THE LAX MAG - League Athletics
JANUARY 2011 | Volume 4 Issue 1
MCLA 4.0
www.mclamag.com
THE LAX MAG
TEAM SPOTLIGHT FLorida State
PLAYER PROFILE James Blackburn
COACH’s CORNER
High school
Kevin Perkins
Lincoln
HIGH SCHOOL Portland, OR
Lincoln High School words: Will Callegari photos: Ken Spearing
Reaching the Top Although the game of lacrosse is relatively new in the northwest, the boys of Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon have begun to make a splash nationwide. Thanks to strong coaching and the continued dedication of the players, the Cardinals have risen to what can now be deemed as a powerhouse lacrosse program in the State of Oregon.
those campaigns. In 2001, their third year as a team, Lincoln finally secured that first win necessary to build success upon. From 2004-2007 the Cardinals made four consecutive trips to the semifinals of the Oregon High School Lacrosse State Tournament. However, they were once again defeated before their lust after their first state championship could be
field usage, and varsity letters but due to the state’s unwillingness to accept lacrosse as a high school sport, the Cardinals must remain under this “club” status. Regardless of this designation, the program has seen tremendous growth over the past twelve seasons. The single team that was formed in 1999 has grown into a program of astonishing size and potential. Currently, Lincoln has sixty-five
Lincoln High School after winning the 2010 Oregon State Championship
The Early Years
MCLA The Lax Mag January 2011
The Lincoln High School lacrosse program was founded in the fall of 1999 by a diverse group of seventeen students from various organizations from throughout the high school. They came from the yearbook staff, the soccer team, the student council and many other places with one goal in their hearts; they were determined to start a lacrosse program that could not only compete with the other schools in the area, but defeat them. Unfortunately, the first two years proved 18 difficult as the Cardinals went winless during
fulfilled. But in 2008, their fortunes changed and they captured their first Oregon High School Lacrosse State Championship. During the next two seasons, the Cardinals would reach the state finals twice, walking away with yet another title (2010) to add to their team’s resume. Since its foundation, the Lincoln High School lacrosse team has maintained the status of what it describes as a “varsity club team” at Lincoln. The team is affiliated with the high school by name, colors, mascot,
players participating in the third and fourth grade division, one hundred and fifty players participating in the fifth through eighth grade division, and roughly fifty participating in the high school division. The high school division fields three teams; two junior varsity squads and one varsity squad. With so much talent gaining valuable experience at such a young age, it’s no wonder that Head Coach Will Harris has seen such an increase of success during his time at the helm.
“
“There’s a cosmic lesson here somewhere that a group of inspired kids can pour their hearts and effort into a losing proposition and leave a legacy of championship proportions.”
Coach Harris doesn’t exactly fit the mold that most successful high school coaches are made from. This native of Los Angeles, California had actually never even seen the game of lacrosse played until his arrival at Lewis & Clark College, where as a student he watched his friends playing for the school’s club team. In fact, he never even played the game himself until he was twenty-nine years old and he filled in for some friends as a midfielder on their men’s team. While reflecting back on this first experience, Coach Harris admitted, “They gave me a short stick, called me middie, made me face-off in the mud hole at the center of the field and go figure, I fell in love with the game and the community.” Upon the establishment of the Lincoln High School program, Coach Harris stepped up and volunteered to take on the fledgling team that had about as much experience as he did. But as fate would have it, the two were a perfect match from the start. “There’s a cosmic lesson here somewhere that a group of inspired kids can pour their hearts and effort into a losing proposition and leave a legacy of championship proportions,” said Coach Harris. He may not be a former collegiate All-America, but if you were to ask any of his former or current players you could bet the bank that they’d say he knows what he’s doing. Oh yea, and his team’s trophy case speaks for itself.
