Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/25/09
The Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA) Executive Committee has named the coaching staffs for its inaugural Showcase featuring the top boys’ underclassmen in the Philadelphia area on June 11 at Haverford College.
The head coaches selected are: Abington’s Randy McNeil (Public Sophomores), St. Joseph’s Prep’s Eric Gregg (Private Sophomores), Conestoga’s Brian Samson (Public Juniors) and La Salle’s Bill Leahy (Private Juniors).
The format of the Showcase will include Public vs. Private games with 22 players on each squad. The Sophomore teams will play first at 5 p.m., followed by the Junior game.
Players who wished to try out for the teams registered online; registration has closed. There are 254 players representing 56 schools registered to try out on June 7 in three-hour sessions at Episcopal Academy. Official tryout times will be released later this week, according to incoming EPSLA President Andy Hayes (Episcopal Academy head coach).
The 22-man teams will be chosen by college coaches. The Showcase was developed by the EPSLA to provide the opportunity for Philly players to receive additional exposure due to the loss of jurisdiction of the state tournament.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) now sanctions the state tournament. The first PIAA tourney begins Tuesday for boys and girls.
“Our organization is hoping to sustain itself and since we no longer have a state tournament we feel this is a huge recruiting tool for our kids,” Hayes said. “Our mission is to promote lacrosse and we are trying to get our kids seen. We’re using the natural split of public vs. private.”
The Private teams will draw from the Inter-Ac, Catholic and Friends Schools leagues as well as private or catholic schools that may compete in leagues with public schools.
Hayes also said the coaches were selected by their peers and that it was a huge honor to be involved. The following are master lists of the coaching staffs for the first EPSLA Showcase:
Public Sophomores – Head Coach: Randy McNeil (Abington). Assistant Coaches: Jef Hewlings (Emmaus), Phil Chang (Plymouth Whitemarsh), Josh Hanlon (Neshaminy).
Public Juniors – Head Coach: Brian Samson (Conestoga). Assistant Coaches: Mike Friel (Springfield-Delco), Dave Waldman (Strath Haven), Chet Laubach ( Lower Merion)
Private Sophomores – Head Coach: Eric Gregg (St. Joe’s Prep). Assistant Coaches: Pat McDonough (Penn Charter), Ryan Greer ( St. Joe’s Prep), Kevin Merlini (La Salle)
Private Juniors – Head Coach: Bill Leahy (LaSalle). Assistant Coaches: Tony Resch (La Salle), John McEvoy (Malvern Prep), Andy Hayes (Episcopal Academy).
