New Syracuse Lacrosse Fans from Buffalo

[Digable5]

My co-worker has sons that have played lacrosse for years now. The younger son has had many more years playing the sport, while also being a very strong track athlete and growing football player.

When he was in 6th or 7th grade I joked with him constantly that he needed to play for Syracuse. Every time, he just rolled his eyes and left my office. Eventually, something I said must have stuck, because he researched the team and their history.

Now he's going to enter into HS next year, and just about all that he talks about is playing lacrosse for Syracuse. Even trying to talk his parents into sending him to a private school because the coaching might provide him a better opportunity to make it at Syracuse.

Two questions for you all here:

1. His current (HS?) coach wants to bring their team to a game and try to get them on the field. Meet the team, meet the coaches, or even just to look around. Does anyone have any suggestions or connections to help make that happen? (PM me if its better kept private). Would love this to help more Syracuse love in Buffalo, but especially for a very specific fan.

2. We've got a lot of lacrosse experience in this office (former players, coaches, etc...) giving him advice, but I'm not sure they are up on the latest and greatest ways to get recognized. Any suggestions for helping him both improve his game to a Syracuse recruit level and also to make sure Syracuse coaches see his ability?

From a long time member here that rarely posts, thank you for all of the information you've given me over the years. I might not be very active in posting, but I am extremely active at reading.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Fill out this form to get on Gait's radar. He can't "officially" make contact with him until his Junior year.

MLAX Prospective Athlete Form - Syracuse University Athletics

Welcome to Syracuse Athletics! If you are interested in competing in men's lacrosse for Syracuse University, please complete the following form and submit it...

cuse.com

They used to have a program where a coach could bring his HS team to ONE game a year.

Send an email to Michelle Giordano in Gait's office and she might be able to help (or send you in the right direction: mlgiorda"at"syr.edu

Good luck.

 

[CusefanATL]

My co-worker has sons that have played lacrosse for years now. The younger son has had many more years playing the sport, while also being a very strong track athlete and growing football player.

When he was in 6th or 7th grade I joked with him constantly that he needed to play for Syracuse. Every time, he just rolled his eyes and left my office. Eventually, something I said must have stuck, because he researched the team and their history.

Now he's going to enter into HS next year, and just about all that he talks about is playing lacrosse for Syracuse. Even trying to talk his parents into sending him to a private school because the coaching might provide him a better opportunity to make it at Syracuse.

Two questions for you all here:

1. His current (HS?) coach wants to bring their team to a game and try to get them on the field. Meet the team, meet the coaches, or even just to look around. Does anyone have any suggestions or connections to help make that happen? (PM me if its better kept private). Would love this to help more Syracuse love in Buffalo, but especially for a very specific fan.

2. We've got a lot of lacrosse experience in this office (former players, coaches, etc...) giving him advice, but I'm not sure they are up on the latest and greatest ways to get recognized. Any suggestions for helping him both improve his game to a Syracuse recruit level and also to make sure Syracuse coaches see his ability?

From a long time member here that rarely posts, thank you for all of the information you've given me over the years. I might not be very active in posting, but I am extremely active at reading.

he has to play on a club team. buffalo doesnt really have a club team that is name brand or big enough so he should be playing either sweetlax is the biggest name in roch or Orange Crush in Cuse or can get on a national team like red hots. rochester also has harvest and grizzlies and cuse (true upstate, team 91 etc) has a few others as well. i dont want to say club is the only way to be seen but its like 99.9%.

 

[Digable5]

Fill out this form to get on Gait's radar. He can't "officially" make contact with him until his Junior year.

MLAX Prospective Athlete Form - Syracuse University Athletics

Welcome to Syracuse Athletics! If you are interested in competing in men's lacrosse for Syracuse University, please complete the following form and submit it...

cuse.com

They used to have a program where a coach could bring his HS team to ONE game a year.

Send an email to Michelle Giordano in Gait's office and she might be able to help (or send you in the right direction: mlgiorda"at"syr.edu

Good luck.

This is awesome! Thank you.

 

[Digable5]

he has to play on a club team. buffalo doesnt really have a club team that is name brand or big enough so he should be playing either sweetlax is the biggest name in roch or Orange Crush in Cuse or can get on a national team like red hots. rochester also has harvest and grizzlies and cuse (true upstate, team 91 etc) has a few others as well. i dont want to say club is the only way to be seen but its like 99.9%.

