The season is about to begin in earnest in New York, so I figure it’s high time I lay out there who I think will ultimately get to Rochester come June 6.

I will stop short of actually predicting a champion in each classification, but I will throw out there four teams in each class that I believe have the best shot.

I’ll get this out there right now: Though I don’t want to be locked into calling any team a “lock,” I will say this: The capital region will win a state title THIS year.

• Coming next week: Breaking down Connecticut •

 

Here’s how it will work: I will name two frontrunners to get to the title game, one team on the cusp (if things break right) and one to watch. Again, there is no scientific method to my madness. I just go with my gut and base a lot of what I say on tradition, current strength and intangibles.

 

Here we go …

 

Class A:

 

Likely final matchup: West Genny vs. West Islip

 

Obviously this is not a stretch of anyone’s imagination. You don’t need to know who Genny is bringing back in a given year. All you need to know is this is the best high school lacrosse program in the nation, with the best coach to ever blow a whistle. Mike Messere will take whatever he has, plug it into a system he has honed for decades and will produce a team that may not lose a game until the state final.

 

The Wildcats have an easier road to the final. I know Syracuse is considered a hotbed of lacrosse, but only in general terms. West Genny is the hotbed. Occasionally, someone else comes along and catches them in a down year, but those years are few and very far between.

 

West Islip is a tremendous program that has taken a quantum leap in the last decade, surpassing the Ward Melvilles and Farmingdales of the world. The Lions have done 0 to Coyne or Hofstra (and possibly Rochester) in about 20 seconds.

 

I look forward to actually seeing the great talent of Nicky Galasso. I will keep my eye on the Islip-Melville matchup, because that one could go a long way toward determining who will face Genny when it really matters.

 

On the cusp: Yorktown

 

We up here know all there is to know about the great tradition of Yorktown lacrosse. We know all about the great stars they have produced over the years and the incredible run of 27 Section 1 titles in 29 years. But what we and everyone else will learn this season is the ‘Huskers can and will win with defense, as a fine complement to star players John Ranagan and Kevin Interlicchio. This is the most balanced Yorktown team in years. Do the ‘Huskers beat Islip in the state semifinals? I think for once, they won’t go in as big underdogs. Town will be dogs for sure, but dogs with a legitimate shot of winning not just that game, but the next one as well.

 

One to watch: Ward Melville

 

Naturally.

 

The Patriots have not won a state championship since 2000, which is rather incredible considering who they are. This is a program that prides itself on defense, winning tight games and physical intimidation. Just keep an eye on them.

 

Great factoid on Melville: Did you know that over the Patriots’ last 97 games, spanning 2004-08, they have allowed more than 10 goals just eight times? It’s true. It’s true.

 

Class B:

 

Likely final matchup: Niskayuna vs. Corning East

 

Here’s where I stick my neck out. Nisky is bringing back many players from last year’s Class A state quarterfinal squad (9-6 loss to Yorktown). The Silver Warriors’ drop to Class B opens the door to the Albany area’s first state championship. (Nisky lost in the Class A finals to Genny in 2005.) Mike Vorgang is a heck of a coach who stresses defense, ball control and fundamentals.

 

Nisky will be a handful for just about everyone and since that juggernaut of a team from Class B on Long Island has not been identified yet. (I’m not sold on Garden City … yet.) I like Nisky’s chances of steamrolling its way to Long Island. I’m eager to see who, if anyone, will stop them in the semis.

 

Corning East, which has jumped back and forth between Class B and Class C over the last few years, is now once again the team to watch upstate among the medium-sized schools.

 

At some point, Corning East will have to deal with some combination of Jamesville-DeWitt, Carthage and someone from the western part of the state (maybe Hamburg?).

 

East has shown one thing all through its storied history – it gets to state finals. Try 13 of them. But its bugaboo has been actually winning the big game. East has lost an astounding 12 times in state finals, including last year to Mount Sinai.

 

On the cusp: Garden City

 

The Trojans, like Ward Melville in Class A, are in the midst of a long state championship drought, having last won in 2000. GC is off to a weird start in 2009, but we may chalk that loss to Syosset up to a case of the first-game blues. One has to figure that sooner or later GC, with University at Albany-bound standout attackman Will Fuller and Hobart-bound defender Reid Rosello, will re-establish itself as the premier program in Class B on the Island, but I’m not sure it will be this year.

