See that scrum?  No, it’s not rugby, it’s an elite face-off guy fighting to the end for the ball after his opponent claimed a rare victory.  Alex Newhouse is always in the scrum when he has to be, but usually he’s headed toward the goal with the ball, as he is in the photo above.

Florida High School lacrosse fans had not really heard about Alex until this year.  Alex was behind one of the best face-off specialists in the state at St. Thomas Aquinas and growing into his body.  For his junior season, Alex transferred to St. Andrew’s and stepped in as the lead face-off midfielder for the Scots.  You might have noticed he is not described as a FOGO because he can play both ways on the field. His love is clearly facing off and most likely his skills there will be his ticket to play at the next level.  Alex is a student of the art, studying videos and working on his technique for hours on end.  While his season win percentage shown below was exceptional, a more telling statistic might be his combined 16 of 34 against McDonogh and Boys’ Latin.  Alex held his own against great competition. FLN saw Alex at the Prep School Lacrosse Showcase in Greenwich on June 1 and he played well against very skilled players (photo above).  No doubt plenty of the 102 coaches present noticed his success.   A good student and teammate, Alex will find a collegiate destination in the near future.

Stats from last season 74% faceoff win percentage, 5 goals, 6 assists, 128 ground balls

See Alex’s Highlight – http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3734845/alex-newhouse

Full Name: Alex Newhouse

Position: Face-off, Midfield

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 165 lbs

High School Team: Saint Andrew’s

Club Team: NoVa West Elite (VA)

Lacrosse Honors:  1st Team All-District and Region for 2014 seasons. 2014 National Faceoff Club Combine 7 semi-finalist, 2014 KOH All-Star team

FLN – What kind of college experience you are looking for?

AN – A great academic school that also allows me to continue playing lacrosse at a competitive level.

FLN – What camps, teams, or clinics are on your schedule for the rest of the off season?

AN – New England Top 150, Under Armour Shootout & Inside Lacrosse Invitational, KOH with NoVa West, NHSLS with Saint Andrews.

FLN – How Would You Describe Your Game?

AN – I go into every game with a mindset of winning every faceoff

FLN – What Was Your First Lacrosse Experience?

AN – Playing lacrosse with all of my friends in middle school at Spanish River Christian School.

FLN – Who Was Your Biggest Lacrosse Influence?

AN – Playing for Coach R. J. Dawson and the entire coaching staff at Saint Andrews as well as spending countless hours working on faceoffs with Sam Talkow (Boston U) has really allowed me to elevate my game to a higher level.  I have also had the opportunity to be  trained by a number of coaches thru the years that have also contributed to my lacrosse skills including Rich Carter, Andrew Bolger, Devin Pinkston, the Faceoff Club, and the Faceoff Academy.

FLN – Which College/Pro Players Do You Like Watching The Most?

AN – Charlie Raffa, Liam O’Connor, and the Thompson Trio

FLN – What Is Your Lacrosse Goal For the 2015 season?

AN – To win the state championship and achieve Academic All American

FLN – What would you like your teammates to say about you?

AN – That I am consistently a hard worker and a team leader.

Favorite Meal:  Chipotle

Favorite TV Show:  Impractical Jokers

Favorite Sport Besides Lacrosse:  Ice Hockey

What Is On Your IPod/Smart Phone for Music? Techno/Rock

What celebrity would you most like to meet?  Ariana Grande

What Hobby Or Interest Do You Have That Would Surprise People Who Know You?  I like shark fishing