Thank you! I know he plays for the Junior Bandits with some of the Bandits as their coaches. And I did think he was on the Orange Crush as well. Do they not have a Buffalo branch? I'll have to ask his Mom again.

 

[GrowTheGame]

Thank you! I know he plays for the Junior Bandits with some of the Bandits as their coaches. And I did think he was on the Orange Crush as well. Do they not have a Buffalo branch? I'll have to ask his Mom again.

They do, but not sure how much visibility OC Buffalo has compared to OC Syracuse in terms of the actual Cuse program. For example, OC Syracuse was started up by former Cuse legends and regularly has both current players/recent alumni actually coaching those travel teams. Maybe reach out and ask for a tryout for the Cuse OC roster for upcoming tournaments? Upstate Sweetlax is the most guaranteed way the player would be seen by staff as they’re a top dog program nationally.

Outside of that I’d try to see if you could email either Coach O or Coach Bezek who are generally the most active on the less than beaten path recruiting wise (I find Gait/March at the main events you pay top dollar for, which isn’t necessary imo)

 

[JeremyCuse]

Thank you! I know he plays for the Junior Bandits with some of the Bandits as their coaches. And I did think he was on the Orange Crush as well. Do they not have a Buffalo branch? I'll have to ask his Mom again.

A few things.

I don't know how good this young man is and I don't want to stop him from pursuing his dreams but playing D1 lax is extremely difficult to do it via a scholarship at the level of Syracuse (and other top end D1 schools) is in the 1% of all players nationwide. Not saying he can't but I hope he will keep mind open to playing a the D2 or D3 level.

That said there are ways to go about getting noticed by Colleges. Again assuming he has the skillset to play at this level I'd recommend the following. Attend the summer programs of Colleges especially one's he's interested. Syracuse used to have one every summer I believe they still do but I can't 100% guarantee it. The powell bros have one each summer in Syracuse as do other colleges like Lemoyne etc. Getting in front of staffs/coaches is the biggest thing.

As others noted playing Club lax helps but it's not a requirement. Sounds like he is already playing on a squad, even with Buffalo not having a lot of exposure he's at least playing. If he's on Crush he's in a real good spot already.

The main thing he needs to do is continue to improve his game and skill. If you can put up the #s you will get noticed be it on the club circuit or high school or summer camps/invitationals. Also depending on his position add another skill set. If he's an attackmen how is his ride how are his passing skills? If he is a middie can he shoot with both hands? How is he on clearing and can play defense or if he's a D-middie does he have an O game etc. Going into HS this fall is still a tad early but he and his father should be on the lookout for camps and invitationals starting this summer and definitely next summer.

Regarding the ticket question for the team, have his coach or the school reach out to Troy Pakusch. He's the director of tickets sales at SU and can move mountains. He can get them likely a great group rate and while he won't be able to make an on the field appearance happen he's a guy that can point you in the right direction and who you want to speak with. His email is trpakusc

 

[CusefanATL]

Thank you! I know he plays for the Junior Bandits with some of the Bandits as their coaches. And I did think he was on the Orange Crush as well. Do they not have a Buffalo branch? I'll have to ask his Mom again.

Jr Bandits is box. you may get some exposure in box - especially with a coach like gait - but not enough unless you are by far the most skilled player.

orange crush may have a buffalo branch. but he would have to be playing with the orange crush main club team in travel. there are diff levels of competition. the main orange crush is becoming a player in the high level competition but its pretty new for them.

for example sweetlax upstate and sweetlax fla are always in the high end competition. but sweetlax colorado and carolinas may get some exposure to the higher end based on year but not nearly as consistently. and then to top it off, sweetlax has a national team that will draw from all of their teams.

 

[Digable5]

They do, but not sure how much visibility OC Buffalo has compared to OC Syracuse in terms of the actual Cuse program. For example, OC Syracuse was started up by former Cuse legends and regularly has both current players/recent alumni actually coaching those travel teams. Maybe reach out and ask for a tryout for the Cuse OC roster for upcoming tournaments? Upstate Sweetlax is the most guaranteed way the player would be seen by staff as they’re a top dog program nationally.

Outside of that I’d try to see if you could email either Coach O or Coach Bezek who are generally the most active on the less than beaten path recruiting wise (I find Gait/March at the main events you pay top dollar for, which isn’t necessary imo)

A few things.

I don't know how good this young man is and I don't want to stop him from pursuing his dreams but playing D1 lax is extremely difficult to do it via a scholarship at the level of Syracuse (and other top end D1 schools) is in the 1% of all players nationwide. Not saying he can't but I hope he will keep mind open to playing a the D2 or D3 level.

