Pictured above:  Back row:  Coach Michael Bolger, Drew Minchew, Johnny Hanlon, Logan Masta, Troy Fischer, Hunter Ramsay, Tommy Dunne, Evan Kalish, Alex Reyes, Jordan Wingeier, Jake Coleman, Mark Donadio, Dawson Allen, Coach Andrew Bolger.  On a knee:  David Salvatelli, Niko Morfogen, Angelo Ligouri, John McTurk, Winton Roschach, Jake Boyer.  Sitting:  Mikey Urso and Joey Guiffrida.

FloridaLacrosseNews.com was started to grow with the sport in our beautiful state.  We love these kids and enjoy telling their stories.  The staff at FLN thinks the bronze medal performance of Florida Elite (known as the Bozos) at the Dick’s Tournament of Champions (TOC) was a turning point, a graduation of sorts.  It was absolutely special. We’ve seen successes such as Team Florida’s win at HotBeds and the U-15 National Bronze Medal in 2012.  Team Florida lost to FCA National in overtime in the final of the Rising Stars division at TOC three years ago.  Often times you would hear the whispers – “our townie team beat the best of their whole state, etc.” Florida Elite, coached by Andrew and Michael Bolger, is not a “townie team,” but certainly a regional team from an emerging hotbed.  The Bozos went through a rebuilding of sorts in the last year and just about defeated a very special top notch national team, Sweetlax, in the TOC semi-finals. In fact, Florida Elite lost a pool play match up with Sweetlax by a single goal.  Sweetlax went on to win the tournament. Click here for more on that game. As many readers know, there are many other excellent Florida club teams which did not participate at TOC.  They may have had similar success, but this is a 2013 TOC story.  Some of the players from those club teams played in the tournament on various national teams, and FLN will discuss the overall quality of the state in a future article.

We’ve followed Sweetlax for the last several years and have come to appreciate the organization founded by long time Duxbury, Massachusetts coach Chris Sweet.  The national team which competed at TOC is organized and coached by Kevin Martin.  Kevin has helped place many of his players at top schools and is a tireless worker on their behalf.  Each year Kevin seeks the very best talent available, including a number of Floridians.  The emphasis is equal parts quality and fun, and the quality is obvious.  For the players committed to the same schools, it is an opportunity to play with and get to know future teammates, and for all it is the chance to play on one terrific team.  Sweetlax is an absolutely worthy national championship team and the Dick’s Tournament of Champions is a top notch tournament. Take a look at this year’s Sweetlax team:  

Connor Alexander, Jupiter,  FL, Duke Brandon Barker, NY, Ohio State Lazarus Chavez, NY, Syracuse Marcus Cunningham, NY, Syracuse Jake Fox, Ontario, Johns Hopkins Scott Frankenthaler, MA, Johns Hopkins Timmy Gehlbach, Orlando, FL, North Carolina Robert Hudson, Ontario, Undecided (2016) Alex Hurdle, MD, Notre Dame Connor Kelly, CT, Maryland Willie Klan, NY, Ohio State

Troy Lauder, Quebec, Undecided (MVP of TOC championship game) Patrick LeMoine, NY, Virginia Brad McKinney, NY, Syracuse Eric Munn, NY, Siena Riley O’Sullivan, NY, Syracuse Greg Pandise, NJ, Undecided Max Parker, Orlando, FL, Syracuse John Prendergast, NY, Duke James Riley, MI, Duke Meanwhile, back in the lower east coast of Florida,  the Florida Elite Bozos featured the following: Dawson Allen, Boca Raton, Mount St. Mary’s Jake Boyer, Boynton Beach Jake Coleman, Vero Beach

Mark Donadio, Vero Beach Tommy Dunne, Boca Raton, St. John’s Troy Fischer, Palm City Joey Guiffrida, Boca Raton, Lynn University Johnny Hanlon, Coconut Creek Evan Kalish, Vero Beach, Bellarmine Angelo Liguori, Delray Beach Logan Masta, Wellington John McTurk, Weston Drew Minchew, Boynton Beach Niko Morfogen, Boynton Beach Hunter Ramsay, Parkland Alex Reyes, Boca Raton Winton Roschach, Vero Beach, Roanoke David Salvatelli, Ft. Lauderdale Jordan Wingeier, Boca Raton Mikey Urso, Palm City, Mount St. Mary’s This group had a terrific summer and fall.  Many of these boys played for the Swashbucklers team which went 3-1-1 at the UMass Mid-Summer Classic, was undefeated at the Carolina Shootout in July and as we reported won the Paradise Shootout in November. Florida Elite qualified for the TOC by winning the Derek Pieper Memorial in November and had earlier local wins at the Martin County Shootout and the Wellington Classic. Players of note besides the committed crew (who were excellent) mentioned above were as follows: Drew Minchew is a dynamic, athletic middie who won most one on one match-ups.  Alex Reyes, LSM, was effective on the wing at face-offs. John McTurk had by our count eighteen goals and a ton of ground balls.  A lefty Attackman, he is a very effective finisher both from inside and farther out.  Jake Boyer scored some important goals from the midfield.  Troy Fischer is a two way middie who has all the skills.  Johnny Hanlon gave Florida’s own Max Parker plenty of face-off competition.  Hunter Ramsay’s consistent good footwork and athleticism resulted in a ton of ground balls.  Finally, as we have mentioned before, the goalie play of both Logan Masta and Niko Morfogen was top notch.  Niko started this game (Logan started the Paradise Shootout final) as they have shared duties all year.  Both lit the transition fires with quick, accurate outlet passes and were good quarterbacks of the defense. FLN continues to add quality contributors and I am pleased to share the comments from one: “Either I was coaching or wandering the sidelines of all the different fields.  I could see one thing in common with the Florida teams – They Compete! To some people it really matters what place, seed, or your overall record is. What I saw was great play and effort from the many of  the Florida teams representing the ‘State of Flo.’  Yes, some had more success than others. The bottom line is for many years I have heard the expression ‘Florida teams are getting better.’  After being part of the TOC event I could only say the Florida Teams are better. Actually, we are even closer now in the level of play than we have ever been. Overall, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions is a good measuring tool for a Florida kid or any kid across the lacrosse world. To evaluate your game compared to the talent around the select areas is priceless. Being a player, coach or even a spectator the game is indeed the most exciting sport of which to be a part.” 2013 was the year Florida passed the next level of final exams.  2014 should be even more exciting!