Brine Lacrosse, Lacrosse.com and Triangle Orthopedics are again excited to be sponsoring the fourth annual King of Spring Face-Off Classic. Durham Academy will be hosting the event in the heart of North Carolina. 20 top teams from across the country will be squaring off on March 8, 9, and 10 at venues across the triangle area. The Marquee matchups of the 2013 event include two perennial MIAA powers McDonogh School (MD) and Gilman School (MD) v. southeast region powers St. Andrews School (FL) and Dallas Jesuit (TX). ). “LACROSSE.COM is excited to be involved in the Brine King of Spring again this year. For the fourth straight year the best High School teams converge on the Triangle, NC area for an incredible week of lacrosse. This year’s event is even more special with the raising of awareness of Chordoma. Chordoma has affected the local lacrosse community and we are looking forward to working with the Chordoma Foundation moving forward.” Chad Watson, President LACROSSE.COM This year teams are not only competing for top honors, but to raise awareness for chordoma and the Chordoma Foundation. Chordoma is a relentless and difficult to treat bone cancer that occurs in the head and spine in people of all ages. The Chordoma Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of chordoma patients by accelerating research to develop effective treatments for chordoma, and by helping patients to get the best care possible. Tournament Director and Durham Academy Head Coach, Jon Lantzy, shared his thoughts about the tournaments partnership with the Chordoma Foundation. The fight against Chordoma is very personal for the Durham Academy community. Having lost a very special member of our community in 2008 to this rare form of cancer, we are excited to use the national platform that the King of Spring tourney to bring awareness to a form of cancer that does not get enough attention. When I approached my team about tying this event to a greater cause it took all of a second for them to respond with the Chordoma Foundation, we look forward to a long and productive relationship working with the great folks at the Chordoma Foundation.” Justin Straus, a student and friend to many of the school’s lacrosse players, lost his battle with the disease shortly after his 13th birthday. Just before his final decline, Justin made a heroic stand against his disease, communicating his final message in the only way he could, by scrawling across his whiteboard: perseverance. In honor of Justin, teams will be wearing special “perseverance” jerseys during two matches on Saturday, March 9, Durham Academy v. Providence Day and McDonogh School (MD) v. St. Andrews School (FL). For more information on the 3rd Annual Brine King of the Spring Face-Off Classic please send an email to Jon Lantzy at jon.lantzy@da.org Fourth Annual King of Spring Face-Off Classic is set for March 8 – 12, 2013 Top high school lacrosse teams will compete in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, NC to raise awareness about a rare bone cancer. Spencer Hallyburton, Durham Academy junior starting defensemen and classmate of Justin Strauss. “Justin served, not only as a friend, but as a role model for his peers to whom we could look for inspiration and a source of perseverance. We want to raise awareness to provide children going through this disease, like Justin, a sense of hope and courage”. Donations can be made to the Chordoma Foundation at www.chordoma.org or P.O. Box 2127, Durham, NC 27702. PARTICIPATING TEAMS INCLUDE: Apex High School (NC) Blue Ridge School (VA) Broughton High School (NC) Cardinal Gibbons High School (NC) Charlotte Country Day School (NC) Charlotte Latin (NC) Christchurch School (VA) Coppell High School (TX) Dallas Jesuit (TX) Durham Academy (NC) Friends School (MD) Gilman School (MD) Highland Park High School (TX) McDonogh School (MD) Norfolk Academy (VA) Plano West High School (TX) Providence Day School (NC) Ravenscroft School (NC) RJ Reynolds High School (NC) Rockhurst Jesuit (MO) St. Andrews School (FL) St. Anne’s Belfield School (VA) St. John’s School (TX)