The Winning Record
Over the past twelve seasons, the Lincoln Cardinals have become one of the most elite lacrosse programs in the northwest United States amassing an astonishing record of one hundred and forty-four wins and sixty-seven losses. The Cardinals have been present in the last seven state tournament final fours, winning two state titles and finishing as the runner-up once. During this seven year period, two distinctive rivalries were formed,
“
one with Lakeridge and the other with the Oregon Episcopal School. Lincoln senior captain, Peter Williams, had this to say on the subject. “The Oregon Episcopal School is without a doubt our biggest rival. Being right across town and facing them twice a year always makes the guys get up for the game. We have met each other in the state championship twice in three years; so without a doubt it’s always our most intensive game.” Individually, the Lincoln players are as decorated as they come for such a young program. Since 2004, seven Cardinals have been named All-Americas and twelve as First
Team All-State Selections. The Cardinals have also sent a number of players onto the collegiate game at both the NCAA and MCLA levels. Lincoln players currently occupy NCAA roster slots for Colgate, Denver, Syracuse, Drexel, and Albany. Other Lincoln alumni can be found on MCLA rosters all over the nation, including Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona, Loyola Marymount, Hamden Sydney and Southern California.
2011
Coming into the 2011 campaign, Coach Harris and his Cardinals have set the bar high, as their goal is to not only return to their fourth straight state championship game, but to win it. Led by its senior captains Tony Baum (Attack), Peter Williams (LSM), Jake Neumann (Defense), and Max Dickinson (Goalie), Lincoln High School will definitely have its work cut out for it. With strong opponents like Mercer Island (WA) and the Oregon Episcopal School on their schedule, the Cardinals must play solid lacrosse week in and week out. Defensive captain, Jake Neumann, believes that for his team to repeat as state
champions, a variety of things are needed. “We really need to coordinate ourselves well on and off the field, and keep together as a team. We must communicate constantly because although there is a lot of talent returning, there are many new faces. We have the tools necessary for success, and if we can get it all together then we will definitely be back.” With the large amount of talent returning this season, the Lincoln High School Cardinals will definitely be striving to make themselves one of the best in the northwest.
MCLA The Lax Mag January 2011
Coach Harris: Cosmic Lesson
-- Will Harris Head Coach
19
MCLA 4.0
www.mclamag.com
THE LAX MAG
TEAM SPOTLIGHT FLorida State
PLAYER PROFILE James Blackburn
COACH’s CORNER
High school
Kevin Perkins
Lincoln
HIGH SCHOOL Portland, OR
Lincoln High School words: Will Callegari photos: Ken Spearing
Reaching the Top Although the game of lacrosse is relatively new in the northwest, the boys of Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon have begun to make a splash nationwide. Thanks to strong coaching and the continued dedication of the players, the Cardinals have risen to what can now be deemed as a powerhouse lacrosse program in the State of Oregon.
those campaigns. In 2001, their third year as a team, Lincoln finally secured that first win necessary to build success upon. From 2004-2007 the Cardinals made four consecutive trips to the semifinals of the Oregon High School Lacrosse State Tournament. However, they were once again defeated before their lust after their first state championship could be
field usage, and varsity letters but due to the state’s unwillingness to accept lacrosse as a high school sport, the Cardinals must remain under this “club” status. Regardless of this designation, the program has seen tremendous growth over the past twelve seasons. The single team that was formed in 1999 has grown into a program of astonishing size and potential. Currently, Lincoln has sixty-five
Lincoln High School after winning the 2010 Oregon State Championship
The Early Years
MCLA The Lax Mag January 2011
The Lincoln High School lacrosse program was founded in the fall of 1999 by a diverse group of seventeen students from various organizations from throughout the high school. They came from the yearbook staff, the soccer team, the student council and many other places with one goal in their hearts; they were determined to start a lacrosse program that could not only compete with the other schools in the area, but defeat them. Unfortunately, the first two years proved 18 difficult as the Cardinals went winless during
fulfilled. But in 2008, their fortunes changed and they captured their first Oregon High School Lacrosse State Championship. During the next two seasons, the Cardinals would reach the state finals twice, walking away with yet another title (2010) to add to their team’s resume. Since its foundation, the Lincoln High School lacrosse team has maintained the status of what it describes as a “varsity club team” at Lincoln. The team is affiliated with the high school by name, colors, mascot,
players participating in the third and fourth grade division, one hundred and fifty players participating in the fifth through eighth grade division, and roughly fifty participating in the high school division. The high school division fields three teams; two junior varsity squads and one varsity squad. With so much talent gaining valuable experience at such a young age, it’s no wonder that Head Coach Will Harris has seen such an increase of success during his time at the helm.
