Thank you PNCLL!

[Hi-Line Lax]

I just wanted to write a quick note of thanks after finishing my 5th season of PNCLL play on Sunday. Going into college I was expecting to play lacrosse, but had no idea about the potentials for lacrosse in Montana and in the Pacific Northwest. It's been a pretty remarkable journey for those of us in Missoula over the past few seasons, but I'm really going to miss the surprising camaraderie that I've found with my "opponents." There are so many teams out here that have great things going on for this sport and it is really amazing to see the leaps and bounds that we have grown together as a league. So thank you to all of the 'Yotes, Missionaries, Lutes, Vikings, Broncos, Vandals, Bulldogs, Wildcats, etc. that have made my first 5 years so memorable. Also a special thanks to those of you on the PNCLL board that have been so supportive and helpful to me over the past few years, I really couldn't have held this thing together without you.

PS. for all of you that still have eligibility, enjoy it while it lasts... mine went way too quick.

[teslax14]

PS. for all of you that still have eligibility, enjoy it while it lasts... mine went way too quick.

This could not be any more true. My 4 years have gone by way too fast. I just hope we can go all the way this year so that I can look back without saying what if? Best of luck to Montana at nationals and hopefully WWU can get an at-large because that championship B game was a lot of fun to watch. Both those teams deserve to go to nationals.

[Randy Tesar]

After 7 years of watching almost all of the games that my sons participated, I also feel a sense of remorse at the eminent return to a real life.
First point is that I have posted several thousand pics from this year at the following website www.Picasaweb.google.com/amc.dvm Please disregard the attempts to show local landscape (it happens as you get older). I would also hope that all players understand that I made no attempt to disrespect any player, but with this many pics I am sure that some of the pics are not always flattering.

Over the last 7 years the quality of play has increased dramatically, however I believe that the level of "refereeing" has improved exponentially. We have all been lucky to have Fred over these years. Whenever I see him at a game, I know that the bias of the ref will not determine the game, that the game will be called fairly, the game will be under control and especially in the last few years he will not be the topic of conversation after the game. These are as high a compliments as I could give a ref. I would also like to single out one of our newer refs, Jerry, who has all of the above qualities, and has only been refereeing for several years. I applaud him for his diligence in improving his skills to the point that he even tapes some of his games to teach others and himself. U of O has atleast three of their middies that have been timed by the football team in 4.5 40s, but I have never seen a middie outrun Jerry. It has been interesting to see some of the visiting teams middies on a fast break only to look back and see Jerry flying by, determined to get to the correct position. Seven years ago, the referees in Calif would look and talk disparaging about our NW crews, as would our own players, however our latest trip to Arizona left both teams wishing for our NW "boys" and their knowledge and "feel" for the game.
A response to several previous posts concerning SFU and their difficulty finding out of conference games. My first point is that I do not believe that there is a more beautiful (excluding Montana) site to play games than at the base of Mt. Robson, and the field and site quality exceeds any of the sites that I have seen at Nationals. However, after talking with multiple parents on several of our trips to Calif. and Arizona, they are always quick to point out how happy they are that the entire PNCLL does not play with "Box" tactics. Arizona parents were especially disparaging about the SFU game from last year, and as is the case with all Lax parents they had only moderate knowledge of the game, so I imagine that they were mimicing conceptions of the coach and players. I am sure that this impression was passed to all of the WCLL teams. I have seen firsthand that when the Lumberjacks play outdoors, they have difficulty adjusting to the rules, and I am sure that this is the case with SFU. They have a young team which seems to be very moldable, and I would hope that they would be coached out of some of these tactics. I would also like to acknowledge the positive movement of the UW program. They are beginning to get some high quality kids and I think that they will be a force in the near future.
Finally, I could not heap any greater praise on Joe and his assistant coaches, and certainly I appreciate everything that Josh did before him. I must admit that while I believe that Joe deserved his post season honor, I was secretly hoping that he would finish second and that the league would then honor him with a wedding planner so that he could become accustom to loosing some some of his off the field "contests". He could have photocopied the book and passed it on to Erik, but Erik already knows that he is third in the family pecking order.

It has been a wonderful 7 years and I only wish that I had #8 next year.

Sincerely
Randy Tesar

[Ryan Hanavan]

Kevin and Trevor,

You guys know the drill - keep winning - keep playing. Here's to Montana and Oregon both winning it all this year and extending the seniors seasons!

Kevin - you have done so many great things for Montana! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I hope the memories keep stacking up in the next couple of weeks!

[Sonny]

It has been a wonderful 7 years and I only wish that I had #8 next year.

Randy,

Don't worry. The MCLA will be right here again next year. Hope all parents and lacrosse fans everywhere across the country will continue to support their local teams and conferences moving forward!