Mid-Summer Player Check-ins
Hi lacrosse community. We’re hitting mid-summer and I was having Utah Lacrosse withdrawals. I reached out to Utah Clubs to get insight on what our girls are up to this summer. Many replied with fantastic things about what the girls lacrosse is up to.
Thank you as always for subscribing and reading the Utah Lacrosse Report newsletter, we are brought to you by our sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Conditioning (website), who make the great coverage here at ULR possible!
Upcoming playing opportunities!
Tribal West Lacrosse: Tribe Camp
It’s that time of the year again! Tribe Camp! “Tribe Lacrosse Camp is a highlight of the summer! We line up not only lacrosse coaches, but excellent teachers of the sport. Our coaches did not get where they are today without the passion, desire, and focus required for success. They are excited to share their vast knowledge of lacrosse on and off the field, which will surely aid in your success. Campers are grouped by age and ability. Necessary adjustments will be made during the camp to accommodate and ensure the best learning experience & development for each camper. Developing players will focus on the fundamental elements and skills of the game. Experienced campers will focus on strengthening their skills and challenging themselves to a higher level of play, learning the subtle nuances of the game that is often overlooked.”
When: July 25-28
Attendance: Boys (3rd-12th) and Girls (3rd-12th)
Location: Lone Peak Park
Things to know:
* Camp runs from 9am - 3:30pm** Tue - Fri at Lone Peak Park in Sandy (**Friday camp ends at noon)
* All campers receive a FREE camper pinnie, T-shirt (registrations after 7/1 - while supplies last).
* Daily raffled giveaways during camp like heads, shafts, swag and more!
* The first two goalies in each division will get a FREE goalie head!
* Each division is capped at ONLY 50 campers so don't wait!!
* Register for the grade your player is going into this fall.
REGISTRATION DATES:
$305 Regular Registration June 2 - July 25, 2023
NEW Warhawks Lacrosse Club!
The Warhawks Lacrosse Club is one of our newest competitive club teams in the State of Utah! For the 2023-2024 year (September 2023 to July 2024), the Warhawks are fielding teams for the following groups for their boys teams: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029
They are also very excited to announce they will be fielding a high school open team for girls starting this Fall (grades 9-12). Watch their instagram account for more information.
Warhawks LC was founded in 2022. The Warhawks Lacrosse Club is committed to the development of young women (grades 9-12) in the sport of lacrosse and help develop young women of high character as we instill in our athletes the core WARHAWKS values: Wisdom - Accountability - Respect - Honor - Awareness - Work - Kindness - Servant Leadership. There is much more to life than just lacrosse and in the Warhawks Nest, we will strive to instill, teach, and reinforce these core values at every turn in the teaching and mentoring of all the young women that join our club.
If you or any of your athletes are looking for an opportunity to compete with another one of the great Utah Lacrosse Clubs, give the Warhawks Lacrosse Club a serious look. You can email them at warhawkslc@gmail.com, follow them on instagram @warhwkslacrosse or go to their website at www.warhawkslc.com.
Catching up with Utah Elevate Lacrosse!
Elevate TopGun and Elevate Maverick programs have had an incredible summer so far! They have over 180 Utah athletes playing with them this year (their biggest group ever!). The athletes spanning from up North (Logan High School) to all the way down South (Payson High School) The Elevate programs range from brand new athletes to the top-level athletes.
The tournaments that Elevate has participated in this far into the summer. Elevate Maverick program has participated in Ski Town Shootout (IMLAX, Park City) and Park City Showdown (Adrenaline, Park City). While the TopGun program has participated in the Ski Town Shootout (IMLAX, Park City), Salt Lax City (Aloha Lacrosse, Salt Lake), Park City Showdown (Adrenaline, Park City) and the Western Shootout at the Air Force Academy (Adrenaline, Colorado Springs).
