Ossello, singlehandedly was the difference maker. He went an astounding 18-21 at the face-off x and also played well in between the lines.
Steven Bogert& Erik Myers: (San Diego/Penn State): These two WCS products are integral forces in Penn State’s 8-3 start and first place status in the CAA.
Peter Baum (WCS/Colgate): Despite losing a tough game this weekend to their rival, Lehigh, Baum was immense finishing with 4 goals on the day.
Cody Bernstein (WCS/Dominican): The freshman scored the biggest goal of the season this weekend to send the Dominican/Mesa game to overtime where they ultimately won the game and put themselves in the driver’s seat for league champions.

Things that stood out

Rob Pannell is the real deal.  Physically imposing, impossible to stop 1 on 1, makes everyone around him better, and beyond  his incredible first quarter goal, it was his decision making with the ball and willingness to make the extra pass that impressed me the most.
Spotlight: Steve Mock is really damn good around the crease. His off ball play and hands are impressive.

Changes in the culture of the sport. This is slightly obvious, especially in the wake of the Mike Rice incident last week. However, seeing the recent turnaround of Penn State, Bellarmine, St. John’s, and being able to witness Providence keep a game with Notre Dame competitive while being outmatched at every position on the field reaffirmed  just how far good culture, game planning and motivation can take a program these days.

Big things happening between the pipes with NCAA goalie play. This weekend was something else. Four goalies representing Towson, Bellarmine, St. John's, and Providence, recorded over 20 saves, which is something that I can’t imagine has happened anytime recently. I was able to witness a no name freshman goalie (Jack Connelly) stymie one of the best teams in the country first-hand, and the momentum that it created with the team and the crowd was unreal.

It’s all about relationships. There is no better feeling than seeing things come full-circle. I was able to travel back East this weekend to see two boys who are former players of mine and very near and dear to my heart. Having coached them since the 4^th grade, to see them play in their respective college programs and thrive on the field is the ultimate reward. To think about the journey these boys started on, with a dream of playing D1 lacrosse 10 years ago when lacrosse just began inCalifornia, to see them playing at the highest level now and loving their experience, teammates and schools, was incredibly powerful and moving.  These boys are paving the way for our future generations of western players who are coming up through the WCS & Adrenaline systems and it is awesome!

The Great Danes are unleashed and running full force. Albany is now the most exciting team in the country to watch, there’s no two ways about it. The Thompson trio have to be commended for their creativity on the field—it is fun to watch, you just never know what they will come up with next. Their style goes against a lot of my preaching of fundamentals, but as a player it’s a lot about finding your game and doing things that will help you be successful.

West Coast Starz make the trek back East.  The WCS Middle School teams will be heading to the Maryland-Hopkins game this coming weekend on their spring trip to Baltimore. They are going to see some great lacrosse with a lot of WCS alums on the field who started out in their same shoes. They will also get a nice taste of the intensity of the MD/Hop rivalry, both from being in Byrd stadium and from lining up against the Baltimore Crabs and the LI Express earlier that day.

   

They are more than just lacrosse coaches. This past weekend, I was able to stop in to visit with my former coach, Tufts’ Mike Daly, when I was home. I played for Coach Daly many years ago and worked under him as an assistant coach as well. He is my Yoda. I trust the man implicitly, respect him beyond measure and owe much of who I am today, directly to him. There’s no true way to measure why I got into coaching, but I have to think, much of it is a direct result of the profound impact he had on me as a player, teammate, and most importantly, a person. He challenged me, forced me to step out of my comfort zone, believed in me, saw through my bull sh*t, held me more accountable than I’d ever believed possible, and simply  made me want to be better through his charisma, his dedication, his genuine care for me, and his empowerment. He didn’t do it with brute force, or exaggerated praise. He did it the old fashioned way. While we didn’t always see eye to eye, it was the growth that resulted from those adverse situations and bumps in the road that built an even stronger bond. I graduated from college ten years ago, I still talk to coach a couple of times a month, visit with him as much as travel allows and text regularly. I know I can always count on him and that he is a lifelong friend and ally. He has also been a wonderful mentor to me, as I enter my tenth year as a High School Head Coach, offering advice when need be and just listening if that’s what I need in a given situation. I love what I do, much like he does, and I work hard to create, maintain and nurture relationships with my players and their families, not only while I coach them, but years down the road. The lifelong bond is, what its all about for me, its why coaches do, what we do. Having seen many of friends have bad experiences with their college coaches and careers, I feel fortunate for what I have, and want to do my best to recreate that experience for all those that come under my guidance. I left his office with clarity, renewed confidence and purpose; Luke Skywalker-esque indeed. 

