Hawaii gears up for annual lax tourney

by **Sonny** on Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:19 am

HONOLULU - The US Lacrosse Hawai'i Chapter will host 28 national and international teams at the 15th annual Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational Tournament, October 29 and 30, 2005 at Kap'iolani Park, O'ahu. Four Masters division, Ten Elite division, and a record 13 Women’s teams will battle at the base of Diamond Head in the hopes of taking home the prized Hawaiian trophies along with some significant bragging rights.

As cool fall weather sets in across other parts of the world, lacrosse action will heat up all the way “lacrosse the pacific” on O'ahu.

“The explosive growth of lacrosse has been incredible,” said Harry Jackson, tournament director. “We hosted 5 teams in 1991, and every year since the number has increased dramatically. This year with an unbelievable 25 Major League Lacrosse players sprinkled throughout the 14 men’s teams, we will have exceptional lacrosse!”

As usual though, lacrosse is only part of the story at this infamous Hawai?i Lacrosse tournament. Sharing Aloha with tournament participants and spectators is just as important as the lacrosse competition. This year, the “Aloha Spirit” should emanate from the event in particularly strong fashion as the year 2005 marks the 15th anniversary of the tournament and introduces the US Lacrosse – Hawai'i Chapter as its new presenter. Lacrosse lovers from across the state have joined together to form the Hawai'i Chapter under the national organization of US Lacrosse in an effort to bring together all players, parents, and supporters to unite as one under one umbrella with the slogan “E hui pu Kakou!" or "Let us unite as one!”

Games on Saturday run from 8 am to 4 pm on six fields. Sunday morning semifinals will culminate in championship games at 2 pm for Masters Division and 3 pm for both the Women’s and Elite Divisions. Awards ceremony to immediately follow. The public is welcome and encouraged to come watch the action. Park entry is free.

This year’s tournament is sponsored by Warrior Lacrosse, US Lacrosse, LuLu’s Waikiki Beach Club, and Tesoro.

**Sponsor**

by **Sonny** on Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:27 pm

Lacrosse catching on with Hawai'i's youth

By Brian McInnis
Special to The Advertiser

There's a sport that combines several of the best aspects of some of the most popular games in America, and comes out with a winning formula.

Lacrosse is growing, including in Hawai'i.

The Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association, for youth ages 7 to 18, is part of the local chapter of U.S. Lacrosse — the governing body of the sport — and is making a push for the sport to be embraced at a local level, much like soccer.

Jeff Overton, a member of the AYLA and U.S. Lacrosse Hawai'i Chapter board of directors, estimates the sport went from about 180,000 players nationwide five years ago to more than 300,000 today.

Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association's numbers also have grown from a handful of players in its inaugural year (two seasons ago) to more than 100.

And there's plenty of room for more, even for those unfamiliar with the sport.

LINK:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051014/SPORTS17/510140378/1032/SPORTS

by **Andy Sharp** on Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:50 pm

I just received the rosters of most men's teams, some sick teams, these three stick out.

Crease Monkeys
John Grant, Jr. - A
John Chescavage - A
Joe High - A
Blake Kim - A
Cort Kim - A
Josh Simms - M
Matt Striebel - A/M
John Christmas - A/M
Ed Fay - A/M
Kevin Finneran - M
Mitsuhito Okabe - M
Kevin Travis - M
Casey Connor - M/LS
Spencer Stenmark - LS
Ian O'Hearn - LS
Doug Appleton - LS
Mike Howley - D
Sean Nadelin - D
Nick Polanco - D
Chris Passavia - D
Blair Allison - D
Hamilton Pollard - D
Aaron Fenton - G
Mark Bloomquist - G

Marin
Jesse Hubbard - Attack
Michael Watson - Attack
George Clements - Attack
Todd Eichelberger - Attack
Lorne Smith - Attack
Sean Lindsay - Midfield
Blake Miller - Midfield
Matt Ogelsby - Midfield
Vern Briggs - Midfield
Eric Peacock - Midfield
Greg Bastis - Midfield
Scott Banerjee - Midfield
Drew Searle - Midfield
Jim Moss - Midfield
Steve Vallone - Midfield
Pete Reich - Midfield
John Gagliardi - Defense
Matt Field - Defense
Sean Donnelly - Defense
Matt Kelly - Defense
Jed Raymond - Defense
Joe Rosenbaum - Defense
Christian Cook - Defense
Patrick Brown - Goalie
Matt Vallone - Goalie