Elevate Lacrosse employs 17 coaches. They all played at the collegiate level. Along with coaching High School Lacrosse here in Utah (Brighton, Bingham, Alta, Layton, etc.). Some of these coaches include:
Utah Elevate Director: John Tilley
Melissa Nash: Went to Highland High School and played for Olympus High School (before High School lacrosse sanctioning), played for BYU Lacrosse and is the current Head Coach at Brighton High School.
Mikala Davis: Former Riverton High School athlete, Westminster College, and NCAA D1 St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Zoe Totland: Former Brighton High School athlete and played for the NCAA D1 Lindenwood.
Kylee Cash: Former Fremont High School athlete and played for Missouri Valley College. Along with being the Girls Head Coach at Layton High School.
Madisen Dibble: Former Alta High School athlete and played for Southern Virginia University
Zoe Heffernan: Former Brighton High School athlete, and current athlete at RIT in New York.
Rylee Webster: Former Layton High School athlete, and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Piper Searle: Former Davis High School athlete, and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Baylee Bruce: Former Brighton High School athlete and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Addison England: Former Brighton High School athlete and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Kate Richards: Former Olympus High School athlete, and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Tyler John: Former Brighton High School athlete and current athlete at Southern Virginia University.
At Elevate they feel that if anyone wants to ELEVATE their skills during the summer are all stars! They’re awesome for showing up to early morning practice and working hard all summer. 28 of the Elevators were selected to the Deseret News All-State teams this year.
6A All-State, Elevate Athletes:
2023 - Ashlyn Smith - Bingham High School
2023 - Tessa Mortensen – Mountain Ridge High School
2023 – Analise Anderson – Mountain Ridge High School
2023 – Kiarra Clarin – Mountain Ridge High School
2023 – Zoe Garside – Fremont High School
2024 – McKaylee Sargent – Fremont High School
2024 – Eliza Berg – Pleasant Grove
5A All-State, Elevate Athletes:
2023 – Eva Thorn – Olympus High School
2023 – Hannah Bangerter – Brighton High School
2023 – Courtnie Wright – Brighton High School
2023 – Lauren Ellis – Brighton High School
2023 – Jane Harmer – Jordan High School
2023 – Kelsham Stoddard – Highland High School
2023 – Keely Banks – Viewmont High School
2023 – Samantha Smith – Alta High School
2024 – Alex Heugly – Brighton High School
2024 – Izzy Gurley – Brighton High School
2024 – Naomi Brice – Bountiful High School
2024 – Megan Youngberg – Bountiful High School
2024 – Lizzie Anne – Olympus High School
2025 – Sarah Anne – Olympus High School
2025 – Masami Goodick – Olympus High School
2025 – Ava Andereasen – Box Elder High School
4A All-State, Elevate Athletes:
2024 – Lilly Lopez – Mountain Crest High School
2024 – Channing Karaghouli – Logan High School
Elevates 3 pillars are: Focus, Fun and Fundamentals! Their goal is to teach as much lacrosse IQ and strategy as possible while expecting solid fundamentals in every position. They aim to build a passion for the game of lacrosse that will carry their players to be the best versions of themselves on and off the field. Another huge pillar for Elevate is being a good teammate and cheering each other on year-round.
Interested in playing for Elevate Lacrosse? They will have TWO Fall teams this year going to FOUR tournaments between October and January (3 in California, 1 in Utah). These Fall teams are FUN and a great way to build skill right before spring season.
Contact UtahElevate@gmail.com for more information. Or follow on Instagram - UtahElevate.
Catching up with Wasatch Lacrosse Club!
Wasatch’s season has been going great so far. Wasatch competed in their first tournament of the season at the Capital Cup (IWLCA, Delaware) and just came home from their second and last tournament of summer season Maryland Cup (Reign Athletics, Maryland) this past weekend. Although they have only played in two tournaments, they have seen a ton of improvement with their athletes and have already been getting college coaches to reach out to them about athletes on Wasatch LC.
At the helm of the Wasatch LC coaching staff:
Colt Kierstead: Bear River High School coach.
