Our 2016 boys lacrosse pre-season Top 20 countdown continues! If you missed teams ranked 16-20, read about their season outlooks here.
As a reminder, these pre-season rankings were determined via a voting process that included various friends of MaxLaxOC with knowledge of lacrosse in the area. After the first full week of play, we will open the polls to everyone and let the fans determine the Top 20. The MaxLaxOC.com Top 20 has no bearing whatsoever on playoff seedings. The first US Lacrosse/coaches’ poll, which will factor into playoff seedings will be released the week of March 28.
15. Beckman
2015 Record: 13-5 overall, 10-0 Pacific Coast League
Coaching Staff: Brendan Finnerty, Joel Kallas-Schmitt
Key Player Losses: Alex Malmlund (A), Jake Waltz (M)
Key Player Returners: Tyler Schweickert (G), Alex Watson, Tim Ellis, Zack Heller, Justin Cheng(D/LSM), Max Cody (FO), Jack Bilello (A)
Schedule Highlights: Tesoro March 7, Los Al March 14, Santa Margarita March 29, Newport Harbor March 30
14. JSerra
2015 Record: 15-5 overall, 7-0 Trinity League
Coaching Staff: Brendan Fowler (head coach), Tom Schreiber (assistant coach), Brian Kavanagh (assistant coach)
Key Player Losses: Graduated 16 seniors, including starting middies, defense, and goalie; also includes all 6 captains, who were all NCAA commits: Jake Schleppy, Nick Georgagi, Logan Olmsted, Kennedy Solomon, Yuta Murata, James Yanes
Key Player Returners: Emerson Roth (A/M), Matt Karzak (A), Austin Schakleford (M/FO), Cayson Fincher (LSM)
Schedule Highlights: Home (4/12) and Away (4/23) against Santa Margarita
Coach’s outlook:
This is for sure a rebuilding year for JSerra lacrosse. We are hoping for strong play from our Seniors and for younger players to step up in roles to help the team.
13. Servite
2015 Record: 6-12 ovearll, 1-5 Trinity League
Coaching Staff: Tom O’Leary (head coach), Mike Hutnick (varsity assistant), Pat Jenkins (varsity assistant), Ryan Shanks (JV head coach), Chris Grijalba (assistant JV), Rodrigo Hernandez (frosh/soph head coach), Kurt Little (frosh/soph assistant)
Key Player Losses: Gordon Livermore (FO)
Key Player Returners: Chase Anderson (A), Kyle Cartwright (A), Stephan Shatynski (M), Austin Felix (M), Jack Brennan (M), Brandon Box (D), Hayden Rodenbeck (D), Jakob Decano (G)
Schedule Highlights: Great Oak (3/8), Trabuco (3/10), Santa Margarita (4/5), Corona del Mar (4/26), plus a Long Island Trip with three games
Coach’s outlook:
With six captains whose ideals reflect that of the Servite mentality to become “Faith Filled Leaders”, the program has been lifted to a new level of competition under these young men. Servite lacrosse will be in contention to seek out the programs first league title and a long awaited return to the playoff scene after being a bubble team for past two seasons.
12. El Toro
2015 Record: 11-7 overall, 8-0 Sea View League
Coaching Staff: Jay Parsons (head coach), Chris Nunziata (assistant coach)
Key Player Losses: Parker Core, Nick Skeffington, Clay Gilmour, Jason Hastings
Key Player Returners: Tyler Collings (D), Blake Young (D), Chris Garcia (M), Jared Vlach (A)
Coach’s outlook:
After losing a significant portion of last year’s offensive goals and leadership to graduation, we have a young team that is looking to make a name for themselves.
11. Tesoro
2015 Record: 6-12 overall, 4-5 South Coast League
Coaching Staff: Brian Dunn (head coach), Nick Tintle (offensive coordinator), Knute Kraus (defensive coordinator)
Key Player Losses: Gunner Garn
Key Player Returners: Riley McQuaid (D), Cole Spooner (FO), Brian Graves (A), Braken King (M), Cameron King (D), Jason Moreta (A)
Schedule Highlights: Trabuco (home and away), San Clemente (home and away), Corona del Mar
Coach’s outlook:
“I’m excited to take the helm of a historically strong and storied South Orange County program. While the team is still fairly young everyone on the offensive side of the field that touches the ball has the ability to score. Our defensive unit is a scary one, averaging 6’3” across the board and all are two sport athletes playing football during the offseason. They are smart, athletic and very physical.
What lured me to Tesoro however is the incredible coaching staff. Coach Tintle is not only an incredible coach on the field but as a NCAA D1 grad from UNC has the pedigree to back it up. Nick is also the owner of Athlete’s Choice a facility specializing in sports performance. The boys that have been working with him have undergone an INCREDIBLE transformation, developing not only outstanding lacrosse skills but also freakish athleticism.
Coach Kraus (a Tesoro alum) brings a similar pedigree and understanding of the game. Being awarded the William C. Stiles Memorial for Outstanding Defensive Player is only the cherry on top of a truly impressive resume.”