Wimmer Solutions
Casey Powell - A
Ryan Boyle - A
Matt Alrich - A
Matt Sauri - A
AJ Shannon - M
Nate Watkins - M
Tim Booth - M
Kyle Harrison - M
Ben Grinnell - M
Patrick Merrill - M
Andy Corno - M/FO
Brad Coulter - M
Justin Smith - M
James Hardison - M
Ryan McClay - D
Brodie Merrill - D
Eric Martin - D
Jeff Bigas - D
Marc Bissell - D
Tillman Johnson - G

This tournament brings out several teams made up of Japanese college aged players. Someday I hope that a MDIA team or two will make the trip, it's awesome. There are two WDIA teams this year, Arizona State (back again) and Pepperdine. It's a great time and it's real fun to play against the pros, I get it handed to me every year (once hit Carcatara in the chest), but I keep going back. No comments please.

by **CATLAX MAN** on Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:52 pm

I'd put my money on Wimmer Solutions looking at that roster.

by **Andy Sharp** on Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:16 am

There are at least a couple guys you'll recognize on the Olympic Club team, especially you CatLaxMan.

Court Durling - Baltimore, MD
Chris Packard - New York, NY
Will Patton - San Francisco, CA
Marc Cashell - Philadelphia, PA
Toby Costello - San Francisco, CA
Ben Horn - San Francisco, CA
Matt Mesa - Santa Cruz, CA
Carlos Trujillo - Mexico City, MX
Pat Miller - Baltimore, MD
Graham Davidson - Boston, MA
Ross Johnson - San Francisco, CA
John Henry Giddings - San Francisco, CA
Brian Doyle - Baltimore, MD
Drew Virk - San Francisco, CA
Kevin Duffy - Oakland, CA
Luke Wilson - San Francisco, CA
David Eaton - Manhasset, NY
Jake McKenna - Greenwhich, CT
John Mackey - Cleveland, OH
Seth Mallen - San Francisco, CA
Todd Graves - Rochester, NY
Graham Gil - Long Island, NY
leo Hartford - Orinda, CA
Any McDonald - Port Washington, NY
Matt Miller - Eerie, PA

I think I had a good time out on the town with Will and Luke at Vail as members of Team Rock-It Pocket . . . looking forward to seeing some MDIA blood make their way out to Waikiki.

Each of these teams have sick starters, but my bet is for the Crease Monkeys to repeat, John Grant is the best there is IMO and the defense of Howley, Nadelin, Polanco, and Passavia will be tough to beat.

How about these credentials:
Howley: '02 Team USA / Rochester Rattlers (MLL) / Maryland
Nadelin: Baltimore Bayhawks (MLL)('05 All-MLL Team) / John Hopkins
Polanco: '06 & '02 Team USA / Long Island Lizards (MLL) / Hofstra
Passavia: Boston Cannons (MLL)('05 All-MLL Team) / Maryland

Hey, the Monkeys defense held back Mike, Ryan, Casey, and Jesse last year in the championship game and it doesn't get much better than that.

by **CATLAX MAN** on Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:29 am

Got to think that the combination of Powell & Boyle at attack, Harrison & Shannon in the midfield , Corno taking the faceoffs, Brodie Merrill anchoring the defense, & Tillman Johnson in the cage will be diffficult for teams to overcome.

Note that there are 3 CATLAXers in the O Club group, Ben Horn (Navy), Luke Wilson (UCSB) & Drew Virk (Maryland) and one current CATLAX coach, Chris Packard (Cornell). Others with MDIA connections are Will Patton (UCSB) and Carlos Trujillo (coached at Chapman). Would love to see these guys take it all.

by **MandibleS4L** on Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:18 pm

Best of luck to the Gauchos and Catlaxers heading out to Waikiki. MDIA talent in Honolulu is not a new phenomenon however. Years past had Alex Mast and Chris and Kevin Moon of Cal Bear lore heading out on behalf of the Olympic Club, while myself (Cal '01), Sean Whitacre (Cal Poly 03), Dallas Hartley (Noma 00), John Minan (Noma 02), and Ben Alexander (Noma 0?... I think he was in school for almost a decade) all plundered and pillaged for the Barbary Coast. Playing against the talent assembled is nice, though beating them feels better. Maybe one day an all MDIA team will assemble to play..... Rock-it Pocket, Dub-C, Westside Connection, Southern guys, the Ducks- a conglomeration would be quite the spectacle. Not to mention you are playing in Hawaii.... which is nice.

by **Andy Sharp** on Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:36 pm

The championship game was rather close, 11-9 with Wimmer Solutions winning it all over the Crease Monkeys. Two key guys did not make the trip for the Monkeys: John Grant Jr and Kevin Finneran, they were missed. Matt Sauri put together an amazing team, CatLax Man called it right, they were sick.