Need new lacrosse gear or Adrenaline apparel?  Head down to any Adrenaline Store to enter into the Raffle to win a prize pack valued at over $400!  With a $100 purchase you'll be entered in the winning and with each additional $20 spent you get more and more opportunities to win!  Stop by a store today and see what premiere items are being raffled off!  Winners will be chosen at the end of the month!

                            Your Story Matters: A family Tragedy and Lacrosse Tell a Valuable Story

                                           Written by Jason Carr with Bo and Lauren Jackson

November 7,2006 was a day that changed the lives of a family forever.  16-year-old Parker Jackson was killed in a single car no-fault accident.  It shook his family to the core and what came from that is what this story is all about.  Parker loved the sport of lacrosse and played the game with an intense passion. He loved not only the game, but also the friendships that can only come from teammates you share the battle on the field. Parker spent a lot of time developing his lacrosse skills and even inspired others to pick up the sport.  When he passed away, a whole community grieved over the loss of an incredible teenager. The Atlanta lacrosse community grieved over the loss of one of its brightest stars.

Parker’s parents, Bo and Lauren Jackson of Milton, Georgia, knew that somehow and someway Parker’s story was meant for something. In the midst of dealing with the reality of Parker’s loss, they were overwhelmed by support and love from the lacrosse community that their son was immersed in.  That support and their belief in God led them to passionately pursue a way to make something great from Parker’s loss.

The Jacksons wanted to capture the spirit that motivated Parker and leverage his story for something special. They knew that Parker’s story mattered then and still does now. Out of their grief and then clarity, they created the Legacy Lacrosse Cup.  The Legacy Cup is an incredible weekend experience that brings together 15 of the best boys and girls high school lacrosse teams from across the country to compete. The fans always look forward to this weekend of  high school games and a spirited collegiate game.

In addition, the Friday night players and coaches dinner is a unique element to the weekend. Friday evening features music, games and a challenging, inspirational message of truth, that we are living our legacies now.  Sharing Parker’s story every year has left a lasting impression. Now, 5 years later, the ripples of Parker’s legacy continue to impact thousands of young people.

The tournament has developed special environments featuring product demos, skills clinics with pro players, and other fun games to encourage young players to play lacrosse. LXM Pro Kyle Harrison has participated in every Legacy Lacrosse Cup.  Kyle shares his lacrosse knowledge, does some demos and shows support for what the Jacksons are doing.  Though Kyle never met Parker, he has worn the initials PJ on his helmet since becoming involved with the Legacy Cup.

It has been said that it’s darkest before the dawn.  For the Jacksons the darkness led to a truth they want everyone to live out- our legacy and story matter.  Their hope is that every player and fan would be intentional and realize that their decisions and choices matter now.

The Legacy Lacrosse Cup has become a great venue for competitive lacrosse every year, and a great venue to challenge some of the best players in the country with one simple message- your story matters.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGACY LACROSSE CUP:

Legacy Lacrosse Cup Fact Sheet - 2013:

Legacy Cup Mission:
To create a first class event showcasing elite lacrosse while challenging and encouraging students to Live A Legacy  (be an impact player in all you do).

