USA Lacrosse High School Boys' Players of the Week
The USA Lacrosse Players of the Week recognize the most outstanding individual performances in high school boys’ lacrosse in each of the five regions — Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest and West — outlined in our high school coverage. Games are considered from the previous Monday through Sunday.
NORTHEAST
Quinn Langton, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)
It was a difficult trip to Connecticut for St. Anthony’s (N.Y.), but Quinn Langton made sure it was a winning one. The senior attacker had three goals and three assists in a 9-5 victory over host Darien (Conn.). It was all part of the Friars’ 3-0 week, which saw the Army commit contribute 10 goals and four assists.
“Quinn plays 100 percent all the time, riding, ground balls or in the offense,” St. Anthony’s head coach Keith Wieczorek said. “He’s one of our big impact players all season.”
Also notable: Christian Biondi, White Plains (N.Y.); Luke Cascadden, Garden City (N.Y.); Connor Curran, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.); Connor McAndrews, Wilton (Conn.); Dom Savastano, John Jay-Cross River (N.Y.); Timothy Shannehan, Fairfield Prep (Conn.)
— Dylan Butler
MID-ATLANTIC
Connor Nolen, Haverford (Pa.)
To beat Malvern Prep (Pa.), a team needs good play through the midfield. The Fords got it from Nolen. The senior middie scored twice, came up with four ground balls and was poised against Malvern’s 10-man ride on the clear and with his play between the lines while also playing great shortstick defense in a 10-8 win. Nolen also helped Haverford dominate Germantown Academy (Pa.) 20-0.
The win over fellow front-runner Malvern carries bigger weight this year without a postseason Inter-Ac championship tournament. The Inter-Ac will be determined by the regular season, and Nolen gave the Fords an edge with his play. Nolen was one of only two players in Haverford history to be named a captain as a junior last year. He is committed to play for Duke.
Also notable: Luke Bair, St. Pauls’ (Md.); Aydan DiRocco, Haverford (Pa.); Alex Hochrein, Towson (Md.); Chris Iannarino, Glenelg (Md.); Luke Marascio, Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.); Rowyn Nurry, Salesianum (Del.); Trevor Sardis, Bernards (N.J.); Ike Silverman, Bullis (Md.); Nick Wehmeyer, Malvern (Pa.)
— Justin Feil
SOUTH
Blake O’Neal, Roswell (Ga.)
Roswell notched a late-season rivalry victory over Blessed Trinity and Blake O’Neal played a huge role. In addition to providing a pair of goals, the freshman faceoff specialist went 10 of 12 from the faceoff X. He also had 10 ground balls. He has played a huge role all year from the faceoff X in some of Roswell’s biggest games of the year.
Also notable: Tatum Little, Benjamin (Fla.); Nick Testa, St. Andrew’s (Fla.)
— Justin Boggs
MIDWEST
Gentry Curtis, Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.)
Andy Kay has coached and seen a lot of great lacrosse at MICDS. On April 19, Kay simply found himself tipping his cap after Gentry Curtis won his final eight faceoffs and Rockhurst Jesuit scored all seven fourth-quarter goals to turn an 8-6 deficit into a 13-8 win over the Rams. All told, Curtis won 18 of 21 faceoffs (per Hawklets coach Timothy Reidy) and corralled 17 ground balls (per Kay). Kay said, "I have to say that his performance was one of the most dominant things I’ve witnessed in my coaching career." Said Reidy, "He is a special kind of FOGO."
Patrick Biese, Culver Academy (Ind.)
How do you not pick a top player from the Eagles' thrilling 18-11 victory over Hill Academy (Ont.) in a battle of two of the sport’s best teams? Mason Szewczyk and Luke Macaluso both had five-plus goals. Spencer Reagan and Tay Rodriguez both dominated the X. Still, it's hard to ignore Biese's whopping 18 saves as the Virginia commit stopped 62 percent of the shots that came his way.
Also notable: Johnnie Guttman, St. Xavier (Ohio); Danny Holt, Brother Rice (Mich.); Kyle Jenkins, Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.); Luke Macaluso, Culver Academy (Ind.); Luke McNamara, Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.); Davis Pyser, Dublin Jerome (Ohio); Jack Smiley, Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.); Mason Szewczyk, Culver Academy (Ind.); Trent Yelton, St. Xavier (Ohio)
— Jonah Rosenblum
WEST
Matthew Mannarino, Torrey Pines (Calif.)
Rutgers-bound Mannarino has been outstanding all season, and last week was no exception. The senior middie netted four goals and an assist to propel Torrey Pines’ victory over Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.), and in addition to a number of key plays between the lines, Mannarino added one goal and an assist in a big win over Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.).
Also notable: Mitchell Boyer, Brophy Prep (Ariz.); Brody Nelson, Arapahoe (Colo.); Nicholas Pangborn, Arapahoe (Colo.); Sean Sanchez, Foothill-Santa Ana (Colo.)
— Theresa Palmquist
USA Lacrosse Magazine Staff
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