Adam Eddinger: Pennsylvania native former athlete at Boyertown High School
Justine Spahr: Former Herriman High School athlete and current athlete at GNAC Regis University.
Rachel Taylor: former American Fork High School athlete and current athlete for Franklin Pierce University.
Rebekah Bargeron: former Mountain Ridge High School athlete and current athlete for Welsh University.
Wasatch LC will be growing their coaching staff this fall with two new additions.
Wasatch LC has some of Utah’s star athletes. These athletes demonstrate the excellence of being a Wasatch LC athlete. With their communication, unselfishness, leadership, high energy, being a student of the game, asking questions, emailing college coaches, making highlights, playing hard, having fun, and staying positive. These players being:
Emmery Clark: Class of 2024 at Mountain Ridge High School.
Eliza White: Class of 2024 at Skyridge High School.
Masami Goodick: Class of 2025 at Olympus High School.
Channing Karaghouli: Class of 2025 at Logan High School.
Maggie Bird: Class of 2026 at Riverton High School.
MacKenzie Souza: Class of 2026 at Fremont High School.
Interested in playing for Wasatch LC? They will be hosting weekly clinics starting the first week of August, open to all athletes. These clinics will be two hours long and are only $20 to participate. Follow Wasatch LC on Instagram (@wasatchlc) for the upcoming clinics.
Tryouts for Wasatch LC, fall season are on Saturday, August 5th from 10am-12pm at Woodrow Wilson Elementary in South Salt Lake. For graduating classes 2024-2027 who want to represent Utah at some of the highest-level tournaments in the country.
Catching up with Maximum Lacrosse!
Max Lax team philosophy has been adaptability and showing up. Max Lax is a mixing pot of multiple High School teams. The experience and knowledge that players gain from each other makes them that much better. They believe in teaching all players all positions, defenders become better after they understand and spend some time on attack and vice versa. The team has a focus on growing their athlete to be well-rounded. The program emphasizes showing up in all aspects of lacrosse. “They can’t get better if they aren’t showing up to practice but it’s also easy to create bad habits when we aren’t showing up mentally.”
Max Lax has four teams that are at located in Riverton, UT. These four teams are mostly field with Riverton, Mountain Ridge, Herriman, Bingham, and Copper Hills but they also have a handful of athletes from the Utah County area who are great additions.
Max Lax Elite Coaches:
Hannah Bargeron: Resigns in Herriman UT, and is a current athlete at Westminster College.
Aleksa Allen: Resigns in Herriman UT, just graduated from NCAA D1 Lindenwood and is going to do her graduate program at Rollins.
Max Lax Blue Coaches:
Maya Lightfoot: former Herriman High School athlete, attended Colorado Mesa and is currently at Utah Valley University
Justine Spahr: former Herriman High School athlete and currently plays at GNAC Regis University.
Max Lax focus this season has been stick work and transitions. After their first tournament at Ski Town Shootout (IMLAX, Park City) they found that the teams were having a hard time getting the ball to the attacking end. After some hard work the teams did much better in the second tournament at Salt Lax City (Aloha Lacrosse, Salt Lake). Their team continues to work on all aspects of the game and advance their drills.
Max Lax has some standout players on their teams.
AT Lucero: Goalie, class of 2024, at Herriman High School.
Haydyn Mecham: Defender, class of 2025, at Cedar Valley High School.
Reese Lewis: Defender, class of 2026, at Riverton High School.
Catching up with Utah County Lacrosse: Summer Sevens!
SUMMER SEVENS is a 7v7 league for High School athletes with any level of experience. Games are played on a shortened field with 7 field players + goalie on each team. This format creates fast paced, fun games where players get lots of action and lots of playing time. Coaches are not allowed in this league, which gives the players the opportunity to problem solve together, fill in leadership positions, and keep the season light and fun. It's a great way for players to develop their skills and increase their confidence in the off season.
