District 6 District 6 turned into one of the best districts in the state in 2017.  Long time power Ponte Vedra came off their FHSAA Finals appearance last year on fire, losing only to Jupiter on the road while gaining a victory over IMG and other top teams before their shocking loss to Lake Mary in the FHSAA second round, keeping them away from a likely rematch with STA. Runner up Nease earned a stunning victory over Jupiter on the road as well as solid road wins over Maclay and American Heritage-Delray but proved to be overmatched when playing PV, giving up 20 goals in each game.  They were also able to take down Bolles at home.  Third place Creekside also played a tough schedule and holds a road win over Bolles on their resume but were not able to compete with Nease in District.  Bartram Trail has some work to do as does Fleming Island in order to make up the gap.  Fleming Island and Bartram both handled Buchholz easily and that’s the type of result that shows the District’s prowess. With transfers Max Schalit and Carter Parlette coming in PV still looks like the clear favorite to come out of the district and we’ll see if the teams vying for district positioning can close the gap head to head. This year it’s clear that if NCAA March Madness Rules apply there would be more than one team invited to the 32-team bracket!   District Playoff Ponte Vedra beat Bartram Trail 24-7 and Nease beat Creekside 16-8 Ponte Vedra beat Nease 21-3   Team Name: Ponte Vedra High School Sharks Head Coach’s Name:  Tom West Who are your leading returning players?   Wyatt Schupler- 2018 Goalie(Army) – 2018 Team Captain, 2x UA All American, 2016 2^nd team ALL County Goalie, 2017 1^st Team ALL county Goalie, over 175 saves last year with a 63% save percentage.  Never lost to a North Florida Team since taking over as a starter in 2016. Schupler has been one of the most dominant and impactful players in the state last year and only expect to build on that in 2018. Jack Burke – 2018 Midfield(VMI)-2018 Team Captain, Jack has been an integral part of the PV offense the past 2 years as a starting attackman, posting 40 goals and 15 assists in 2017.  Jack will make the move to the midfield where he is most comfortable as he leads the PV offense in 2018. CD James – 2018 Midfield/Attack (Hopkins Football) – 2018 Team Captain. Cd will leave PV as a 3 years starter, playing both midfield and attack.  CD, a true work horse, posted 20 goals and 14 assists in 2017 and will look to improve on that number this year as an attackman. Dylan Hess – 2020 Midfield(Navy) – Hess, making his varsity debut as a freshman last year, showed why he is one of the top recruits in the country.  Hess, a true 2-way midfielder, lead the team with 38 assists last year as well as tallying up 25 goals.  He also posted the teams best shooting percentage, 32 ground balls, and 7 caused turnovers. Hess was 2^nd team all-county in 2017.  It’s hard to imagine but look for Hess to flourish with his role expanding this year. Tommy Zitello- 2020 LSM(uncommitted) – Zitello is the best player you’ve never heard of.  Tommy was 1 of 2 freshman who started last year and really showcased his ability.  Tommy reeks absolute havoc ALL OVER the field.  A true physical specimen, if you watched PV last year you would of him consistently seen him shut down his opponent’s top midfielders with almost no slide help, as a freshman. He finished the year 2^nd on the team in caused turnovers with 31 and added 27 GB’s. Andrew Bray – 2018 Defense (Mercer and JU decommit) – Andrew Bray has been starting since his sophomore year and getting Varsity time since his freshman year.  In his career, Bray has been tasked with guarding Florida’s best players (Bernhardt, J. Colling, Langford, S. Chase, Scanlon, etc.) and has more than held his own (go check the film). 2017 1^st team all-county, team leader in caused turnovers with 33, 41 ground balls, playing both close defense and long stick midfield. Bray will continue to be the rock of this defense in 2018.  

  Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Carter Parlette – 2020 Midfield (Syracuse) – Parelette is new to PV, but not to Florida High School Lacrosse.  He is a dominant and game changing dodger from the midfield.  He brings an energy that is quite frankly unmatched. A true two-way midfield, look for this kid to make some serious noise as he is already a great leader for the Sharks.  This year on an electric midfield with Hess and Burke, Parlette should have lots of room to work. Max Schalit – 2019 Defense (Notre Dame) – Max, not technically an underclassman, is a new face for the Sharks.  Schalit brings an insane amount of athleticism paired with sticks skills capable of pressing on the offensive end.  Adding him with Schupler, Bray, Zitello and the plethora of defenders that Sharks possess, look for this defense to be one of the stingiest in PV history. What are your realistic goals for the season? Our goal is very simple this year, get better every game, quarter, minute, rep.  

