2021 High School Region Rankings, Utes Fall to Denver
Issue 49 - The 2021 season has officially begun
Good morning lax fans! The 2021 lacrosse season has officially begun as Utah took on Denver on Saturday. We also asked all the high school coaches for preseason region rankings. The News & Notes section features a look at PLL mini sticks and some local club action. Let’s get to it!
If you’re out and about picking up new lacrosse gear or coming home from practice, don’t forget to stop by one of four Vessel locations for real food by real people.
If you’re viewing this online and want it sent to your inbox, subscribe here:
2021 Boys High School Preseason Region Rankings
We sent a poll to each high school coach asking them to rank their region. We also asked about players to watch, what they are looking forward to and more.
Region 3
In Region 3, Bingham takes the top spot with four first place votes. Only three points separate Bingham and Copper Hills who received two first place votes.
2021 Region 3 Preseason Rankings
Bingham (4)
Copper Hills (2)
Herriman (1)
Riverton
Jordan
West Jordan
West
Region 3 Players to Watch
Logan Tew (Bingham), Christian Jones (Bingham), Nate Ellison (Bingham), Logan Kofford (Copper Hills), Lucas Abbott (Copper Hills), Dax Ashby (Copper Hills), Ethan Namba (Herriman), Asher Deputy (Herriman), Jacob Hendrickson (Herriman), Christopher Dooley (Riverton), Adam Shulsen (Riverton), Spencer Ellis (Riverton), David Parchment (Jordan), Noah Jeppesen (Jordan), Max Wade (Jordan), Parker Willardsen (West), Jack Pronovost (West), Asher Larsen (West), Jorge Topete (West).
Region 4
2020 Corner Canyon Chargers
It’s no secret that Corner Canyon is the most talented and deepest team in the state, so to have them take all six No. 1 votes in Region 4 wasn’t a surprise. “It doesn’t mean anything yet,” said Corner Canyon head coach Aaron Ika. Region 4 features seasoned coaches like Pleasant Grove head coach Brae Burbidge (17 years coaching) to first-time coach Zac Durrant, who was just hired last week at Skyridge. Don’t be surprised if two or more teams are still in championship contention at the end of the year. Region 4 is playing a home/away schedule in region so there are going to be some absolute dog fights come April.
2021 Region 4 Preseason Rankings
Corner Canyon (6)
Lone Peak
American Fork
Pleasant Grove
Westlake
Skyridge
Region 4 Players to Watch
Blaze DeGracie (Corner Canyon), Mason Quick (Corner Canyon), Jon King (Corner Canyon), Anthony Mackay (Corner Canyon), Garrett Haas (Lone Peak), Luke Tucker (Lone Peak), Max Thomas (Lone Peak), Ashton Matheny (American Fork), Fisher Card (American Fork), Garrison Grimes (American Fork), Mckay Lock (American Fork), Isaac Anderson (Pleasant Grove), James Livingston (Pleasant Grove), Brigham Burbidge (Pleasant Grove), Hunter Larson (Westlake), Paxton Schramm (Westlake), Hunter Hernandez (Westlake), Riley Anderson (Skyridge), Benji Belcher (Skyridge).
Region 5
File photo from 2016
Region 5 will see the smaller schools from Davis and Weber Counties battle for supremacy. Bountiful takes the top spot in the region after edging out Farmington by just two points in the poll.
2021 Region 5 Preseason Rankings
Bountiful (1)
Farmington (3)
Bonneville
Viewmont (1)
Woods Cross (1)
Box Elder
Region 5 Players to Watch
Cole Terry (Bountiful), Hayden Hansen (Bountiful), Sam Lefevre (Bountiful), Davis Roche (Farmington), Cole Beynon (Farmington), Marcus Ball (Farmington), Coleman Vasas (Bonneville), Kyson Hildebrand (Bonneville), Will Petersen (Bonneville), Tommy Fraser (Viewmont), Abe Salmon (Viewmont), Tanner McCurdy (Viewmont), Connor Williams (Woods Cross), Will Johnston (Woods Cross), Christian Nichols (Woods Cross), Talmage Ashcroft (Box Elder), Isaac Koetitz (Box Elder), Radley Bruderer (Box Elder).
We’ll release the other boys regions and girls regions in the coming weeks!
Utes Fall to #5 Denver, 9-8
What a game! Okay, so the first quarter was about what I expected it to be after all that has happened, but the rest of the game was about all we could have asked for. You can read the recap or see the box score for yourself. Utah took a 3-1 lead into halftime then Denver battled back to take the lead in the third quarter. Utah didn’t give up and fought back to bring the game within one with short time. For a team that is mostly Freshman and Sophomores, it was a great outing. The Utes take on Bellarmine on Saturday at 10 a.m MT.
There’s a couple key plays and clips I’d like to share. If you have any influence with anyone who has a pole in their hand at any point, please show them this clip. If you’re not teaching your poles to shoot overhand, they might as well stop at midfield and dish the ball to someone else.
Here’s another ridiculous play by Sammy Cambere. Not only can he score goals but he plays defense with the best of them.
It’s a little tricky to see so let me do my best to explain it. Utah is man down, Cambere is up top. The ball swings to the side then back to the top. Cambere sells out by diving to stop the shot. His stick knocks the ball down, it takes one hop then Cambere collects it while still on the ground, somehow gets to his feet and dishes it to the breaking midfielder. #stickskills
Also, don’t forget to show your attackmen this fast-break.
News & Notes
True Lacrosse Utah hosted the Wasatch Winter Invitational this weekend at Sport City Utah in Draper. Utah Sting HS Elite took home the High School division after beating the Mountain Men, 13-0 in the championship game. Impulse Midget won the Midget division after beating True CO Midget, 6-3 in the championship game. 3d Texas was the champion of the Bantam division. They beat SoCal Express Red, 4-2 in the championship game. 3d Texas also won the Pee Wee division when they beat Sting Pee Wee B, 8-1.
Salt Lake Summit c/o Steve Currie
The Adrenaline Blackjack All-Tournament Team was released this week. Several Utahns made the list. Dallin Tanner (Defense, Mountain Ridge HS/Salt Lake Summit), Garrett Haas (Attack, Lone Peak HS/Salt Lake Summit), Tommy Fraser (Goalie, Viewmont HS/801 Tribe), Black Franckowiack (Attack, Corner Canyon HS/Salt Lake Summit), Patrick Schaede (Defense, Park City HS/Salt Lake Summit), Sean Jerome (Midfield, 2026/Salt Lake Summit), Matix Black (Defense, 2027/Salt Lake Summit).
Okay PLL, I see you. These mini sticks will be available in 340+ Walmart locations in 33 states. The comments on these range from ‘Why are you supporting Walmart’ to ‘#growthegame’ to ‘What about… [insert some petty argument here].’ The fact of the matter is that the PLL just put lacrosse sticks into the largest brick and mortar store in the world. Does this hurt local lacrosse stores? No. The people buying these sticks either A) wouldn’t buy from a local lacrosse store anyway since they are buying for the first time or B) are going to buy these for fun and continue to buy their gamer, pads, helmet, balls, uniforms, etc. at Tribal West Lacrosse or Storm Lacrosse. If you see these at your local Walmart, let me know!
That’s all for this week! - Tim Haslam
OK, Tim. You talk about shooting overhand, but are you aware how fun it is to shoot low to high?