Lacrosse has always been my passion, but I never expected it to be my job. I’ve coached club lacrosse teams before, but I didn’t ever expect to evaluate them for the camera!
Over the past year, my life has been enamored by the game we all love, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s exactly why I jumped at the opportunity to help run the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League, specifically managing it’s foundation.
One of my main responsibilities is building relationships for the WPLL from the ground-up. We’ve created several key strategic partnerships early in the WPLL’s existence, including one on the media side with Lacrosse All Stars. We’ve been live streaming all our games with LAS, and the past few months have led to me literally stepping out of my comfort zone and into a whole new world as a broadcast commentator/analyst.
The experience really amped up when I opted into a trip to Texas with LaxAllStars last month to help cover the club lacrosse teams competing at the Western Prime. Held by Adrenaline Lacrosse at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Western Prime is a small, tournament featuring the best 9th, 10th and 11th grade club lacrosse teams from the West.
This was my first glimpse at “West Coast Lacrosse,” and you can color me impressed. The talent, athleticism and stick skills possessed by the boys and girls players were beyond my wildest expectations.
Then I started looking into the programs.
Club lacrosse teams at the Western Prime have some serious pedigree and coaching credentials! Let’s take some time out to recognize the top two teams from each division.
Western Prime Club Lacrosse Championships
2019 Western Prime Champions
Girls Champions: GRIT Lacrosse
Based out of Dallas, Texas, GRIT stands for four key values: Growth: On and Off The Field; Respect: Teammates, Coaches, Referees, and The Game; Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles including honesty, sportsmanship, and hard work; and Team: We Share a Team-First Mentality.
Coaches include Molly Ford (3x All-American at Georgetown, US National Team), Maggie Koch (All-American at Georgetown, National Goalie of the Year) and Sloane Serpe (4x All-American at UNC, US National Team).
Girls Runner-Up: Seattle Starz
Seattle Starz is a lacrosse training and development program in Washington that prides itself on increasing the IQ of its players. Over 100 Seattle Starz alumni are currently playing at the NCAA level.
Coaches include Lyndsey Gillis (Bowdoin College), Ruth Bonner (University of New England), Kasey Uhlenhuth (Harvard), Helen Hansen (University of California, Berkeley), Stevie McNesby (Holy Family), and Alex Foreman (USC)
Boys Champions: DoCo
Based out of Douglas County in Colorado, DoCo Lacrosse Club was founded by professional lacrosse player Matt Bocklett in 2012. The DoCo program provides training opportunities, tournaments, and club teams for youth and High School boys and girls from all over Colorado.
Coaches include Kevin O’Brien (Colorado HS Coach of the Year 2015), Brent Adams (Denver Outlaws), Jon Cohen (Outlaws Asst GM), and Ken Clausen (4x All-American at UVA).
Boys Runner-Up: ADVNC SF
ADVNC was founded in 2012 by 2003 Tewaaraton Award recipient Chris Rotelli. The program offers camps, year round club teams, tournaments, and leagues in the Northen California area.
Coaches include Chris Rotelli (UVA), Greg Weigel (Denver), Chris Clements (UVA), Mo Ryan (Marquette), Mike Faby (Hopkins), Mikie Schlosser (Michigan), and more.
2020 Western Prime Champions
Girls Champions: Tenacity Elite
Tenacity, which started in Northern California in 2007, fields over 40 girls teams in 5 regions (Bay Area, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City). The best of the best players from each team are selected for Tenacity Elite. The program has specialized to increasing participation level in areas where the game is not as traditionally popular, and many NCAA athletes have come from it. Tenacity was founded by Theresa Sherry (3x All-American at Princeton).
Girls Runner-Up: West Coast Starz
Founded in 2010, West Coast Starz is a program run by Adrenaline Lacrosse that brings the best players from the West together all onto one team. Coaches include Rebecca Kingsbury and Kaitlin Swagart (University of Virginia).
Boys Champions: DoCo
Based out of Douglas County in Colorado, DoCo Lacrosse Club was founded by professional lacrosse player Matt Bocklett in 2012. The DoCo program provides training opportunities, tournaments, and club teams for youth and High School boys and girls from all over Colorado.
Coaches include Kevin O’Brien (Colorado HS Coach of the Year 2015), Brent Adams (Denver Outlaws), Jon Cohen (Outlaws Asst GM), and Ken Clausen (4x All-American at UVA).
Boys Runner-Up: Vegas Strong
There wasn’t and still isn’t much information about this team available. There’s no team website. If you’re a player, parent or coach, please comment below and fill us in on Vegas Strong!
2021 Western Prime Champions
Girls Champions: Tenacity Elite
Tenacity, which started in Northern California in 2007, fields over 40 girls teams in 5 regions (Bay Area, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City). The best of the best players from each team are selected for Tenacity Elite. The program has specialized to increasing participation level in areas where the game is not as traditionally popular, and many NCAA athletes have come from it. Tenacity was founded by Theresa Sherry (3x All-American at Princeton).
Girls Runner-Up: West Coast Starz
Founded in 2010, West Coast Starz is a program run by Adrenaline Lacrosse that brings the best players from the West together all onto one team. Coaches include Rebecca Kingsbury and Kaitlin Swagart (University of Virginia).
Boys Champions: Chaos Lacrosse
The Chaos program started in 2013. C.H.A.O.S. stands for “Constantly Harass And create Opportunities to Score” and was originated by Coach Bill Pilat of Roanoke College. The program prides itself on emphasizing drills, strategy and coaching styles that promote creativity and help players fall in love with the game.
Coaches include Jason Gildea (Roanoke College), Karl Lynch (Hobart College), Josh Pico (Johns Hopkins), Patrick Diamonon (Hendrix), Mark Roidopoulos (Lindenwood).
Boys Runner-Up: Iron Horse
The mission of Iron Horse Lacrosse is “to develop each club member to the utmost of their playing and personal potential in an environment that stresses the importance of discipline, courage, character, moral excellence and fun.” Participation on the team is open to players nationwide.
Coaches include Chris Surran, Dom Fin, Luke Cometti, and Chris Delfausse.
Stay tuned for replays of each 2018 Western Prime Championship game. We’ll be sharing each game one-by-one this week!
