Minnesota High School Prognostication/Discussion

[Rob Graff]

So, Anyone want to take a shot at predicting the top HS programs in MN?

Some thoughts - in no particular order - this is NOT a preseason top 12:

1. EP returns Dan Gnazzo, (AA), Rob Nord, Dustin Clark, Matt Kruse and a few younger middies with talent. They lost Nic Michaelson, Stu Baxter, Jim Gunther, Garrett Becker and Alex Patterson to graduation. And they have a new coach. Who is going to be their "lead" attackman?

2. Mpls South lost almost their entire starting unit on both sides of the midfield line. Nuff Said there.

3. Bloomington Jefferson lost alot of players - Jake Launert, Max Mittelstaedt, Bryce Reme and Drew Fautch to name a few. But they return Mike Smith (AA) and Sam Wesenberg - two good players in the d/o boxes respectivly

4. Breck returns alot of people - Charlie Senn, Manny Pinto to name a couple - but is adjusting to a new coach. How do they react to Jefferson's comback win in last years playoffs?

5. BSM - Stability in the coaching staff, and lots of rising juniors make them a dark horse for a strong season. Watch Mike Evans point production.

6. Blake - While losing numerous players, again, a stable coaching staff, and t-fer Seivold make them a team to watch.

7. Osseo was young and athletic last year - does one year add some game sense?

8. Apple Valley had leading scorers Coles and Mithun - And Sam Kackman is fully back from injury. Should be a potent offensive unit - But I know nothing about their defense or goalies.

9. Mahtomedi made it to the final 4, and returns stellar defensemen Maubach and Ribar. That's a nice foundation upon which Coach Jimmy Reilly can build.

10. Armstrong has has Dan Forsyth, a great middy - but do they have anyone else?

11. Mounds View has a couple of "Swarm" players assisting HC Chris Taute and returning attackman Scott Wishart. Defense? Goalie?

12. Kennedy - yes Kennedy - has two strong senior attackmen (Chris Impagliazzo, Brian Hochman), but do they have enough defense/middies to take adavantage of the attackman's abilities?

Discuss>....

[Champ]

You forgot Edina.

[Rob Graff]

No, I didn't forget them. I know nothing about them this year. Can you educate us ?

[TexOle]

Coach Graff,

You missed the most important aspect of this year's lacrosse season. The issue is a vote that will happen shortly. It is the vote to make boys lacrosse varsity. Most of what we are hearing says yes, but it is never a definite.

[Rob Graff]

Tex:

I'm aware of the vote - just trying to stay out of the politics. I hope it's successful, but last time, many of the backers were told it was a "sure thing" until a couple of AD's switched their votes.

I'm hopeful.

I'm not holding my breath.


Rob

p.s. Where did UPS' Kyle B's post go???

[Gopherlax29]

my Jaguars look to have a lot of work. Smith (AA) at D and Wsenberg the sophomore with olander the Senior at Attack. Don't forget Olander had about 40 points last year....Replacing 2 AA in Launert in goal and Reme at Midi and Face-off will be tough to do. Gerde the new goalie will surprise some people...Jefferson has great coaching and should be a potent offense as usual and well coached defensively.

[Champ]

Look what you wrote for Osseo you could totally make up something witty about Edina and throw it on there.

I know Matt Herring (sp?) is a good middie, and Jamie MacPheters (sp?) is looking decent in net.

However they took a big loss last year losing Tilsner.

[Dulax31]

My preseason top 5

EP - looks to win the title again. have the best goalie in the state hands down.

Apple Valley - look for them to produce. Very explosive offense. Very solid at the attack position.

Eagan - good coaching, good players. Will find a way to get it done.

Bloomington Jerfferson - Great coaching and they always seem to field a good team.

Mahtomedi - defense wins championships. Could have the two best defensemen in the state.

Dark Horse - Breck - has agruably the best attackmen in the state in Charlie Senn, look for him to control the ball on offense. They should be a solid team.

Dark Horse - Holy Angels - off most people's radars but they return almost every player from last year. Look for them to have a break through year with Hurley (attackmen) leading the way.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

9. Mahtomedi made it to the final 4, and returns stellar defensemen Maubach and Ribar. That's a nice foundation upon which Coach Jimmy Reilly can build.

Mahtomedi - defense wins championships. Could have the two best defensemen in the state.