“
“There’s a cosmic lesson here somewhere that a group of inspired kids can pour their hearts and effort into a losing proposition and leave a legacy of championship proportions.”
Coach Harris doesn’t exactly fit the mold that most successful high school coaches are made from. This native of Los Angeles, California had actually never even seen the game of lacrosse played until his arrival at Lewis & Clark College, where as a student he watched his friends playing for the school’s club team. In fact, he never even played the game himself until he was twenty-nine years old and he filled in for some friends as a midfielder on their men’s team. While reflecting back on this first experience, Coach Harris admitted, “They gave me a short stick, called me middie, made me face-off in the mud hole at the center of the field and go figure, I fell in love with the game and the community.” Upon the establishment of the Lincoln High School program, Coach Harris stepped up and volunteered to take on the fledgling team that had about as much experience as he did. But as fate would have it, the two were a perfect match from the start. “There’s a cosmic lesson here somewhere that a group of inspired kids can pour their hearts and effort into a losing proposition and leave a legacy of championship proportions,” said Coach Harris. He may not be a former collegiate All-America, but if you were to ask any of his former or current players you could bet the bank that they’d say he knows what he’s doing. Oh yea, and his team’s trophy case speaks for itself.
The Winning Record
Over the past twelve seasons, the Lincoln Cardinals have become one of the most elite lacrosse programs in the northwest United States amassing an astonishing record of one hundred and forty-four wins and sixty-seven losses. The Cardinals have been present in the last seven state tournament final fours, winning two state titles and finishing as the runner-up once. During this seven year period, two distinctive rivalries were formed,
“
one with Lakeridge and the other with the Oregon Episcopal School. Lincoln senior captain, Peter Williams, had this to say on the subject. “The Oregon Episcopal School is without a doubt our biggest rival. Being right across town and facing them twice a year always makes the guys get up for the game. We have met each other in the state championship twice in three years; so without a doubt it’s always our most intensive game.” Individually, the Lincoln players are as decorated as they come for such a young program. Since 2004, seven Cardinals have been named All-Americas and twelve as First
Team All-State Selections. The Cardinals have also sent a number of players onto the collegiate game at both the NCAA and MCLA levels. Lincoln players currently occupy NCAA roster slots for Colgate, Denver, Syracuse, Drexel, and Albany. Other Lincoln alumni can be found on MCLA rosters all over the nation, including Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona, Loyola Marymount, Hamden Sydney and Southern California.
2011
Coming into the 2011 campaign, Coach Harris and his Cardinals have set the bar high, as their goal is to not only return to their fourth straight state championship game, but to win it. Led by its senior captains Tony Baum (Attack), Peter Williams (LSM), Jake Neumann (Defense), and Max Dickinson (Goalie), Lincoln High School will definitely have its work cut out for it. With strong opponents like Mercer Island (WA) and the Oregon Episcopal School on their schedule, the Cardinals must play solid lacrosse week in and week out. Defensive captain, Jake Neumann, believes that for his team to repeat as state
champions, a variety of things are needed. “We really need to coordinate ourselves well on and off the field, and keep together as a team. We must communicate constantly because although there is a lot of talent returning, there are many new faces. We have the tools necessary for success, and if we can get it all together then we will definitely be back.” With the large amount of talent returning this season, the Lincoln High School Cardinals will definitely be striving to make themselves one of the best in the northwest.
MCLA The Lax Mag January 2011
Coach Harris: Cosmic Lesson
-- Will Harris Head Coach
19
