2010 RMLC Division 1 PreviewBy RMLC on Thursday, February 18th, 2010

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2010 RMLC Division 1 Preview

As is inevitable in the sporting world, changes occur year to year. In 2010 three of the four Division I MCLA tournament-qualifiers within the RMLC has new leadership.

Head coaching changes have been the buzz of the off-season. Colorado, Colorado State, and Brigham Young all have new head coaches at the helm. The torch, 34 years of collective coaching, has been passed along to younger men, charged with continuing the growth and success that has come to define the RMLC.

These former National Championship-caliber teams have every query to respond to. Assuredly, results will speak for themselves, but we got some time to ask the coaches, as well as team captains, about the 2010 season.

Brigham Young
Head Coach – Matt Schneck :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“We have been fortunate to put together an excellent schedule this year.  I think there were a great deal of questions coming into the season from those outside of the BYU Family regarding what the future looked like for the Cougars.  With confidence, I can say that we are excited and ready to move forward.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010?
“The possibility that we might miss something.  With a new coaching staff it is inevitable that we will miss or forget something in regards to the operations of the team.  We may even miss a few things on the field.  Hopefully we won’t miss too much.”

3. Players to Watch? Big Recruits that will make an impact? Transfers?
“Players to watch would be our usuals; MCLA Pre-Season Player of the Year, Elliot Grow, Britt Cone & our goaltender, Will Hilton. We also have a great recruiting class coming in, Grayson Dahl, HS All-American from Virigina, will be a strong part of our defensive efforts. We’re also very excited about the transfer of twins Jacob Houghton & Jared Houghton from Denver University. They arrive to BYU lacrosse with a level of talent, preparedness, and experience that we can’t put enough value on.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“Improvement, on and off the field that results in a run for the National Championship.”

5. Anything else you would like to add?
“We were pleased with our Fall-ball performance. I can’t remember the last time we were fortunate enough to have 11 Fall-ball games against great competition. I am hoping that experience will provide some confidence as we enter the season. I would also like to add that BYU has exceptional and dedicated assistance coaches.  Financially compensating the assistant coaches is on the funding priority list for this year and the future.”

Team Captain – Elliot Grow :
“We are all excited to get out there and start playing some games. The team is really coming together which is an awesome thing. Being a senior it’s weird. But I’m just enjoying everything about it. I’m soaking it all up because after this… it is over for me. Being a Cougar right now is great. The best part about it is being able to work with my teammates and coaches. They are all unbelievable guys.”

Colorado
Head Coach – Pete Stevenson :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“I look forward to the conference games mostly. They are what let us know how good we really are. No one knows us better than our rivals and so they are in a position to exploit us far more than some of the other teams we face this year.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010?
“Clearly coming into a new team and trying to teach them to play the way I see the game being played. It isn’t just about schemes and plans, it is a philosophy that they as a group have to adopt. This team can run anything we strategize, rides, clears, offense, defense, but we put more emphasis on being aware and aggressive at all times. Rising to each and every challenge and giving it everything you have.”

3. Players to Watch? Big Recruits that will make an impact? Transfers?
“For sure, AJ Blackburn will be the offensive threat that he has been, he’s our obvious stand-out. I also think that our defense as a unit will be something to watch this year. We have the right pieces returning, along with a few new faces that will immediately contribute. Every position is well above average and together they work very well. A couple transfer athletes will also see some playing time, so we’re feeling confident that we have the personnel.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“We are determined to achieve that which has always eluded CU Lacrosse, a Conference Championship. With that success, we’ll aim to aggressively continue, and have our sights set on a National Championship.”

5. Anything else you would like to add? Such as Fall-ball performance?
“I’m excited to work with this team. Things have come together nicely, and I’m confident that we’ll stand tall against our opponents this Spring. We are prepared for another breakout season.”

CU Team President – Tyler Snyder :
“Coach Stevenson has brought in a whole new atmosphere that the team seems to be thriving in. A new competitive edge has been brought to every practice, which we hope will follow us into games and throughout the season.  The general feeling on the team is that a National Championship is within reach, and we are willing to put the work in to get there. Things are different between coaching philosophies and attitudes but both coaches, Galvin and Stevenson, want us to win and believe that this is the team to do it.  Looking a little forward, we expect to be in the same place as in the RMLC last year, right there with the conference title in reach. There is no reason this team can’t be better than last year, as all the pieces for success are there. This year we aren’t hoping to win, we’re planning on it.”