Playing goalie for these two was a great experience. I have almost always had an amazing defense standing between me and the ball. However, one of the important things about Mahtomedi is that they lost their only two experienced goalies and crease defender. It should be interesting to see what Jim does this year to replace these vacancies. I have word that there is a somewhat experienced middie is stepping up to the possition, but with little or no experience in cage. Ill have to see what I can do to educate my successor.

[Dulax]

Here are my predictions:

1. EP--EP has always been a very solid squad.
-Lost Big game players (Baxter, Michaelson, Gunther, Patterson)
- Can they win the big games without there big game players? Prolly
- Gnazzo is dirty, hands down the best goalie in the state...but how far will that take them.

2. JHS-- Lost 2 AA in reme and Launert, also lost Mittelsteadt (29g, 21a), and also the core of there defense.
-Return Wesenberg (20g, 19a) and Olander (27g, 20a) at attack.
-also return a very fast midfield line that if taught how to shoot, will be dominate.
-JHS also relies on there specialty units alot, with losing over 50% of there man up, they will have to find replacements to get the job done.

3. Breck-- Returns a crafty attackmen in Senn, a solid midfield, and a great D in Pinto.. also they are a private school so who cares, they have everything anyway, except for a state championship. This may be there year.

Apple Valley-- I dont know much about AV. I guess they return quite a few attackmen that were solid last year. They will have to find a way to defend the net if they want to make it to the dance this year.

Roseville-- Despite great coaching, they have lost a major part of there midfield and a very solid netminder in shoenecker. Will have to work hard to get the finals but have a very easy road on the way with teams in there conference like Mounds view, Hastings, anoka, buffalo, irondale.

It should be an interesting year with the way they have redone the brackets to get through to the finals. Its about time! Now the state final game wont be a 9 seed verses a 1 seed. and should pan out to be a more exciting game than those of the past years.

Gopherlax29....any thoughts?

[Gopherlax29]

yeah I do "mm", I noticed you said Mittelstaedt had 50 points last year, I hear it wasn't quite that much. Also, Smith is by far the best D in the state, I don't know what you are watching and you are over-rating Senn from what I have seen.

1. EP
2. JHS
3. Breck
4. AV

It looks as if the state is lacking the talent it has had in the past years besides the best 2 players (Gnazzo and Smith).

[Dulax31]

yeah I do "mm", I noticed you said Mittelstaedt had 50 points last year, I hear it wasn't quite that much. Also, Smith is by far the best D in the state, I don't know what you are watching and you are over-rating Senn from what I have seen.

1. EP
2. JHS
3. Breck
4. AV

It looks as if the state is lacking the talent it has had in the past years besides the best 2 players (Gnazzo and Smith).

I agree smith is one of the best.
I suggest you go watch Senn play again.
As for there not being any talent , are you kidding, there is still ALOT of talent out there. Mithun, Kackman, Hurley, Senn, Pinto, Forsyth, Evans, Maubach, Ribar, Gnazzo, Smith just to name a few. Minnesota HS lacrosse is getting better every year.

[Rob Graff]

We'll all know soon - games begin next week.

Just as a general comment:

I think that MN lax is consistently improving. Was there alot of talent that graduated last year? Absolutely. Are there younger players improving and stepping up? Absolutely. I think that the playoffs this year will be more comptetitive than ever.


Rob

[Jester]

Mounds View and Hastings are hardly going to be an easy road for Roseville to get through.

Hastings had a series of capable shooters in their midfield, few of whom graduated, I think.

Mounds Views attack is the most experienced they've had yet, with four very unselfish players surrounding Wishart. Their midfield is a strength they've never had before, with three solid lines, and the goalie is very, very quick, though only in his second year at the position. Defense is a weak spot, but Nick Ethan is one of the best close defense out there.

And whoever said Charlie Senn isn't that good really needs to look again. Very few players can dominate a game from the midfield like that.

[Rob Graff]

Jester:

Did Hastings lose Matty Thomas as head coach? I thought I had heard a rumor to that effect. And I do know they lost a couple of their better players from last year - Joe Schnieder (def/LSM) and Joe Vandenbosh (m/a - one of the top 25 scorers last year).

But based upon your comments, certainly sounds like Coach Taute has something going on at MV this spring.

Rob