Most of the teams participating in SUMMER SEVENS are from Utah County, although they have had teams from outside the county such as Fremont and Mountain Ridge. Consistent participants are Provo, Springville, Lehi, Lone Peak, Westlake, and Pleasant Grove. Players are also encouraged to register as "Free Agent" players and are put on teams. We have had free agents from Park City, West Jordan, Maple Mountain, and Orem. This league is open to all teams and players.
SUMMER SEVENS was formed in the summer of 2020 to allow teams to get some games in after the cancelled Spring season due to COVID. Most teams in Utah County were brand new in 2020 and had spent the 2019-2020 school year practicing and preparing for their first lacrosse season, just to have their first season cancelled. SUMMER SEVENS provided an opportunity for these new players to put all their preparation into action, to maintain the momentum and interest in this brand-new sport. It was originally intended to just be a one-time event, but interest grew, and SUMMER SEVENS has become a staple of summer lacrosse in Utah County.
Utah County Lacrosse's goal is to provide affordable, accessible, high-quality lacrosse to players of all levels and experience in Utah County.
The majority of lacrosse growth in the last 20 years has happened in Salt Lake County, and Utah County has fallen behind. High School sanctioning has had a huge impact on this sport throughout the state, but especially in Utah County. Most of the teams located in Alpine, Provo, and Nebo school districts were formed in 2020. There is a huge need in the area for leagues, teams, programs, camps, clinics, and other opportunities for players to learn, develop, and grow, without having to drive 1+ hours or paying a small fortune.
Utah County Lacrosse is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible to this community, and it has started with SUMMER SEVENS.
For more info see utahcountylacrosse.com
Catching up with Force Lacrosse!
It’s been a fun, energetic and jammed packed summer for Force Lacrosse, as usual. Their athletes have participated in 4 tournaments, Ski Town Shootout (IMLAX, Park City), Salt Lax City (Aloha Lacrosse, Salt Lake), Park City Showdown (Adrenaline Lacrosse, Park City) and the Western Shootout at the Air Force Academy (Adrenaline Lacrosse, Colorado Springs). Throughout the season Force has developed players to the next level where they have learned to bond and play well together.
Force Lacrosse philosophy: to teach their athletes to be a team player, learn trust and communication among the team, increase all athletes Lacrosse IQ, to play with speed, passion, and intensity, and most of all have fun. Force creates a positive environment for their athletes. Starting with long lasting bonds with one another and memories that they will carry with them for a lifetime.
Force Lacrosse coaching staff comes from all over:
Force Lacrosse Director: Matt Kenning, Head Coach at Corner Canyon High School.
Wes Lundell: Head Coach at 6A State Champs Lone Peak High School. Former athlete at Utah State University.
Eliza Jorgensen: Assistant Coach at Corner Canyon. Former athlete at Utah Valley University
Peighton Kimble: Assistant Coach at Corner Canyon. Former athlete at Alta High School
Hannah Thayn: Assistant Coach at Lehi. Former athlete at Utah Valley University and Southern Virginia University.
Megan Jensen: Head Coach at Provo High School. Former athlete at BYU.
Roni Ellingson: Head Coach at American Fork High School.
Hannah Davis: Assistant Coach at American Fork High School.
Holly Hawks: Assistant Coach at Cedar Valley High School. Former athlete at Southern Virginia University.
Emme Laro: Current Athlete at Utah Valley University.
Lexi Burns: Current Athlete at Utah Valley University.
Meg Ipson: Head Coach at Skyline High School. Former athlete at Utah Valley University.
Force is excited for their expansion of athletes. This year Forces athletes expanded into Utah County. This is growth and opportunity for not only the Force program, but also to help grow the game of lacrosse across the state of Utah. There is a desire for high-level lacrosse in the Southern area.
Some of our standout players this year have been:
Sammy McMaster: 2025 Midfielder from Skyline High School.
Kyli Haws: 2024 Defense/Middie from Skyridge High School.
Grace Szwedko: 2024 Midfielder from Highland High School.
Kaelyn Hart: 2024 Goalie from Herriman High School.
