U.S. Men's Box Training Team Focused on History

WHITEHALL, Pa. — Between the National Lacrosse League season and the Premier Lacrosse League schedule, one of the biggest challenges for the U.S. Men’s Box Team is simply finding time to get together. But when the opportunity arises, the desire to represent the United States is fully evident.

Head coach Regy Thorpe and his staff welcomed 34 hopefuls to a training camp from June 17-18 at the St. Luke’s Sports Center, the final camp before the roster needs to be trimmed to 23 players for the World Lacrosse Box Championships this September in Utica, N.Y.

The camp featured U.S. team and multi-year NLL veterans like Joe Resetarits, Blaze Riorden and Joel White as well as current college stars C.J. Kirst and Joey Spallina, both of whom are honing their skills in Canadian box play this summer.

“The schedules are just jam-packed for these young men,” Thorpe said ahead of the camp. “We’re just trying to have a few sessions together to build some chemistry and culture in the limited time we have. From a coaching staff perspective, we can work on some systems and principles as they get familiar with us, and we get a feel for the players.”

“It's hard, but when you care about something, it doesn't feel that hard,” said Blaze Riorden of the players coming to the camp on the heels of a PLL weekend amid other obligations.

Over the last several months, the team has had Zoom calls to stay in touch, and the U.S. program remains in their focus.

“Building a team in the offseason, when everyone's busy, really shows the commitment,” Riorden said. “I just think having it on your mind, we talked about, ‘Hey, once a week when you go to work out at the gym, wear your USA shirt and USA shorts and remember what you're a part of and what we have the opportunity to accomplish.’”

With many players coming off the PLL weekend or other lacrosse activities, the sessions were done with just helmets and gloves — no pads or physical content — but the action was full-speed and high-intensity. There’s a reason for it. After five straight bronze medals, the U.S. is looking to break through. They held a fourth-quarter lead against the Haudenosaunee in the 2019 semifinal round before ultimately losing 9-7. The U.S. beat England 11-8 in the bronze medal game.

“We've talked about it on all of our Zooms, being the team that creates history,” Riorden, a member of the last two bronze medal box teams, said.

“I mean we've been close, but I think this group is really committed to taking the next step,” Thorpe said. “It's not easy. These other countries have improved, so it’s going be a tall task, but I think with this group of guys, they're really bought in. They see the vision from the staff and the organization, and I think they're just really committed to taking that next step.”

“I like the idea of being able to reach new heights,” said Trevor Baptiste, a member of the 2019 U.S. box team. “We haven't made the gold medal game, and that's just been a level that we’ve always been wanting to reach. We're so close, and I think that this year, and really every world championship, it just seems like U.S. has gotten better and better.”

Baptiste has won two world championships in field lacrosse with the U.S. program and there’s plenty of that championship experience to go around. Baptiste, Charlie Bertrand, Danny Logan, Riorden, Tom Schreiber and Ryan Terefenko were all members of the U.S. field team that won a championship in San Diego last year and are currently on the box training team. Cole Kirst, C.J. Kirst, Mac O’Keefe and White have also won world championships as part of the U.S. program.

Being a part of it drives the world’s best players.

Joe Nardella was on the training team for the last two U.S. field teams, suffering an injury in the final tryout before the selections for the 2023 team. The injury forced him out of both an NLL and PLL season, but he’s still pursuing the dream for the U.S. team.

“I've been in the program and in the mix for like eight to nine years now, and both times it just hasn't gone my way,” Nardella said. “It's always been a dream of mine since I was a kid.”

Given his setbacks, making this final roster would mean even more.

“In sports in general, bouncing back from adversity, you feel a little bit more accomplished,” Nardella said. “I think this would really be special, especially being hurt and missing time all those times I was unable to make the teams.”

Thorpe is hoping injuries don’t factor into things this time around. Experienced NLL players Ethan O’Connor and Schreiber were both expected to be on the 2019 roster but had injuries that precluded them from playing. Both are going strong heading into this year’s championship.

Thorpe will continue to monitor the summer season as he gets ready to make his final roster decisions.

“It's going to be super competitive roster to make, which is it's going to be tough on the coaches, but that's a good thing,” Thorpe said. “We're just trying to put together the best 23-player roster that can compete for gold at the at the worlds.”