• 2013 is the 6^th year to host the Cup. (First year was 2008)

• Total athletes participation to date = 3000

• Over 65 teams from the following 13 states:
• GA, TN, TX, AL, SC, NC, KY, NY, NJ, PA, CO, MD, FL

• Initial invitations are sent to State Champions are invited.  Regionally ranked top 10 teams are invited if space allows after Champions.

• Event began upon the death of Parker Jackson age 16 in single car no fault accident. Parker had an impact on many at his school, sports teams, church and life. This event embodies the 3 most prominent qualities that all who knew Parker would use to describe him: competitive, high moral character and inclusive. The goal is to challenge kids to embrace their own gifts and talents to make an impact in their sphere of influence.

• Parker was an accomplished lacrosse player and a very well liked sophomore at Milton High School, Milton GA

• Total tickets sold at the event is @2500.

• Games are played over two days April 12 and 13, 2013

• 2013 – Jr Legacy Cup to include 13 feeder program teams.  These programs will play on Saturday.

• Player Dinner features a Nationally Recognized Guest Speaker- past speakers:

• Kyle Harrison- LXM PRO lacrosse player, NCAA MVP, Johns Hopkins 2005 undefeated national Champion, Team USA, and 5 time MLL All Star
• Ken Johnson , Chaplain Indianapolis Colts Chaplain
• Dr Greg Dale, Duke University Sports Psychologist
• Darren Youngstrom, Northpoint Community Church High School Director
• Bo Jackson, Parker’s father

• Sponsorship money and donations utilized to offset the cost of the event. There are no fees to teams to participate.

New to the Adrenaline family is Carey Dawidzik, the Camps and Leagues Director.  Born and raised in San Diego, this local has grown to love the sport watching her children play in the different Adrenaline leagues.  Her lacrosse involvement extends beyond just a passionate team parent; she has been the director for the Pointers Youth Lacrosse since 2008 and Booster Director for the Lady Pointers and PL LaxMen lacrosse teams at Point Loma High School since 2009.  While she has been instrumental in directing a thriving lacrosse program at Point Loma High School heading events such as the PL Lax Fest since 2009, she is also involved in organizing ways for the Point Loma lacrosse programs to give back taking the role as Lead Chair for Athletes Saving Athletes, EP Save A Life Heart Screening in 2012, and co-founding Protect Our Pointers 2012-13. 

The product and vision of Adrenaline is what drew Carey into the offices.  Knowing Adrenaline’s core is in line with her value of giving back to the community and using lacrosse as a tool to make a difference, it was a no-brainer to work at Adrenaline.  For Carey, the reward of her job is not just seeing the growth of the sport on a national scale, but witnessing a young girl or boy pick up a stick for the first time and fall in love with the sport.  This summer get your kids off the couch and on the field!  Check out the camps and leagues near you! 

The Golden State does more than NBA, NFL and NHL. Recently, California has seen a major surge in the growth of lacrosse. The result; many Cali natives are getting the chance to make the trip out East to play DI college lacrosse.

With only a handful of college and high school lacrosse programs across the state, the club teams are the best way for kids to play ball. One of these programs is RC Starz based out of San Diego. The program’s goal is to prepare young players for the next level of lacrosse, and this year the roster is filled with a slew of future DI stars, with 14 of them already having committed to Top 10 colleges like Maryland, Notre Dame and Duke.  To read more click here!

Jono Zissi has been the Marquee and Recruiting director at Adrenaline for two years; however, he has been assisting the Adrenaline recruiting system since 2002.  Born in Winchester, MA, Jono’s passion for the sport of lacrosse began at an early age.  His competitive lacrosse career was marked by huge success, as he applied his talents for 4 years playing NCAA College Lacrosse at Tufts University.  During his career as a Jumbo, he was a 2x All New England Attackman and notched over 100 goals.  Graduating from Tufts with a BA in Psychology and Sociology, Jono continued his education at the University of San Diego attaining a Masters in Education and Sociology. 

