Booster's Letter
Spring 2008 Booster's Letter
Dear Friend:
Cohasset Lacrosse needs your continued support!
First - thanks again to all of you who contributed your time and money last year. Your involvement made the continued success of our program possible.
The Cohasset Lacrosse Boosters are committed to providing a positive lacrosse development experience for our youth and the best possible program and equipment for our high school lacrosse athletes. In 2008, we should have nearly 300 kids in our youth lacrosse programs and over 90 student athletes participating in lacrosse in our high school programs. The JV program (now in its fourth year) has been a great success and provided our players a terrific bridge between our youth program and the varsity.
This year the Boosters will provide funding for additional coaches at the high school level, equipment and uniforms for the boys and girls teams and college scholarships for graduating seniors. We cannot do these things without your financial support and this newsletter will be our only fundraising activity this Spring. If you can make a contribution to Cohasset Lacrosse ---$25, $50, $100 or more --- the Boosters and our players will be deeply grateful. As always, these contributions are tax-deductible. Checks can be made payable to Cohasset Lacrosse Boosters and sent to P.O. Box 5, Cohasset 02025. Thanks in advance for your continued support.
VARSITY OUTLOOKS
BOYS
The Skippers, under Head Coach Stew Curran, are the defending two-time Division III state champions!! It will be hard to match the drama of last year's state championship game against Scituate, but the 2008 squad will be looking to improve on last years 16-3 record and THREEPEAT as state champions. Anthony Roman, formerly a goalie at Guilford College and currently a graduate student at B.U, will coach the JV. Gene Binda (former standout at Salve Regina College) will return as an additional assistant coach.
Although the boys lost some key players to graduation, including All American attackman and playmaker Mike Bunstein and standout defenseman Jeff Brown (Denver University), the team should be very strong again. Cohasset will be dynamic in the offensive zone and should put the ball in the back of the cage often. The 2008 squad will be led by its attack which returns two starters from an attack line which most observers believed was the best in the state last year. The "Summer Street" connection of Senior Co-Captains Mark Flibotte and Mike Grimm, should once again lead the scoring parade for the Skippers. Flibotte (bound for Bowdoin College next Fall) earned All American, All Scholastic and South Shore All Star honors in 2007 leading the Skippers in scoring with over 100 points. He should put up big numbers again and challenge Cohasset's all-time scoring record. Grimm (headed to the University of Pennsylvania) contributed over 90 points in 2007 while earning All Scholastic and South Shore All Star honors. Grimm will again break down opposing defenses with his explosive dodging, quickness and rocket release and should be a legitimate All American candidate this year. There will be significant competition for the remaining attack slots, particularly since both Grimm and Flibotte will likely see some time in the midfield. Senior attackers Chris Mills and Matt Burgess, juniors, Gordon Smith, Matt Wassell and Johnny Wade, and sophomores, Will Wise and Dean Driscoll, should be in the mix and provide still more scoring punch to a very potent offense.
Cohasset's offensive focus will continue at the midfield where senior Co-Captain Chuck Czerkawski (South Shore All Star), and seniors PJ McCaw and Peter Ernst, will lead. Czerkawski (headed to Connecticut College) and McCaw should dominate the face-off circle and give the Skippers the all important possessions throughout the year. Ball control will be critical to Cohasset's ultimate success. Both Czerkawski and McCaw have strong shots and will put very tough, physical defensive pressure on the opponent's top offensive midfielders. Ernst should provide quickness in the transition game as well as help win the ground ball battles in the middle of the field. Senior Greg Gallagher and juniors Andrew DiPaulo, Andrew Smith, Owen Landon, Alex Livingstone and Charlie Mushin will also carry a substantial load at midfield. From the indoor season, it looks like a number of other sophomores & freshman may also be ready to make a contribution.
The Cohasset defense was hard hit by graduation returning only the "big man," senior Jake Cuneo from the top six long poles of 2007. However, Cuneo will be a formidable object in the middle of the Skipper defense. Due to relative inexperience in the defensive end, Cohasset may employ varied defenses more often this year. Juniors Vin Curran and Anderson Lynner, along with two stout footballers, senior Cliff Musto and sophomore Nick Lieberman, will be counted on to step up. If they come together as a group, opposing offenses will find it very difficult to get good shooting opportunities. Given Cohasset's size and aggressive defensive style, staying out of the penalty box will be key. Senior Co-Captain Nate Porter (headed to University of New England) will again man the goal in 2008 and look to continue his outstanding play from last year. Porter is a seasoned net minder, positions himself well in the goal and is very smart with his passing in the clearing game. He worked hard in the off-season and will need to coordinate the young and inexperienced defense in front of him for Cohasset to repeat as state champions.
The boys open the regular season at home on Wednesday, April 1 against Catholic Memorial. The schedule is a tough one with games against several very strong programs including Duxbury, Hingham, Marshfield, Tabor Academy and archrival Scituate. The boys will also play in the first ever Seacoast Cup at Scituate High on April 17 and 19.
GIRLS
While the boys were winning their second-straight state title in 2007, the girls finished a season that started with title hopes of their own, but ended with them out of the playoffs.
That disappointment will serve as a huge motivating factor for this year's squad. Returning to the playoffs and building for the future will be key goals for coach Chuck Jaffe. Two-thirds of the starting line-up will be new this season, which promises tremendous competition for playing time among a group of aggressive underclassmen.