Ryanne Hatch: 2026 Midfielder from Orem High School.
Emerald Morton: 2024 Midfield from Westlake High School.
Upcoming events for Force Lacrosse. Athlete Grace Szwedko and Director Matt Kenning will be traveling to Baltimore for the CSE New Balance All American tournament. Where Coach Kenning will be leading the Highlight Team (2024’s) for the Southwest Region and Szwedko will be a midfield on that very team. The CSE New Balance All American tournament is filled with the best players in the country.
Catching up with Utah Lynx Lacrosse Club!
The Utah Lynx LC Summer Season has been going great! The High School teams have been competing hard, improving at a fast rate and developing positive relationships on and off the field. Their Middle School program has been training and improving their skill development each week. Lynx High School Teams have been supporting the growth of Utah Lacrosse by participating in the Salt Lax City (Aloha Lacrosse, Salt Lake) and the Park City Showdown (Adrenaline Lacrosse, Park City). Lynx’s two High School teams won their respective divisions in the Salt Lax City Tournament in June. They are excited to play at the West Coast Cup (IWLCA, California) this coming weekend and compete against other powerhouses outside of our Mountain West region.
Utah Lynx Lacrosse Club philosophy, “Lynx is to play with PASSION and RESPECT for the game of lacrosse. Lacrosse is a gift and we practice gratitude every day for the ability to play this beautiful sport with our teammates and coaches. Our mission is to teach young women the skills and behaviors necessary to be successful on and off the lacrosse field. Above all, our goal is to develop the next generation of brave female leaders; we aim for our young women to use skills and character traits learned on the lacrosse field to positively enhance the world around them. “
At the helm of Utah Lynx Lacrosse Club:
Megan Whittle – Head Coach at Waterford High School. Former athlete at University of Maryland and Team England.
Lula Moore – Assistant Coach Farmington High School. Former athlete at Colorado Mesa Lacrosse.
Eva Thorn – Former athlete at Olympus High School. Current athlete at Stony Brook Lacrosse.
Haley Taylor – Former athlete at Brighton High School. Current athlete at Oregon Lacrosse.
Anya Szwajkun – Former athlete at Park City High School.
Lynx areas of growth and focus for the summer have been positional skill development, including offensive footwork and shooting as well as defensive footwork, checking and communication. They’ve improved on draw technique, 50/50 balls, and stick protection. They are teaching and coaching collegiate style offenses and defenses for Their high school teams and have seen a ton of success in a short amount of time.
Lynx had an awesome camp and clinic schedule this summer. They provided opportunities to coach high school and middle school sessions with 2x National Champion & 2x World Bronze Medalist, Megan Whittle. They also invited professional lacrosse stars and Division 1 College coaches, Alex Aust and Theo Kwas to Utah to participate in their 2 day Pro Camp. Utah Lynx is excited to continue providing the best opportunities to train and learn from professional players and collegiate coaches throughout the entire year. Stay tuned for more opportunities on their Instagram, @utahlynxlc !
Tryouts for the Utah Lynx Fall Season on 7/25 and 8/1 at the Waterford School. Their staff is excited to continue developing skills and competing at tournaments through the fall for their Middle School and High School Programs. Players can attend either of the tryout dates. More information here.
Catch up with the University of Utah!
University of Utah clinic went fantastically. The players were able to play a fun and competitive three days of lacrosse. The clinic's focus points were offense and defense on the first day, stick skills and ground balls for the second day and competition and games for the third.
University of Utah will be hosting another clinic August 3rd-5th. It will be on Crimson field at the University of Utah. August 3rd and 4th will be from 6pm to 8pm and August 5th will be 6pm to 9pm. You can hear about their team's tryouts, clinics, and practices via our Instagram page @utahwomenslacrosse
Their head coach is Courtney Johnson from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her position was attack. The University of Utah is ready to compete this fall as They only bid farewell to a few seniors. They are excited to start a new season and continue to grow as a team.
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