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Missouri H.S. Lacrosse – Rockhurst Jesuit

Editor’s Note: Please welcome Dustin Rich to the LAS Network. Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Dustin Rich knows a thing or two about growing the game. Rich currently coaches the men’s team at Missouri State University and in his spare time enjoys all things lacrosse.
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Show Me Lax: It’s great getting a chance to talk to you today coach.
Head Coach Tim Reidy: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

SML: Let’s get some of the essentials out of the way, is Rockhurst a member of the Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MSLA) DI or DII?
Reidy: Former member of MSLA DI now a new member of the LAKC [Lacrosse Association of Kansas City].

SML: How many kids are on in your H.S. lacrosse program?
Reidy: 100

SML: Have you seen any growth with your program specifically, or with lacrosse in general, in your area in the past few years? If so, what do you attribute that to?
Reidy: When I played for Rockhurst from 1999-2002 we were the only team in Kansas City until Pembroke, Shawnee Mission South and Blue Valley West formed. Today there are close to 15 teams in the Kansas City area and the only reason for such growth is because local coaches focused on growing the youth game. Were it not for men like two of my assistants – Tim Hannon and Hunter Anderson – or Jack Yates and Greg Goss, there would be no youth lacrosse in Kansas City. Also, a lot of credit is owed to my predecessors Al Carruthers, Dave Steffano and Dan Connelly for bringing lacrosse to Rockhurst and ultimately to Kansas City. And of course to Jay Coleman for turning Rockhurst into the successful program we are today.

SML: What are some of your team’s major accomplishments in the past 4 years?
Reidy: Won State Championship in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011 and finished second in 2007 and 2009 (All under Jay Coleman). Also, Rockhurst was in every MSLA Final Four from 1998-2011.

SML: What are some of the big goals you have for your team this year?
Reidy: We are competing in a new league this season so there are many unknowns. However, at Rockhurst our goal is to always win championships.


SML: How about your varsity roster?
Reidy: We will have somewhere around 1-3 freshman, 1-3 sophomores, 13 juniors and 11 seniors. By position we will have 6 attack, 10 midfielders, 6 defenders and 2 goalies. Those are rough estimates; we’ll know exactly once we have tryouts.

SML: Tell us about some of the players to watch for this season.
Reidy: Addison Degen (20G/18A in 2012) was 2nd team All-Conference attack in 2012; he’s small but quick and shifty. He’s a feeder and finisher and single-handedly won at least two games for us last season. Isaac Zorn (13G/5A in 2012) was 2nd team All-Conference in 2012, and can play either middie or attack. He has a great outside shot. Zach Hannon is 6’6” / 290 lbs and plays attack. Zach has signed to play OL at Nebraska. He is a finisher with a 64% shooting average. Gregory Massman is a 55% face-off middie and a senior. August Hodes is a senior defensive midfielder; had 45 ground balls in 2012. Connor Prochnow is a junior midfielder who is also a hockey player. He has great stick skills and a high lax IQ. Connor has a few [NCAA] DI options but mostly NESCAC [NCAA D3]. Michael Cesena is a senior defender. He’s the only returning defender and he missed his senior year of football because of injury so he is hungry; great off-ball defense and solid ground work. Robbie Healy and Canyon Smith are both junior defenders. They also play football. They have great size and footwork and are lock down, takeaway, bruisers.

SML: Who are some of your biggest rivals?
Reidy: In the past our biggest rivals have always been De Smet, MICDS and SLUH but since we are in the new league this season we were only able to get SLUH on the schedule. SLUH beat us last season and went on to win state so that should be another hard fought rivalry game. Locally, we look forward to trying to knock of Shawnee Mission East. After 17 years, 45 games, and outscoring Kansas City teams 806-116, East became the first team in KC to beat Rockhurst last year. It was bound to happen and its proof of the growth of the game locally and the parity of the teams now. East is a great team with a lot of talent and a great coaching staff. They are only about 3.5 miles from Rockhurst and are a traditional rival in many of our other sports so we look for it to become one of our new rivals.

SML: Do you have any big trips your team takes this spring?
Reidy: We will be playing in the King of Spring Face-Off Classic at Duke University on March 8th, 9th and 10th. We will be playing Christchurch (VA), Apex (NC) and Highland Park (TX). We will also be traveling to Nebraska on April 5th and 6th to play Lincoln at the University of Nebraska before their Spring Football Game and play Creighton Prep. Lastly, we will be going to St. Louis to play SLUH on April 26th and Chaminade on April 27th.

SML: Tell us about your senior class. How much will they define the season, what have they helped do in their time, and are any of them playing in college?
Reidy: This year’s senior class will define our season based on their brotherhood and chemistry. They are not only leaders both on and off the field but are all best friends and that can really help carry a team far. Most importantly, they are all great role models for our younger players and are good young men who represent the ideals of Rockhurst.

Zach Hannon – Signed to play football at Nebraska
Alex Lackey – Signed to play football at University of Central Missouri
Isaac Zorn – Committed to Messiah College (PA)

SML: Coach thanks for taking the time today. Good luck this season.
Reidy: Thank you.