 

One to watch: Lynbrook (with smaller eye on Rocky Point)

 

Here’s a storied program, one that goes back to the days before classifications. I can’t say this is the team to beat, but I can say Lynbrook was good last year and already 4-0 this season. Just keep an eye on them as well.

 

I’m saying Rocky Point because I’m interested to see how they’ll do defending their Class B state crown with one Palasek gone. Tuesday’s 6-5 win over Middle Country wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for.

 

Class C:

 

Likely final matchup: Manhasset vs. Lafayette

 

Connor English hopes to go out on top. Manhasset has been a disappointment over the last few seasons, considering the hype and love it has received in various polls. Cold Spring Harbor tattooed Manhasset last year when it mattered. What’s odd is Manhasset has won just two state titles in its long history – 1995 in B and 2004 in C. Does that seem odd to anyone else, considering all the hype that always seems to follow this program around?

 

Lafayette is the class of the upstate small schools. It is explosive, athletic and built yearly to run and gun you to death. Lafayette beat Manhasset in the 2005 state final 10-9. I expect these two to meet again when it matters most.

 

On the cusp: Cold Spring Harbor

 

The win over Manhasset in last year’s Section 8 title game looked like the springboard CSH needed to win its second state crown, but Mount Sinai had other ideas. The rivalry between CSH and ‘Sett is pretty insane and is only getting more intense. It’s possible whoever survives among these two will meet Lafayette for all the marbles.

 

One to watch: John Glenn-Elwood (with a smaller eye on Homer)

 

Since Mount Sinai appears to have been hit hard by graduation, I’m going to just throw Elwood out there. I don’t expect them to do anything substantial, but my guess is they could be the team that stands in either Manhasset’s or CSH’s way in the Class C Long Island championship.

 

Homer, near Cortland, has already defeated JD this season, handily I might add, 15-10.

 

There you have it. I’m sure many will take exception to a lot of what I’ve laid out there, but that’s what this site is for – constructive debate. It’s my hope I spend the spring shuffling back and forth over the Throgs Neck and Whitestone bridges. I’m sure I’ll see great lacrosse along the way.

 

Let the ‘Cuse bashing begin.

 

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7 Responses to “A View from the Dome: Let's talk state titles”

  1. Ric B says:

    As for the Upstate Teams I can speak with some intelligence (I think). Though I am not a fan of WG due to the 1991 NY State Title game (we lost!). But I have lived in Syracuse since 1991 and the WG program is just unreal. The reason I will say WG all the way this year is because they have a great defense. As they say offense wins game and defense wins championships. Believe me I am a downstater through and through and I hope I am wrong. This years WG team is pretty stacked. The one thing WG does that most others don’t in high school is make mistakes. They are so well coached that they almost play mistake free lax for 4 quarters. They may not have the most talent 10 for 10 but they do have a few legitimate D-1 guys and others to support them who don’t hurt the team. A good TEAM beats 10 great players anyday. This is what WG does and brings to the table each game.
    As for Lafayette, they have the best player in the land in John Greeley. Greeley is big, fast, smart and has been playing on the Lafayette varsity team since 8th grade, so he is not phased by a big game. He can single handedly take over a game and couple him with the Thompson bros and they have about the deadliest Offense in America. The one question I have is thier defense. So we will see how they fair come play-off time. I think they should get through the section pretty easily, but one never knows in this great game.
    Finally, “an eye on Homer”. WOW, that is a bold, bold, call! I personally worked with a few of the Homer players and from what I saw I was not that moved by them. Don’t get me wrong, they have a few kids that will be college players, but I am not sure they will get out of the section. I too was shocked at the JD game score, I thought it was a mis-print. JD is still pretty strong, I think that JD wins section 3.
    Ok, let the criticism begin……

  2. syracuse says:

    Clearly Ric B, the dreamy one that he is, is the authority on all lacrosse north of Poughkeepsie — and thank God for that I say. It’s hard enough to see teams in Section 1 on a given day, so having someone as versed in the game and in-tune with that region chiming in will be a godsend to us down here — provided, of course, he gets off the couch, quits trying to pawn off girls lax sticks and Under Armour items on little old ladies and stays away from 44s in downtown Boeheimville (if it hasn’t already burned down).

