USA West 2008

[Tyler Kreitz]

Attention MCLA-
Since the summer of 2000 USA West Lacrosse has traveled the world, exposing the best Men’s collegiate lacrosse players from non-traditional lacrosse hotbeds to both top-flight competition and unforgettable cultural exchanges. Originally set up to provide top collegiate lacrosse players from the western United States with the playing and traveling experience of a lifetime, USA West has grown to a formidable team in it’s own right. USA West teams have traveled to Japan, England, Australia, China, Germany and the Czech Republic, winning every tournament that they've entered, and have played against the Iroquois Nation, Team USA, The Australian National Team and others.

As USA West has grown, so has the game. As such, the talent pool from which to draw has become so vast that our staff can not possibly scout all of the potential players. Thus in order to select the best, most competitive and geographically diverse team we rely on the input of head coaches and Lacrosse insiders from all over the country.

In order to maximize the geographic diversity, while maintaining the high talent level of USA West, we need the input of MCLA coaches, specifically those of the PNCLL, UMLL, LSA, RMLC, GRLC, CCLA and SELC. If you feel you know of a player whose talent, attitude and demeanor suggest joining the USA West tradition, please advise.

You may contact either Rob Warner (USA West 2000, USA West Collegiate Director) or Tyler Kreitz (USA West 2000, 2002, USA West Collegiate Assistant Director) with recommendations, comments or questions. Emails are pasted below.

Our 2008 trip is scheduled from June 18-July 1st, beginning with training camp in the San Francisco Bay Area and culminating with games and travel through Japan.

Go West!
Tyler Kreitz and Rob Warner
tkreitz@bishopodowd.org
RWarner@southswellsports.com

[chillywilly3]

USA West is proud to announce its 2008 College roster
Peter Noel A ASU
Cito Williams A/M Sonoma State
Pete Nelson A Univ. Minn Duluth
Casey Mithun A UMD
Scott Wishart A UMD
Scott Trimble A Claremont
Jesse Painter A/M NDNU
Josh Schane A/M Oregon
Brooks Korvin A/M Army
David Reinhard M/FO Mich.
Marcus Sylva M Sonoma State
Nate Goertz M UMD
Dan Pitzl M UMD
Brian Hochman M UMD
Brad Matzek M NDNU
Alex Kroviak M Texas
Harry Freid D Mich.
Alex Richmond D Sonoma St
Ryan Hatheway D Cal Poly SLO
Dan Riddle D Sonoma St
Charlie Nesser D UMD
Todd Frykman D UMD
Garrett Fitzgerald G Colo. St
Max Menke G Claremont

The team will be having a two day training camp in the Bay Area on June 16th and 17th and then will be headed to Fukuoka and Osaka Japan on the 18th. We will do our best to post updates.

[IndianaJones]

wow.... is that USA West or Duluth West?

[Laxer19]

I have heard of this team before but not in much detail. Just a question or two I was pondering that hopefully someone can answer...

Are players drawn from NCAA schools (Army) as well as the MCLA?

Are there many players asked that do not end up participating for various reasons, (summer jobs, money, etc.)?

Aside from Korvin (Army), are players drawn only from central/western United States?

[Ravaging Beast]

I have heard of this team before but not in much detail. Just a question or two I was pondering that hopefully someone can answer...

Are players drawn from NCAA schools (Army) as well as the MCLA?

Are there many players asked that do not end up participating for various reasons, (summer jobs, money, etc.)?

Aside from Korvin (Army), are players drawn only from central/western United States?

In the past, you have had to get a coaches recommendation to play. But usually, if you have the money to pay for the trip, you can go.

They have had players from NCAA schools. Spencer Wright (Syracuse), Ben Horn (Navy), and probably many other names I am forgetting. There is also a guy from NDNU on the roster.

Most reasons for players not making the trip is $ and school. It's an expensive trip. I know schools like the UCs are on quarter systems, so they aren't out of school until mid-June and that is about when training camp starts.

Since the organizers of USA West are in California, the players have been primarily from the West Coast. But they do draw players from Colorado schools, Michigan, Texas, and Minnesota. The 2002 team that went to Australia was pretty balanced.

[onpoint]

That 2002 team was probably the best USA West team, right? Big names and some of the MCLA all-time greats were on that roster. I believe they played the real Team USA to a decent game in AUS.