  What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Jupiter – Jupiter has been consistently one of the best teams in the state and annually has become one of our coaching staff’s favorite games.  We have suffered both crushing losses and season changing victories.  This is not only a rivalry game but is also one of the best barometers for our team each year.  Their staff always has the team prepared, the team that is always loaded with talent, and we get a playoff atmosphere every time we play. What’s not to love!? Lake High Prep – LHP has been by far and away our best and longest lasting rivalry.  We have traded regular season games and final four games consistently for the past 6-8 years. I would argue that this rivalry is one of the best in the state. Primarily because of the mutual respect each program has for one another.  For years we have BATTLED with them, but as soon as the final whistle blows, there is nothing but respect and great friendships.  Our staffs exchange and talk philosophy, our players have become friends off the field.  It is a great example of high school sports. Last year was the first year we didn’t get the chance to play them as both teams caught the flue bug and are excited head to Orlando to continue our great tradition. What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? Ashton Wood (Nease) – By far the most dominant face off guy in North Florida and would pair him up against anyone in the state.  Wood can single handedly take over a game.  Wood can play anywhere on the field and impacts the game at every single aspect.  Face offs, offense, defense, extra man and man down, we’ve seen this kid do it all.  Very very special player. Eric Dobson (Fleming Island) – Not sure how many people know about his kid yet, but everything we have seen has been impressive, very impressive.  Big. Strong. Fast. And with a cannon.  This kid had some flashes last year of brilliance last year.  Watch for this kid to take the next step and become one the more dominant midfielders in the area. Joey Pappaceno (Nease) – Joey is one of the goalies who our staff loves, but also scares.  We saw him multiple times last year refuse to be scored on.  There are a ton of great players in our district this year, A TON, but Joey is the one who can really crush you with just save after save.   Team Name: Allen D. Nease Panthers Head Coach’s Name: Max Gurowski Who are your leading returning players?    Sr. Attack Zach Ott- 32 goals, 26 assists, 28 groundballs Sr. Attack Hunter Kobin- 13 goals, 16 assists, 46 groundballs Sr. Attack Phil Mylet- 39 goals, 17 assists, 16 groundballs Sr. Midfielder Ashton Wood- 25 goals, 13 assists, 82 groundballs / FO’s: 232/317, 73% Sr. Defense Jared Graham- 2 assists, 11 groundballs, 1 CT Sr. Goalie Joey Pappaceno- 13 wins, 225 saves, 173 goals against     Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Sophomore LSM Matt Pounder- 4 goals, 2 assists, 67 groundballs, 15 CT What are your realistic goals for the season? Win The Day, each and everyday, by focusing on our attitude, effort, and communication.  

  What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Friday, March 3^rd vs. Ponte Vedra What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? Carter Parlette, Ponte Vedra, Dylan Hess, Ponte Vedra, Eric Dobson, Fleming Island   Team Name: Creekside Knights Head Coach’s Name: Jason Alford Who are your leading returning players?   Seniors: Attack Tim Vanderlinde – 2017 US Lax AA; D1 JU Commit; 1^st Team All County; 62g/14a, 25gbs Attack Taylor Grant – 27g/9a, 26gbs Defense Xavier Daniels – 2g/1a, 44gbs Midfield Justin Martinez – 4g/5a, 19gbs Midfield Jack Watson – 8g/14a, 35gbs * Midfield Mac Crici – 11g/3a, 9gbs Defense Ryley Griffin – D2 Methodist U Commit; 15gbs  

  Juniors: Midfield Matt Gupton – 6g/3a, 26gbs Goalie Glenn Mandel – 44% Save % Sophomore (2020) Emmett Schultz – 4g/1a, 33gbs Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Juniors (2019) Midfield Eric Spano, Midfield Ralph Eubanks, Midfield Dawson Chasteen, Midfield Carson McCredie Sophomore (2020) Defense Will Coyle, Attack Alex Gerdak Freshman (2021) Defense Maui Wilhelm, Defense Gabe Clark What are your realistic goals for the season? Our Goal this Season is to Play w ONE HEART     What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra, and Nease. All these boys know each other and have played with or against each other since they were playing in youth. What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? 2018 Midfielder/Faceoff Ashton Wood – Nease, 2020 Midfielder Carter Parlette – Ponte Vedra and 2020 Attack/Mid Eric Dobson – Fleming Island   Team Name: Fleming Island Head Coach’s Name: John Hawley Who are your leading returning players?   3 senior defensemen returning- Justin Szafranzki, Addie D’Abreau-Reese and Zane Phillips 1 senior attackman returning- Patrick Schreiber- leading point scorer last 2 years     Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Eric Dobson sophomore, lefty plays attack and midfield, good shooter  

  What are your realistic goals for the season? Win 2 of our district games this year What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Creekside and Bartram Trail games are usually competitive What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? Maximus Schalit and Carter Parlette  for Ponte Vedra, Timmy Vanderlinde for Creekside   Team Name: Bartram Trail High School Head Coach’s Name: Max Van Arsdale Who are your leading returning players?   **Note: Our staff is new this year so I do not have stats from last year. Bartram Trail is led by a strong group of seniors in 2018. Michael Mobley, Nick Jennis, and Matt Evans anchor the defensive end while Nolan Testa, Aiden Parr, Nolen Davis Tim Adams, and Michael Morris lead the offense. Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? We expect Sophomores Ian Parr and Ralph Hamilton to see substantial playing in 2018. What are your realistic goals for the season? Given our senior leadership and maturity we feel that we will surprise some teams in our district. It is not a stretch for us to compete for a district championship. What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Creekside is special because they are right down the road and for this season we are also raising money The Corey Project, a foundation established to carry on the legacy of Corey Goode. What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? I really have not had a lot of exposure to other teams in our district.

Author’s Note: Max Van Arsdale is the son of Guy and the nephew of Marc, making him an honorary Statesmen in my view!