    I know this is asking a lot, but Westchester County high school proms are fast approaching and I know Ric B has plenty of memorabilia signings scheduled in the tri-state area.

    Joe, did you know Ric B. once played all four positions on the field at the same time?

  3. Ric B says:

    Syracuse, you are correct, I did play all 4 positions at one time. Come on, you know I had the skill to do that back in my day!

    Get off the couch? WOW, that is a bold call….and below the belt….ouch! FYI, 44’s is now closed.

    Not withstanding Syracuse’s comments (a lot that may or may not be true) I am not that in touch with lax here but I do pay attention to it. I love being from downstate so much that I was ridiculed by many upstate NY players and parents for wearing John Jay Purple to the JJ vs. JD state championship game a few years ago. I mean, after all, my heart will always be downstate when it comes to lax, unless, my 3 year old daughter starts playing. Then I will have to ask Syracuse to send me a stick or two…..

    Syracuse, it sounds like to me that you are a big fan of The Trojans (Homer High that is). Why is that? Is it the reason that we all think????? That area has put out some good players over the years. We’ll have to see….

    Joey “Cross Check”-

    I will do my best to check in on laxlessons.com to put in my 2 cents on topics that I know about. After all, I am not AN authority on lax, I am THE authority (you like that don’t you Syracuse?)!

    I want you to look out for Greeley, the kid is the real deal, and deserves the hype. Also, look out for another player in Tully NY named Zach Guy, he is an attackmen who used to play for Lafayette high school until he moved out of the district. If he were still at Lafayette they’d be pretty close to being the most talented team in the land. And possibly the best Defense north of P-Land is Joe Fazio from WG…keep an eye out for these guys…

    Peace, Love, Lax and Dinosaur BBQ,

    0047

  4. syracuse says:

    Ah yes, I remember the day Ric B. played all four positions. How could I ever forget it?

    It was back in 1986 during a freshman game at Lakeland. I remember because we played on the field where the stands came out to the midfield line. I was in eighth grade and Ric was in second or third.

    Late in the second half with the game surprisingly close, I stripped Ric behind our cage. I then face-dodged the heck out of him at the midfield line.

    So I’m steaming toward Lakeland’s restraining box and wouldn’t you know it, but there’s Ric B again, this time brandishing a small redwood tree.

    I had no fear. None. I simply gave him a little stutter step and put the ball between his legs, ran around him and picked it up on the other side (as you can probably surmise, Lakeland’s defense was pretty porous back in the day).

    So with ball in tow again I’m steaming in towards the net when all of a sudden WHAM!

    Ric B, sporting goalie stick, helmet and throat protector, lays me out. I see stars and visions of stacks of soda cans at Murph’s house.

    To make a long story short. after caving in the side of my head, Ric B picks up the ball, runs through our D and scores. I didn’t bother to find out if he indeed switched back to a shortstick or stayed with the goalie stick.

    Either way, that was my SportsCenter moment and it paved the way to the glorious career Ric B ended up having. I’m sure my folly was in the recruiting package Syracuse reviewed before paying him under the table to play there.

    We’ve known each other a long time, this Ric B. character and myself. He just doesn’t remember.

    So when posed the question, do I like “Homer” because I happen to be one? Hell no. The only Homer I know wrote a pretty famous book.

    And maybe one day Ric B. and I can get together over a beer and reminisce about the day he stole away my budding D-I college career.

    But, I must add, we DID win that game, pretty much like we always did.

    Ah yes … Ric B. You’ll never meet a nicer guy.

    And I seriously mean that 🙂

  5. Ric B says:

    You stripped me? I don’t know about that, but from that point on the whole story sounds true…I had game in 3rd grade…WOW! That was my typical game back then….

  6. sec1 says:

    Top three teams in last 40yrs in order WG, WM, YT in NYS, With YTown by far the Best at the next level.. Also to Rics point about WG he is right about their coaching and system and depth. I can say almost every YTown WG game YTown had more talent on there starting team. One game comes to mind the 1982 WG 8 YTown 7 in that game there were 20 faceoffs, WG winning 19 of them and Ytown winning 1 which was a corner faceoff, which is not in the rules anymore. Think about it.

  7. syracuse says:

    I wonder about Genny this season. The Cats are 2-1, with a loss to LaSalle of Penn. That leads me to wonder whether Genny is down a bit? Or if LaSalle is the best team in the history of the high school game.

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