Colorado State
Head Coach – Alex Smith :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“The best part about our schedule is that it is extremely difficult.  We have a couple big non-conference games on our schedule – Michigan, Arizona State, Simon Fraser, Minnesota-Duluth to name just a few.  We always look forward to our conference contests against Utah, BYU and CU and I’m excited to see how the new coaching staffs mold their teams.  We will be playing Simon Fraser, CU and BYU in large venues, so that will lend itself to some excitement just based on the locations.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010?
“I think our schedule is certainly a challenge.  We are not going to get breathers.  I’m hopeful that we can use some of our very talented freshmen class to our advantage.  We have some experience, but we will still be young in a lot of ways.”

3. Players to Watch? Big Recruits that will make an impact? Transfers?
“In terms of transfers, there are a couple big ones that we’re working on for the spring, but nothing to report officially. 14 of the 45 rostered-players are freshmen, and are probably the most talented we’ve seen here in a decade. We will need to see how they adjust to the college game, but we have high hopes for they potential they bring.  I’m not willing to say who might make a huge impact right away because I don’t think it’s possible to know until we really start ramping up the competition against teams in the Spring. Players that everyone already knows about are Cooper Kehoe and Andrew Stein. We have some unsung heroes like Travis Wrenn at defensive midfield and Paul Larson at attack that no one seems to talk about, but that’s fine with us.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“At CSU, anything short of a national championship is considered a bad year. That being said, I just want us to overachieve this year.  We want to play at, or beyond, our potential in every game.  I hope that we are able to have a strong transition game, win some face-offs and strong goaltending.  If we play the right way, everything else will take care of itself.”

5. Anything else you would like to add?
“All I can say is that we are working hard and preparing for this season with a certain type of energy. I think we will be a tough game for just about anyone.  It seems that a lot of people are counting us out of the National Title picture and it kind of pumps us up a little bit.”

Team Captain – Paul Larson :
“This year’s team has a better dynamic surrounding it than that of the previous two years that I have played at CSU. All of the players, from redshirts to 5th year seniors, are connected, on and off the field. A motto of our team here at CSU has been sticking together like a ‘family’ and this year all the players have really bought into the scheme and it shows in the way that we all work together as a single unit. Along with this ‘family’ connection came a strong upswing with the work ethic that goes into every practice, workout, study session, etc. With the family concept and a higher level of effort day in and day out, combined with a very strong freshman class, I believe that we have a very strong team this year and as the season progresses, we will be able to prove ourselves to the non-believers.”

Utah
Head Coach – Craig Morris :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“Playing in our Conference we always look forward to testing ourselves against the best in the Country year in and year out. With Colorado, CSU & BYU on the slate, we have our work cut out right there. This year we are excited to re-new a series with Arizona and Sonoma, and that we’ve picked up games with UNLV, Montana, & Boise State. We also always look forward to touring local matchups with Westminster, Utah Valley & Utah State.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010?
“We are young and lean with 13 freshmen on a 28-man roster. Sprinkle in a few returning missionaries and a transfer or two, and before we get ahead of ourselves we need to see how it all comes together, especially with a 2nd year coaching staff. If we can stay healthy and continue to make the improvements we have shown so far I think that we will be just fine.”

3. Players to Watch? Big Recruits that will make an impact? Transfers?
“As for our returners the stand-outs, as expected are: on defense, Jake Vadeboncoeur; at midfield: Mike Calvert, Nick Merrell, & Danny Politika; and on attack, Pat Guinn. We’re very pleased with the quality of our incoming recruits. We’re particularly high on the expectations of Alex Watanawekin, Pat Hagen, Tyler Kunz, & Sam Schwoebel. Additionally, it’s note-worthy that Mark Manning has transferred to us from BYU, and will be a big part of our offense this season.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“We work on our goals daily, and one step at a time.
I.  Get Better Every Day!
II . Compete for the Conference Championship.
III.  Selection into the National Tournament.”

5. Anything else you would like to add?
“We are excited to see an ever-increasing amount of support from the University. This season we will enjoy having a University-paid trainer at our games, and it looks like we might have our own field on the way for next season!”

Mike Calvert – Team Captain :
“I feel as though there are two real differences with Utah this year. Our coaching, and our ability to be coached. We’ve had great talent come through our program, but the difference has been that the guys are ready to adapt to the roles that our coaches ask of them.
I would also have to bring attention to the other captains. They have made a huge difference this year. Being able to lead as well as play along side Mark Manning, Nick Merrell, and Jake Vadeboncoeur has been the difference. They are great examples above anything else. The idea that we are the “4th team” in the RMLC is nothing more than something people say or think about us. This season is not last season, and we have the ability to be whatever we want to be.
The RMLC has a very strong presence in the MCLA, and we are lucky to compete year in and year out with teams like BYU, CSU, and CU. It makes us better each year. Our team agreed that winning a national title or a conference title would be great, but more than anything else, leaving the field after that last game, knowing that we played better everyday, that would feel like enough.”

