Thanks to Johnny Hanlon, rising senior FO/Middie at Pope John Paul II High School for sending us this recap of his experience playing for The USA in last weekend’s National 175 event in upstate New York!  A great honor for him.  We hope to have a similar report from Nick McCabe of Boca Raton, who played in the rising juniors event.   Nat175 “Stars and Stripes vs. Team Maple Leafs” HS Challenge Cup September 21, 2014 Union College, Schenectady NY. Johnny Hanlon 2015 Pope John Paul II HS/Florida Swashbucklers/Florida Elite/Team Stars and Stripes    

Pope John Paul’s Johnny Hanlon #25

  It was an honor to represent and play on the 2015 Team “Stars and Stripes” on this beautiful NY fall day.  To be there representing the USA and playing with some great talent from around the country was amazing.  It made me and my family very proud.  As we walked out on the field in our bright red, white and blue uniforms you could feel the excitement in the stands and on the field.  We practiced as a unit for 2 hours on Saturday.  It gave us the opportunity to Xanax Online begin to gel as a team.  Our coaches were great and prepared us for the “box” lacrosse technique Canada uses.   From what I understand, the event came together because many of the top coaches in Canada believed that Canada’s top high school players would be able to beat the USA top players.  Nat 175 strongly disagreed and pulled together this inaugural event.  There was 1 team from each class; 2017, 2016 and 2015.  The 2017 team lost in OT.  The 2016 team won 18-12 and our 2015 team game went back and forth for most of the 1^st half, but Team Stars and Stripes pulled ahead in the 2^nd half to a 19-16 victory.  It was such a great feeling to leave Upstate NY and head back to South Florida with a victory over Team Maple Leafs.  It was going to a long ride home for them for sure.  I wish I could play again next year, but I will be off to the next level lacrosse.  I encourage high school level players to try out for this team, it is an experience you will never forget.  USA!