[John Paul]

Probably. The only thing we didn't have on that team was a true faceoff guy. It was a very talented team.

The team has always been marketed for players from non-hotbed areas, whether they grew up in those areas (no matter where they play in college) or grew up out east and play college in those areas. It's open to either MCLA or NCAA guys as long as they fit that criteria. The makeup of the team depends partly on the coaching staff and how proactive they are in recruiting.

[chillywilly3]

I think we have a really solid team this year. If you look at each league's post season awards you will see almost every name on our list. We put feelers out to schools and get recommendations from coaches. Usually 5 or 6. This year Coach Rob Graff recommended 10 and made a very strong argument for all ten. And they proved it with their record this year. Usually we'd get two or three that could make it. This year 8 UMD guys jumped on the opportunity to play on a unique team. They are fortunate enough financially and time commitment wise to be able to come.

We are open to anyone, like Coach Paul said, in the MCLA and NCAA who come from non-hotbed areas and we contact most of the coaches in the top twenty and take all referrals. Lots of coaches never got the word out to their players. As for Brooks he was a referral but is from the East Coast. We aren't going to turn down a player with ties to the program and is about to serve our country.

As someone mentioned, money and school usually deter people from making the trip. However, we don't just take players that can pay. We take good lacrosse players that are good people. Players get turned away. USA West has never lost a tournament we have entered and we aren't going to be loosing anytime soon just to fill a roster.
Oh, and you have to take the very first ever USA West team into account when choosing the best. Japan 2000. The only team to have beaten the Japanese National team. A strong team representing the best of the RMLL and WCLL

[John Paul]

Actually, we won at the world games too. We competed in the International Open Division and won it. The games we played against several national teams were officially scrimmages (and we won a few of those as well - including handing Team Ireland their only loss in Australia).

[chillywilly3]

That 2002 team was pretty good. There was some alumni mixed in as well, right? The Moons and Kreitz? Steve had such a good turn out that year he sent two teams abroad. One to OZ and one to Japan.

[dtrain34]

My friend ChillyWilly is being modest, for the original 2000 team was by far the best.

They had something like 4 goals scored against them total the entire trip.

[CATLAX MAN]

USA West Lacrosse Japan Tour 2000
Men's Roster

Rob Warner..... Goalie..... UC Berkeley
Pat Ferguson.....Goalie.....Sonoma State
Ryan Horn.....Attack.....Sonoma State
Dominic Boitano.....Attack.....Santa Clara
David Dean.....Attack.....UC Berkeley
Mike Napolilli.....Attack.....Colorado State
Mike Roth.....Attack.....Colorado State
Jerrod Waller.....Attack.....Sonoma State
Adam Horn.....Defense.....Naval Academy
Scott Kimball.....Defense.....UC Santa Barbara
Tyler Kreitz.....Defense.....UC Berkeley
Aaron Quiggle.....Defense.....BYU
Josh McGurick.....Defense.....UC Santa Barbara
Dallas Hartley.....Long Pole.....Sonoma State
M.J. Crickmore.....Middie.....Sonoma State
Dave Ellis.....Middie.....UC Santa Barbara
Taylor Gill.....Middie.....Chapman
Ross Johnson.....Middie.....Dartmouth
Chris Moon.....Middie.....UC Berkeley
Kevin Moon.....Middie.....UC Berkeley
Spencer Wright.....Middie.....Syracuse
Brian Moore.....Middie.....University of Arizona
Ben Alexander.....Middie.....Sonoma State

John Hughes.......Head Coach
Stephen Dini.....Assistant Coach
David Giarrusso.....Assistant Coach

[UkraineNotWeak]

Yes, 2000 was the better team. Their only weak spot was goalie.

[chillywilly3]

USA West just finished training camp in the US. The team is one of the fastest and talented teams USA West has had. The players have gelled well and there has been some exciting play on the O side of the ball. Today the players selected 2 captains and the coaches will name two more before start of play. The two selected by the team were Brooks Korvin of the Army Academy and Cito Williams from Sonoma State.
Our first games will be on Friday (Japan time) vs Fukuoka Univ., Kyusyu Univ., and Seinan Univ..

[BB]

Will there be updates here?