Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/8/08
The Philadelphia Wings selected midfielder Sean Thomson from Bellarmine University with their first pick (ninth overall) in the 2008 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft Sunday in Boston and later picked local products Tony McDevitt (Penn Charter) of Duke and Steve Grossi (Strath Haven) of Drexel.
As a midfielder with Bellarmine in 2008, the 6-foot-2 Burlington, Ontario native recorded six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in eight games played. Thomson was also a member of Major Series Lacrosse’s (MSL) Peterborough Lakers 2007 Mann Cup Championship team and was the team’s 2007 rookie of the year
The Wings selected defensive midfielder Matt Bocklet (99 groundballs) from NCAA finalist Johns Hopkins with their second selection (25th overall).
With its third pick (36th overall), Philadelphia selected Syracuse University forward Mike Leveille. Leveille was the 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy winner and was a four-time All-American at Syracuse. The 6-3, 204-pound attacker scored 83 points (49 goals, 34 assists) for the 2008 NCAA Champion Orange.
With the Wings fourth selection (45th overall), the team selected forward Matt Lalli (47 points) from Colgate and two picks later Philadelphia selected Jordan Levine (33 points) from Albany.
The Wings’ sixth selection (58th overall) was Georgetown University defender Jerry Lambe, a first team All-American as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defensive Player of the Year.
McDevitt, a defender was selected with the 60th overall pick. In 2008, McDevitt collected 58 groundballs and earned second-team All-American while helping the Blue Devils reach the NCAA semifinals.
With its final selection in the draft (71st overall), Philadelphia selected Drexel co-captain and defender Grossi, a first-team all-Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) pick. Grossi’s teammate, goalie Bruce Bickford, was picked two choices later by Minnesota. Bickford was the CAA Player of the Year and was fifth in the nation in save percentage (.629) seventh in goals against average at 6.99.