Utah State
Head Coach – Dave Mercer :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“We look forward to playing the ‘bigs’ of the RMLC (BYU, CSU, CU and Utah).  To see if we have improved over last year. To get better, you have to play the best. So we really look forward to those games.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010? 
“We play BYU, CSU and CU on the road this year. It’s always difficult to play on someone else’s field, with their fans, home-field atmosphere, and the rest that comes along with hosting a game. However, the RMLC can be even more daunting when you travel across statelines to face one of the Nation’s best and then do it again the next day.”

3. Players to Watch?
“On midfield, Nick Baker is the anchor of our team. We’ll look to him in various situations and to varying degrees.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“Qualifying for the RMLC conference tournament. We’re in a tough spot, developmentally our area is not as lacrosse progressive as others, and our program was recently re-categorized to Division I. Breaking through in this conference maybe takes a little more punch than in another. But we’re up to the challenge and we all feel like we’re heading in the right direction.”

5. Anything else you would like to add?
“We feel confident that we’re improving, establishing ourselves, and every bit of our hard work will come back to us. It’s a great group of guys who aren’t afraid to go the distance. 2010 will prove to be another worthwhile year for us.”

Team Captain – Nick Baker :
“I think that our team has been meshing very well.  We have started to slow the game down more and possess the ball.  We have a lot of talent which I don’t think is being used to it’s fullest extent.  The problem with being viewed as a 5th rank in RMLC-DI is commitment issues.  Our team dues are a fraction of others in our conference.  Because of this, it effects the amount of commitment that the guys feel like they have to put into it. My sole goal this year is to try and get the team more invested in ourselves and so far I have seen a huge improvement from the past few years.  Maintaining a low-cost per player makes it more difficult for us to travel, which is a big part in helping us improve as a team.  I am really excited for this year to start. I’m confident that we have the talent and can seriously compete.”

Wyoming
Head Coach – Jesse Clement III :

1. What are some aspects of your 2010 schedule that you look forward to?
“Looking forward to a schedule that is at our level!  UW should not be a D1 team…so the schedule with only 2 D1 teams and more D2 teams is what I (and the others) are looking forward to.”

2. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in 2010?
“Team unity and high drop-out rates as we do every year. Wyoming’s climate is not lacrosse friendly, it’s absolutely hindering our growth and abilities not getting field-time until halfway through the season with an inadequate indoor facility in the meantime.”

3. Players to Watch? Big Recruits that will make an impact? Transfers?
“With the structure of the team, the lack of a true coach, and the amount of logistics we tackle on a daily basis; recruiting is not something we actively pursue. Once players find us, we are challenged to keep them around. We’re making strides, but we need a lot of resources to reach the heights we’re aiming for.”

4. What are the team’s goals for 2010?
“In this conference, in this area, we’re setting goals small. One win at a time. Historically speaking, one or two victories would mean we had a successful season. We hope to retain a decent roster size, keep up productive practices, and build a stronger team.”

5. Anything else you would like to add?
“Fall-ball was disappointing this year for us. The only tournament we could attend, we were snowed in with every interstate closed. This climate, at times, seems to refuse to allow UW to play our game.
Community and school support is really lacking. Lacrosse awareness is almost nill. We can’t possibily represent the sport in our state to the level of other Division I teams and even most Division II teams.  An ex-player, acting as a coach, is the best we can do any season of play. Along with inadequate funding and low numbers, local feeder programs have not been available to us. High school lacrosse clubs are just beginning to pop up, and with our lovely weather, the younger players face the same challenges. At times, I think what we could really use, is a miracle.”

Tyler Ostrom – Team Captain :
“I am looking forward to this year. We are still a small program but are steadily growing. We have a lot of potential this year, as a team with many returning players, along with some new ones, with a lot of experience. I feel like this year will be different from other years because we are connecting as a team very well, and have a very high potential to win a few games. A successful year for us will be keeping our heads held high, no matter the result, after every game and being ready for the next weekend. Also of course, win a game or two. But in the long run, this year should be the best year thus far for Wyoming Lacrosse and we look forward to playing all the upcoming games and giving other teams a run for their money.”