Men’s recruit: Haverford School goalie Wigrizer accepts the challenge at Duke

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/11/09

Haverford School senior goalie Dan Wigrizer has signed a letter of intent to play at Duke University.

Wigrizer, a first-team All-American last year, said the combination of academics and lacrosse at the national power was the big draw.

“The weather was incredible and the kids on the team were so nice when I visited,” he said. “Still, it had to do with academics. I wanted to pick the school with the best academics combined with the best lacrosse and this was the best fit.

“The coaches showed a lot of interest and that is what I definitely was looking for.”

At Duke, Wigrizer will join rival and friend Billy Conners, a senior from Malvern Prep who also signed with Duke.

“No Philly player has gone there since (2009 grad) Tony McDevitt,” said Wigrizer of the All-American defender from Penn Charter. “ I talked to Billy Conners, and that was a huge part of it.

“It will be fun to be in a class with a well-respected player from PA. I also am a fan of warm weather, and coach (John) Danowski is ‘the man.’ He seems like the type of coach I want to play for for four years. He has a high standard for his goalies and that’s a real challenge I am ready to embrace.”

Wigrizer may pursue something in the medical field, but remains undecided on a major.

Although Wigrizer is happy about playing with Connors next year, he is even more pumped to play against him and the rest of the Friars, who beat out Haverford for the Inter-Ac League title last year. This year’s race figures to be even more intense since the league members will not compete for a state championship for the first time.

Haverford also will play its typical monster non-league schedule, especially early in the season.

“This year, since the PIAA is sanctioning lacrosse, it’s even bigger to be the Inter-Ac champion,” Wigrizer said. “We expect and hope, and will win the Inter-Ac this year.

“That’s our main goal. Also, our first seven games are against (top-rated) out-of-state teams and we want to do our best and have a winning record against them.”