Awaiting a champ
This weekend, one team will play its way to a national high school lacrosse title at a Wesley Chapel park.
By MIKE CAMUNAS, Times Correspondent
Published January 4, 2008
WESLEY CHAPEL
There is no doubt this is a big deal.
The Tampa Tribe, in part with the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, is hosting the Dick's Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions at Wesley Chapel District Park. The international lacrosse tournament will debut this weekend, bringing teams from Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado and Canada.
"The biggest thing is it's such a big tournament with teams from all over the country," said Kevin Warnock, assistant coach with the Tribe and Saint Leo University's lacrosse teams. "And that makes it a big thing for Florida. It's an awesome opportunity to have this level of talent of lacrosse teams here ... because playing in Florida, you can be sheltered from the better teams."
This tournament is U.S. Lacrosse's high school club national championship and is by invitation only.
In order to participate, teams had to win a qualifying tournament. Those were held around the country this summer.
The Tribe secured an invitation as host club and hosted a qualifier in November with the Derek Pieper Memorial Cup.
"We just don't hope it promotes the Tribe, we hope it promotes our whole league," said Tom FitzSimons, the director of WCAA lacrosse. "For us, at the Tribe here, hopefully it gets our kids we constantly coach a chance to be seen.
"I mean, their level of play will increase just from the teams they're going to play."
Also boosting the two-day tournament's prestige will be the scouts present. College coaches from various teams will be in attendance scouting for potential prospects.
"It's built up for all the high school kids on lacrosse teams to play for the college coaches coming down," said Cameron Clearwaters, a 15-year-old player for the Tribe. "No doubt it's awesome to have that aspect with most of the big programs being up north. I'm crazy excited, for sure."
WCAA organizer Amy Britton, whose husband, Frank, along with FitzSimons started WCAA's lacrosse program, said the players' chances to play in college are "slim" because of their "lack of knowledge of college lacrosse."
To make things even more difficult, most Division I lacrosse programs only have 12 scholarships per academic year.
"Let's be honest," Frank Britton said. "These kids don't carry the names of the big schools over their heads. They don't have the UNC or the Syracuse name, but this tournament will help get their names out there."
Warnock said there should be plenty of incentive for a college coach to attend.
"Think about it: Up north right now, there's 10 inches of snow on the ground," Warnock said referring to lacrosse being typically known as a northern sport. "Then a coach comes down here with these teams and this weather, he's going to love it. He gets to spend the weekend recruiting in Florida and see a lot of talent."
With the tournament's help, FitzSimons hopes to increase lacrosse interest in the area.
"I think that (there's interest) here in Florida - it's only going to get bigger," FitzSimons said. "So from the local perspective of kids playing this level of lacrosse, it's going to give our kids more opportunities. That's what we want."
Submit feedback, story ideas to mike.camunas@gmail.comFAST FACTS
Dick's Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions
When: Saturday andSunday
Where: Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Host: Tampa Tribe
For more information about Wesley Chapel lacrosse, contact Tom FitzSimons at (813) 841-2374 or Frank Britton at (813) 997-3365, or send an e-mail to lacrosse@wcaafla.org.
Josh Lane
School: Wesley Chapel High
Grade: 10
Sport: Lacrosse; goalie/lsm long stick midfield
Rec team: Tampa Tribe Elite/WCAA Warriors (lacrosse)
Athletic accomplishment: Honorable mention All-WFLL LSM for 2007 season
Academic accomplishment: 4.1 final grade point average as a freshman
Favorite class:. TV production
Hardest class: World History
Favorite musician/band: Linkin Park
Cell phone ringtone: What I've Done by Linkin Park
In your CD player: Rock mix
Newest iPOD addition: Survive by Rise Against
What's on your iPOD before a game? Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against
Favorite book: Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
Favorite movie:Happy Gilmore
Mode of transportation: 1998 Toyota Camry
Who would you like to meet alive or dead? Dave Pietramala, head coach of Johns Hopkins lacrosse and arguably one of the best defensive players ever
A moment in history you would have liked to witness: Capturing of Saddam Hussein.
Superstitions: Wears a pink leg band in memory of Wesley Chapel lacrosse player Derek Pieper
Favorite sports team: Florida Gators, Tampa Bay Bucs, Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
Do you have any pets? Four dogs
If you could be reincarnated, what would you come back as? A bear. Lazy, but can be kind of crazy.
Dream vacation destination: Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains
Coolest place you've been: Baltimore
Favorite sports moment: Hopkins defeats Duke to win the NCAA lacrosse title in 2007.
Favorite saying: "A warrior does not give up what he loves; he finds the love in what he does."
Who do you most admire? My brother; I've always looked up to him.
Most embarrassing moment: Driving up to a group of people while my hubcaps creak
Dream date: Megan Fox
Dream job: ESPN football editor
Compiled by Mike Camunas, Times correspondent. Do you know someone who deserves the spotlight? Nominees must be youths who participate in recreation sports. Send us your name to mike.camunas@gmail.com or call (352) 544-9480.