The end of his competitive NCAA career did not keep Jono out of the lacrosse game; rather, his experience playing top tier lacrosse motivated him to give back to the sport and coach local San Diego teams.  Zissi began his coaching career at the University of San Diego High School, where he was the Head Coach from 2003-2006, earning US Lacrosse Coach of the Year Honors in ‘06. He then moved on to the Co-Head Coaching position as a faculty member at The Bishops School where he coached from 2006-2009, helping build Bishops into a contender in San Diego by winning two Coastal Conference Championships. In 2010 Zissi went back to his alma mater as an NCAA Division III Offensive Coordinator and helped Tufts to a 20-1 record, a NESCAC league Championship and the school’s first ever National Championship. Zissi missed the life of San Diegoand moved back after the championship season accepting Head Coach at TorreyPinesHigh School. Torrey Pines won CIF in 2011, finishing the year ranked #1 in Californiaand the West with Zissi earning CIF Coach of the Year honors. Torrey Pines was a CIF finalist in 2012 and is a front runner in the 2013 polls. Zissi also runs the West Coast Starz, Adrln Tropics, RC elite club programs, and the Rancho Santa Fe Youth Lacrosse Club.  Zissi’s favorite part of coaching and working for Adrenaline is the ongoing cycle of helping talented players progress to higher levels of play and instructing new, next generation players.  Be sure to check out his weekly blog tracking Adrenaline’s most talented NCAA players! 

This past weekend, the West Coast Starz Middle School teams, traveled back to Maryland for their annual spring trip to test their metal against the nation’s best competition in the form of, The Baltimore Crabs, LI Express, and Virginia Lacrosse Club.  The weekend began with coaches and player introductions at the hotel. Scott Hochstadt addressed the future generation of the WCS, talking about the culture and tradition of the program, of where it started and of those that came before them and helped pave the way. The expectation was set early on and this dovetailed into a long chalk talk going over the offensive and defensive sets and philosophies the WCS teams utilize. The boys were then issued their customized Adrenaline treated uniforms and sweatshirts before calling it a night.

Saturday morning came quickly, coupled with the time change, but the boys were running on pure adrenaline and excitement and powered through their jet lag. University of Maryland was the host venue for Saturday’s game and the boys were able to jump right into the fire with games against the Crabs. The highlight of the day was the 8^th grade team defeating both the Crabs and the Express, representing the West in a big way. The boys took an intermission at 3pm, and attended the Maryland v. Hopkins game, at the newly renovated Byrd Stadium. They watched one of the most storied and competitive rivalries in college lacrosse. This year’s game, with over 12, 000 fans, was nothing short of all the billing. As if seeing this game live wasn’t enough motivation for our young men to get fired up, the game featured six WCS alums, including Maryland captain, Landon Carr. These guys started out in the very same shoes as our young Middle Schoolers many years ago, helping these boys realize their dreams are possible with hard work and dedication.

The boys had more games Sunday morning on the campus of Boys Latin, currently the #1 ranked high school program in the country and the alma mater of Starz founder, Scott Hochstadt. They finished the day with a two hour intensive training camp session that included intra-squad scrimmages and another intimate opportunity for the WCS coaches to get a more thorough look and evaluation of the players as they begin to formalize summer rosters.  The boys did a great job of bonding and playing together in a short amount of time, which is not always easy when you bring together high level players from nine states. The future of WCS is bright and we are all very excited for their return toBaltimorefor the summer’s Young Gunz tournament.

Congrats to Laxdawgs defenseman, Alex Hernandez on his commitment to Virginia Wesleyan!

2012 was quite a year for Adrenaline Events! We saw growth of events in an unprecedented manner with LXM crowds reaching capacity, new world class locations, and ending in one of the biggest events in theUnited States of America– The Adrenaline Challenge (120+ teams & 20 Fields.)

