Well, I’m back again with my second annual Top 10 stories list.  It could have stretched beyond ten but then it wouldn’t be fair to say Top 10 . . .  I apologize in advance if you feel something that did not make the list is among your favorite. You can always send me your own list and if it is well written I might well publish yours too! To those who wonder, I try to give a bigger look at the Florida scene and how it is fitting into the national and international lacrosse picture. So, here we go!

  First, a bonus one:   Immokalee’s High and Low   A program-best 13-7 record and a second straight district final trip And a devastating night courtesy of Irma Thank you to all of you who helped them recover!   #10 – Girls High School Players Rapidly Gaining National Recognition and Respect   LINK (This is the link to the LaxPower 2017-18 Incoming Freshwomen – is that politically correct these days? – Florida-raised players going to college programs, many to D1 programs) It’s FIVE PAGES LONG . . . that’s terrific!  But I know for a fact I did not get 5 pages worth of SUBMIT RECRUIT COMMITMENT articles out of it. Players, parents, coaches . . . I want to see a 100% compliance on that!  Give the kids their due! And here is the LINK for our high school senior class LOTS of big names on that one. 72 names in total so far.  I know I don’t have 72 Recruiting articles up yet . . .   #9 – Bernhardt Brothers Make US National Team Roster / Jake Bernhardt Wins MLL Ring   Besides Jared’s University of Maryland ring, Jake Bernhardt wins an MLL ring with the Ohio Machine.  On top of that, both Jake and Jesse have qualified for the final roster for the 2018 US National Team for 2018’s FIL World Championship in Israel.   #8 – Major Upheaval in the Boy’s High School Coaching Ranks   Quick, name a Boy’s high school head coach besides Terry Crowley who will be coaching a Florida team as a head coach this season and holds an FHSAA championship to his credit . . . Chris Spaulding has moved on to upstate NY and Jeff Goldberg will be an assistant head coach this year   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/breaking-chris-spaulding-resigns-from-lake-highland-prep-will-relocate-to-upstate-ny-with-family/   That’s almost all of them.  Depends how you count the pre-FHSAA days. Shane Rye has moved on from Benjamin   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/breaking-shane-rye-resigns-head-coach-benjamin-school/   Danny Loftus has given up the head duties at Jupiter   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/breaking-jupiter-switches-roles-nick-ohara-new-head-coach-dan-loftus-will-remain-staff/   Jim DeLang has retired Don’t get me started on Vero Beach . . . 4 coaches in 4 years   Let’s hope we don’t lose as many refs this season too . . .   #7 – Casey Powell Inducted in to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame   One last recognition for the legend that has left his mark all around the state of Florida. Here’s a clip of his Lax Sports Network HOF Induction video:     #6 – The Rise of Urban Programs   Nothing made me feel better this year than bringing to you the efforts being made in Delray, New River Middle and other similar programs going on around the state. Here’s a video from the Paul Rabil / Broward County / SFYLL event from New River:     Thank you to all who care!   #5 – The Revival of the Gulf Coast   Barron Collier, Berkeley Prep, Tampa Jesuit, Plant, Riverview-Sarasota, Cardinal Mooney, Gulf Coast All had signature wins last season Barron’s only losses were to STA and Benjamin, both on the road Berkeley went to the Final Eight Tampa Jesuit and Plant combined with Berkeley to form one of, if not the best, threesome in any district last season And Riverside came out of nowhere to surprise this writer Now keep it up! And thanks for this:   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/big-lacrosse-news-hillsborough-county/   #4 – A Banner Year for Florida Kids & Programs in the NCAA and NAIA   Boy, was it ever . . . D1 National championship rings for Jared Bernhardt, Colin Hayek and Alex Tumminello Furman’s Louie Yovino wins SoCon Rookie of the Year   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/furmans-louie-yovino-named-socon-freshman-of-the-year/   FSC’s Emily Santoli named IWLCA D2 Midfielder of the Year   