Midfield should be a strength in 2008 where Junior Caitlin Mahoney and sophomore Amy Meikleham both earned all-league honors a year ago. Isabelle Franklin - who started a handful of games as a freshman - will fill one of the vacant slots, with the final two jobs up for grabs. Expect senior Jen Silvia, juniors Madeline Leahy, Katelyn Ryan and Grace Clougherty and freshman Kaci Kucinski to be in the mix. Kucinski is the second-leading girls scorer in the history of the Cohasset Youth Lacrosse program. Ryan, Silvia or junior Amanda Masotta are all in line to be the potential defensive stopper at the midfield. Jaffe and returning JV coach Jennifer Palmer are excited about the team's depth at midfield because several young players - sophomores Samantha Crough, Lucy Noble, Chelsea Silvia and freshmen Caroline Fein and Olivia Murphy - all have the potential to work their way into a varsity job.
The team graduated all of its starters at attack, so there will be a new look up front in 2008. Expect Lindsay Hill, a fast, lefthanded player who has started on defense for every game of her high school career, to compete up front this year, along with classmates Kayla Farren and Katie Gaumer. Gaumer potted over 40 goals for the JV team during the last two years which should translate into production at the varsity level this year. Sophomore Kaleigh Teague earned a varsity letter as a freshman and classmate Hannah Burgess has high-grade skills as well. Freshman Kelsey Erler is an exciting, high-motor player with the ability to be a factor right away.
On defense, expect Senior Captain Sarah Brown to lead the way, along with sophomore Mimi Mahoney who earned a starting role halfway through her freshman campaign. Senior Amanda Hurd, sophomore Megan Richardson and freshman Eliza Kinnealey most likely will battle it out for playing time in the defensive zone. Goaltending will be the biggest concern. The squad enters the season without a seasoned keeper on the roster. The development of a goaltender - or the lack of one - is likely to be the biggest factor in the team's ability to succeed this season.
Carolyn Crimmins will join Jaffe and Palmer as a part-time coach this season. She's an 8th-grade English teacher in the Cohasset school system, whose presence will allow the team to work in smaller groups, focusing on skill development, so that the team will be able to build on whatever it can accomplish this year and compete for a title when it returns an experienced squad in '09. The girls are scheduled to open their regular season on the road at Bishop Feehan High School, and will start their home season on Saturday, April 5 against Nantucket.
THE YOUTH PROGRAM
Under the able leadership of Kirk Bukowski (Boys) and Joe Fitzgerald (Girls), Cohasset Youth Lacrosse celebrates its thirteenth season in 2008. The program continues to grow and lacrosse sticks in the hands of grade school boys and girls have become a sure sign of spring in Cohasset. Cohasset will have approximately 13 teams supported by the efforts of many committed parents/coaches. We will also run a 1st and 2nd grade clinic to introduce the game in a fun way at an early age.
Cohasset boys participate in the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League and the girls play in the South Shore Lacrosse League. Cohasset has one of the most active youth programs in New England. The program has been successful on the field, consistently compiling impressive records while remaining true to its guiding philosophy of developing good sportsmanship, discipline, and fundamental lacrosse skills while at the same time providing equal playing time and fun for all participants.
ALUMNI
Another sure sign of the Cohasset Lacrosse Program's success is the number of our recent high school players who now play at the college level - Crandon Leahy (Quinnipiac), Jake Previte and Lauren Rizzotti (St. Michael's); Haley Haracz (Purdue club); Ashley Faber (Connecticut College); Jeff Brown (Denver); Jon Grimm and Sam Steele (Northeastern club); Tessa Leahy (Fitchburg State); Peter Kovach (U Mass-Boston); Bobby Meikleham (Bentley); Ryan Kucinski (Babson); Nick Murphy (Wentworth), Lisa Spirito (UConn club); Jessica Wheelwright (Gordon College); Leo Clougherty (St. Leo's) and Nick Spirito (Western Connecticut) - to name a few!!! Ronan Buick is coaching and playing down under for Melbourne, Australia's oldest lacrosse club! Garrett Curran (a Cohasset youth alumni) earned Preseason All-American honors and is in his fourth year as a starting goalie for #4 ranked Lynchburg College.
Help Us Keep the Spirit Growing
The Boosters' mission is to promote and grow the sport of lacrosse in Cohasset. We'll be active all spring with events, supporting our coaches, purchasing new equipment, providing support for off-season competition and publicizing our players/teams. You can stay informed about our activities, game schedules and our teams' successes at our web site - http://www.cohassetlacrosse.com/.
The Boosters will host the lacrosse kickoff dinners at the Cohasset Lightkeepers on March 25 (boys) and March 26 (girls). We're planning a start of season Lacrosse Spirit Day on April 5. We will also host a youth jamboree for both girls and boys on June 14 and 15. Our alumni will return for our Eighth Annual Alumni Game. There's a lot happening, and we need your involvement. Whether you can contribute financially or as a volunteer, your support means a lot. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to be involved. Thanks for your help.
Bill Grimm, Hank Kucinski, Bill Bell, Joe Fitzgerald, Kirk Bukowski, Melissa Grasz, John Brown, Maria Mills, Joyce Driscoll, Stu Sanderson and Corey Axelson.
E-mail address for Lax Boosters ~ info@cohassetlacrosse.com