As the Tournament Director of Adrenaline Events I never realized the influence that we, here at Adrenaline, have on the growth of the sport. Trying to do this in a positive manner has always been my #1 goal as director, ensuring sure that everyone leaves the facility with a strong feeling. It’s human nature in the moment of high-stress, i.e. working 20 hour days, day and night, to question why I put myself through this…

It’s the few moments I get during an event, to stop and watch a game, to see a player or a team do something exceptional, which reward the chaos and stress. Being a part of creating the environment that allows moments for players to reach excellence is the highlight of the job. Looking back, I can surely remember a few pivotal moments in my lacrosse career. However the moments I hold highest, I specifically remember EXACTLY WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW these moments happened. I truly believe that our hired event staff members believe in helping create STRONG MOMENTS for our participants.

For 2013, we are going to do something a little different. As a company that continues to grow exponentially, almost by the day, we are going nation-wide on a search for our newest top employee talent. For each LXMATS location I will be posting job openings for specific events. If you have ever been to an Adrenaline event, you have undoubtedly seen the guys keeping score at fields or my staff responding to emergencies. But that is only 5% of the job. You think you have what it takes?

First up, Adrenaline All American Game / LXMATS – Orange County:

Location: OrangeCoastCollege– June 8^th, 2013

 1. Adrenaline All-American & LXM Pro Game Field Manager – (Experienced Tournament Staff; College players)

Job Begins: June 8^th @ 11:00am

Job Ends: June 8^th @ 10:00pm

• Oversee and assist in the set up/break down of playing fields, clinic fields and Info Tent/s, event space as directed by APD and CPD
• Mend nets, ball checks on each field, refill water/Gatorade jugs, mend banners and backstops as needed, touch up lines, set up cones on the field
• Run the table by keeping  score on the scoreboard and making sure those scores are reported to Info Tent via walkie talkie when needed
• Responsible for detailed inventory of supplies as well as clean, repair and overall management of all event supplies
• Assists with recruiter relations
• May be asked to coach/co-coach a free agent or all-star team
• Answer questions and problem solve issues as they arise – report to APD any issues or when have questions
• Be Adrenaline representative at all times – on and off the field. Take accountability for machinery, equipment and materials

Requirements:

• Must live within 25 miles of the event facility (site specific – please check the website for exact location)
• Must posses a valid drivers license
• Must be able to work long hours, and at times lifting 50 pounds or more
• Must be able to handle sometimes stressful situations
• Proven ability to listen to detailed instructions and execute
• Proven track of accountability
• Work with their hands

 2. LXMATS - Tournament Staff (Experienced Tournament Staff; College players; local high school players):

Job Begins: June 7^th @ 6:00am – 8:00pm

Job Ends: June 8^th @ 5:30am - 8:00pm

• Set up/break down of playing fields, clinic fields and Info Tent/s, event space as directed by Tournament Field Manager and Adrenaline Program Director
• Mend nets, ball checks on each field, refill water/Gatorade jugs, mend banners and backstops as needed, touch up lines, set up cones on the field
• Run the table by keeping  score on the scoreboard and making sure those scores are reported to Info Tent via walkie-talkie when needed
• Airport shuttle runs as needed
• May be asked to coach/co-coach a free agent or all-star team
• Answer questions and problem solve issues as they arise – report to TFM any issues or when have questions
• Be Adrenaline representative at all times – on and off the field. Take accountability for machinery, equipment and materials

Requirements:

• Must live within 25 miles of the event facility (site specific – please check the website for exact location)
• Must posses a valid drivers license
• Must be able to work long hours, and at times lifting 50 pounds or more
• Must be able to handle sometimes stressful situations
• Proven ability to listen to detailed instructions and execute
• Proven track of accountability
• Work with their hands

Please reach out to me at Jamie.baker@adrln.com if you feel you fit these criteria. Be creative. I get dozens of e-mails a day from people “Hey do you have any jobs available at Adrenaline?” We are a small company that strives to hire exceptional and unique individuals that we consider our family. Tell me why you are right for the job, what experience you have (it may not be anything close to running or working an event). We want lacrosse players, but not specifically All-Americans but people with drive, desire, and a motor that doesn’t quit.

Congratulations to Lax Dawgs standout, Quintin Purdue, on his commitment to Dominican!