Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/22/09
The All-Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Team for 2009 features an impressive group of three goaltenders.
La Salle’s Niko Amato, Episcopal Academy’s Matt Lerman and Haverford School’s Dan Wigrizer each made their mark in 2009, earning national recognition while signing to play college at major Division I programs.
The All-Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Team was chosen mostly from input from area coaches as well as members of the media. The Second, Third and Honorable Mention squads will be released Friday.
The clutch Amato, who led the Explorers to a second straight state title, is signed with Maryland. The steady Wigrizer, who took Haverford School to a share of the Inter-Ac Leaguer crown and the league’s first playoff championship, is signed with Duke. And Lerman, the only one of the three that did not make the Under Armour All-American Game if only because no region could claim three of the four spots, signed with two-time NCAA champion Syracuse.
The defense is equally imposing. La Salle’s Tucker Durkin, the Phillylacrosse.com Player of the Year, also was named to the Under Armour All-American Game and helped the Explorers stop Conestoga in the 2009 state title game. He will play at Johns Hopkins.
Mike Bronzino led Conestoga to a brilliant 24-2 season and a trip to the state finals and is headed to NCAA runner-up Cornell. Billy Conners, also a participant in the Under Armour All-American Game, heads to powerful Duke. And Downingtown East senior Mason Poli, who led the Cougars to the District 1 finals, heads to Bryant.
The attackmen chosen for First Team honors were Matt Cherry (senior) of Radnor and Shane Sturgis (junior) of Downingtown East. Cherry helped Radnor tie for second in the Central League and will play at Dickinson while Sturgis was the key scorer at Downingtown East and has committed to Penn State.
The midfielders are Bobby Hill (junior) of Malvern Prep and Peter Schwartz (senior) of La Salle. Hill was an all-around presence for Malvern who has committed to Virginia and Schwartz helped La Salle win two straight state crowns and will play at Harvard. The face-off specialist is Unionville senior Grady Stevens, who helped the Indians place second in the Ches-Mont League and is signed with Johns Hopkins.
2009 First Team All-Phillylacrosse.com Team
Attack-Matt Cherry, Sr. Radnor
First-team All-Central League, All-EPSLA and All-American pick … Led Red Raiders to second-place finish in the Central League … Had 39 goals and 37 assists … Will play at Dickinson.
Attack-Shane Sturgis, Jr., Downingtown East
First-team All-Ches-Mont League and All-EPSLA … Led Cougars to Ches-Mont League crown and District 1 finals as well as PIAA quarterfinals … Collected 59 goals and 45 assists … Committed to Penn State.
Midfield-Bobby Hill, Jr., Malvern Prep
First-team All-Inter-Ac, All-EPSLA and All-American … Helped Malvern Prep claim co-championship in Inter-Ac with Haverford School … Has committed to Virginia… Scored 25 goals.
Midfield-Pete Schwartz, Sr., La Salle
First-team All-Catholic League, All-EPSLA and All-State for second straight year … Key offensive producer for two-time state champions … Had two key goals in state championship victory over Conestoga … Scored 30 goals … Headed to Harvard.
Face-Off Specialist-Grady Stevens, Sr., Unionville
First-Team All-Ches-Mont League, All-American and All-EPSLA pick for FOGO and midfield … Was MVP of Ches-Mont League, helping Indians place second while advancing to the District 1 playoffs … Had a face-off success rate of 80 percent … Collected 22 goals and 15 assists at midfield … Signed with Johns Hopkins.
Defense-Mike Bronzino, Sr., Conestoga
First-team All-Central League, All-EPSLA and All-American … Was leader of team that won Central League, first District 1 title and went to state finals … Headed to Cornell.
Defense-Billy Conners, Sr., Malvern Prep
First-team All-Inter-Ac, All-EPSLA and All-American for second straight year … Was defensive anchor on Inter-Ac co-champions … Also an All-State quarterback on undefeated football team … Played in Under Armour All-American Game … Signed with Duke.
Defense-Tucker Durkin, Sr., La Salle
First-team All-Catholic League, All-EPSLA and All-American for second straight year … Phillylacrosse.com Player of the Year … Led a defense that helped Explorers repeat as state champion … Played in Under Armour All-American Game … Signed with Johns Hopkins.
Defense-Mason Poli, Sr., Downingtown East
First-Team All-Ches-Mont League, All-American and All-EPSLA pick … Led Cougars to the District 1 finals and into the second round of the PIAA tourney … Anchor to a team that went undefeated in the Ches-Mont League … Signed with Bryant University.
Goalie-Niko Amato, Sr., La Salle
First-team All-Catholic League, All-EPSLA and All-American for second straight year … Led Explorers to second consecutive state championship … Played in Under Armour All-American Game … Was Phillylacrosse.com Player of Year in 2008 … Signed with Maryland.
Goalie-Matt Lerman, Sr., Episcopal Academy
First-team All-Inter-Ac, All-EPSLA and All-American … Led Churchmen to third-place finish in Inter-Ac … Signed with two-time NCAA champion Syracuse.
Goalie-Dan Wigrizer, Sr., Haverford School
First-team All-Inter-Ac League, All-EPSLA and All-American for the second straight year … Led Fords to a share of the Inter-Ac crown and the Inter-Ac playoff championship … Played in Under Armour All-American Game … Signed with Duke.
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