That said there are ways to go about getting noticed by Colleges. Again assuming he has the skillset to play at this level I'd recommend the following. Attend the summer programs of Colleges especially one's he's interested. Syracuse used to have one every summer I believe they still do but I can't 100% guarantee it. The powell bros have one each summer in Syracuse as do other colleges like Lemoyne etc. Getting in front of staffs/coaches is the biggest thing.

As others noted playing Club lax helps but it's not a requirement. Sounds like he is already playing on a squad, even with Buffalo not having a lot of exposure he's at least playing. If he's on Crush he's in a real good spot already.

The main thing he needs to do is continue to improve his game and skill. If you can put up the #s you will get noticed be it on the club circuit or high school or summer camps/invitationals. Also depending on his position add another skill set. If he's an attackmen how is his ride how are his passing skills? If he is a middie can he shoot with both hands? How is he on clearing and can play defense or if he's a D-middie does he have an O game etc. Going into HS this fall is still a tad early but he and his father should be on the lookout for camps and invitationals starting this summer and definitely next summer.

Regarding the ticket question for the team, have his coach or the school reach out to Troy Pakusch. He's the director of tickets sales at SU and can move mountains. He can get them likely a great group rate and while he won't be able to make an on the field appearance happen he's a guy that can point you in the right direction and who you want to speak with. His email is trpakusc

Jr Bandits is box. you may get some exposure in box - especially with a coach like gait - but not enough unless you are by far the most skilled player.

orange crush may have a buffalo branch. but he would have to be playing with the orange crush main club team in travel. there are diff levels of competition. the main orange crush is becoming a player in the high level competition but its pretty new for them.

for example sweetlax upstate and sweetlax fla are always in the high end competition. but sweetlax colorado and carolinas may get some exposure to the higher end based on year but not nearly as consistently. and then to top it off, sweetlax has a national team that will draw from all of their teams.

This is such great information. Thank you all for this.

* There are plenty of former coaches and players in our office to remind him how difficult it is to play D1 lacrosse. I'm trying to be the voice that says, "if you don't believe you can make it, you've already lost."

* From what I've seen and heard, there is a lot of potential. He's going to have really good size. He is already becoming a standout indoor track athlete. He is close to beating school records (HS) as an 8th grader. He has a lot of drive. He works out with trainers and practices on his own when he isn't with one of his clubs/teams.

* He's a standout performer, but not heads and shoulders above his current competition. But, he is a hard worker with very good physical attributes. If his parents can swing it, at least trying out for some of these bigger programs would be a great next step or possibly a wake up call to say there's still a lot to do to get to D1 level. It can drive him to new heights or tell him, D1 is not in the cards.

 

[JeremyCuse]

This is such great information. Thank you all for this.

* There are plenty of former coaches and players in our office to remind him how difficult it is to play D1 lacrosse. I'm trying to be the voice that says, "if you don't believe you can make it, you've already lost."

* From what I've seen and heard, there is a lot of potential. He's going to have really good size. He is already becoming a standout indoor track athlete. He is close to beating school records (HS) as an 8th grader. He has a lot of drive. He works out with trainers and practices on his own when he isn't with one of his clubs/teams.

* He's a standout performer, but not heads and shoulders above his current competition. But, he is a hard worker with very good physical attributes. If his parents can swing it, at least trying out for some of these bigger programs would be a great next step or possibly a wake up call to say there's still a lot to do to get to D1 level. It can drive him to new heights or tell him, D1 is not in the cards.

Sounds like he's on the right path and is doing what needs to be done ie outside trainers, putting up big numbers already, former coaches and players involved etc. Again my best recommendation is to get to as many camps/showcases etc that he can especially ones by schools he's interested in ie Syracuse.

I should also clarify the email for Troy Pakusch at SU, looks like it got caught off. It's Trpakusc@ syr.edu The site is deleting it the last part so obviously put it together its all one word.

 

[Digable5]

Sounds like he's on the right path and is doing what needs to be done ie outside trainers, putting up big numbers already, former coaches and players involved etc. Again my best recommendation is to get to as many camps/showcases etc that he can especially ones by schools he's interested in ie Syracuse.

I should also clarify the email for Troy Pakusch at SU, looks like it got caught off. It's Trpakusc@ syr.edu The site is deleting it the last part so obviously put it together its all one word.

Thanks again. And I figured out what you were doing with the email address originally. Made sense.