Coach Bart Sullivan's Dragonsbrhave benefitted from solid upperclassmen leaders including several players whobrhave committed to Division 1 lacrosse programs. Talented seniors Jack Welding (Maryland)brand Dean DiBello (Robert Morris) have led the way along with Nathan Beam andbrBrody Danel.
The large junior class isbrrepresentative of the participation boom in the youth program. Led by CaseybrWasserman, a Furman commit, and Fairfield pledge George Elmquist, the teambrincludes goalie Eryk Ross, middies Nick Donfris, Michael Tsay, Max Towers,brPaxton Garman and attackmen Jake Gillen and Carson Green, and defenders DylanbrPatterson and Victor Simpson.
College lacrosse isbrexpanding too, with 42 schools adding programs last year. Sullivan says, “Webrare starting to see more players get the opportunity to play at the next levelbrand use lacrosse as a springboard into college. We have three players currentlybrcompeting at the D1 level, four more heading that way shortly, and several morebrcurrently being recruited.”
The number ofbrunderclassman who continue to expand and improve Southlake lacrosse is not onlybra testament to the growth of the sport in the South but also to the organization'sbrmany volunteers and supporters.
SEASON UPDATE
4-8 Overall, (2-5 in district)
After a 2014 Elite Eight statebrplayoff appearance, the Dragons took a playoff hiatus in 2015. Both seasons actbras motivation as the team winds down the regular season. The Dragons look tobravenge past losses and finish with key rivalry games against Allen, Coppell andbrKeller. “Our team is much improved, however, we still need to prove ourselves againstbrthe best in the state. We purposefully schedule our most difficult games at thebrseason's end to better prepare us for our North District games,” says Sullivan.br“Each game has playoff implications.”
The best competition inbrthe state resides in the THSLL North District. Last year, all but one of thebrfinal eight teams in the Division 1 and Division 2 playoffs were from the NorthbrDistrict. Highland Park had enough talent to earn D1 and D2 state titles.brDespite the confidence of a three-game win streak and success against somebrtraditional Northeast powers, the Dragons fell to the defending state champs 14-5.brFollowing three close losses, the Dragons started their key stretch of must-winbrgames with an 8-5 defeat of Allen.
The final against Keller willbralso feature the Trinity Cup trophy. The new trophy formally takes the rivalrybrto the next level, and rewards the winner with a trophy and bragging rights.
“As our program develops,brwe expect to be sending even more players to the college ranks each year.”
- Head Coach Bart Sullivan
2016 Roster
HeadbrCoach: Bart Sullivan
AssistantbrCoach: Mark Lynch
1 Jake Gillen A Jr.
2 Michael Tsay M Jr.
3 Connor Edge M So.
4 LukebrMillican G Jr.
5 Harry Blake A Fr.
8 Greg Hill G So.
9 CaseybrWasserman A Jr.
10 GriffinbrFitzgerald A So.
11 Dean DiBello M Sr.
12 Nick Donfris M/D Jr.
13 Carson Green A Jr.
14 Eryk Ross G Jr.
16 Will Horak A So.
22 Jack Welding D Sr.
25 Nathan Beam D Sr.
26 Paxton Garman M So.
27 Brody Danel M/D Sr.
31 LukebrLeffingwell M Fr.
33 Max Towers M Jr.
36 Evan Hochwalt A So.
40 Ryan Thompson D So.
44 VictorbrSimpson D Jr.
45 Preston Deno M So.
54 GeorgebrElmquist D Jr.
60 DylanbrPatterson D Jr.
65 JohnbrHollingsworth A Fr.
68 Jeremy Bach A So.