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/fsc-santoli-named-iwlca-midfielder-of-the-year-again/   Abby Shields named first-team ASun   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/veros-abby-shields-named-first-team-all-asun-at-furman/   Manhattan’s Parker Giarratana named the school’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/bocas-parker-giarratana-named-manhattan-college-male-student-athlete-of-the-year/   Keiser College Makes the NAIA championship game in their first year   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/keiser-4-mens-lacrosse-falls-to-2-reinhardt-in-national-championship-10-5/   Ave Maria Women make NAIA tourney appearance and named School’s top sports story   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/ave-maria-gyrenes-name-womens-lacrosse-bid-naia-tourney-top-athletic-story-year/   The entire Sunshine State Conference Men’s teams ranked at one time in the season Florida Gators Women continue to produce Top 10 teams FIT’s Allie Modica Invited to IWLCA North-South game   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/fit-modica-selected-to-iwlca-north-south-senior-all-star-roster/   I’m sure that was not fully inclusive, but you get the point . . .   #3 – Florida Launch Make The Playoffs   It was a fantastic year for our only professional lacrosse team.  A new coaching staff that resulted in a Coach of the Year Award for Tom Mariano, an MLL Defensive Player of the Year Award for Tucker Durkin and a nomination for Offensive Player of the Year in Kieran McArdle and Rookie of the Year in Dylan Molloy was combined with a transformational draft that produced Molloy, Nick Mariano, Sergio Salcido, Jarrod Neumann, Ryan Drenner, Alec Tullet and Benny Pugh as playoff roster players . . . and what a result!   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/live-blog-the-mll-draft-sunday-1100am/   A turnaround from a 4-10 record to 8-6 and a playoff spot against eventual MLL champion Ohio.  The Launch gave a valiant effort only to struggle in the fourth quarter and lose 18-13. Crowd attendance is on the upswing and there is certainly a buzz surrounding the team going into the 2018 season.   #2 – Florida Southern Women Return to the Finals / Florida Tech Makes Playoff   A banner year on the Women’s side for the SSC as both FIT and FSC are selected for the NCAA D2 tourney.  FIT takes down South bracket #3 seed East Stroudsburg in the first round before falling to FSC.  FSC then goes on to beat South #1 Lindenwood in the semifinals until Adelphi wins the final 6-4. Coming off 2016’s national championship FSC showed that run was not a fluke or a one-hit wonder. http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/fsc-moccasins-fall-to-adelphi-6-4-in-ncaa-championship-game/   #1 – STA Repeats / Bishop Moore Wins First   St. Thomas Aquinas repeats as FHSAA Boy’s champions and Bishop Moore captures their first Girl’s title as the Final Four weekend in Jupiter provides fantastic lacrosse. STA stretched their Florida winning streak to 37 games and finished a second playoff run with a comfortable 12-7 win over Lake Highland in the championship game, after surviving a second half run by Benjamin a day earlier.  STA also represented the state well in their only loss, a road trip to Long Island to take on Nassau County powerhouse Massapequa, Coach Crowley’s alma mater.  The Raiders will be looking for a three-peat and are certainly among the preseason favorites to get back to the finals.   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/the-raiders-do-it-again-sta-pulls-away-late-for-the-12-7-fhsaa-championship-win-over-lhp/   Bishop Moore rode Abby Spalding’s double OT goal to a 13-12 win in what was a showcase for how the Girls’ game should be played.  STA was looking for the sweep of both titles and came up just short, but they were able to revenge a one-sided loss to heavily favored American Heritage-Delray in the regional final and then outlasted Barron Collier with a late run.  Bishop Moore was able to glide by Ponte Vedra in their semifinals.   http://www.new.floridalacrossenews.com/bishop-moore-in-2-ots-wins-the-fhsaa-title-over-sta-13-12/   Great games, great atmosphere and a big thanks to Jupiter High for hosting two great Final Fours the past two years.  A shout out to all the volunteers and organizers for their efforts!     2018 should be a great year!