By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/22/15
Each year the Interboro Lacrosse program sends several teams to the Morey’s Piers Beach Lacrosse tournament in Wildwood – and almost every year the Bucs return home with a gold medal.
This year the U13 Young Bucs won their division title in a tourney last weekend that drew 58 teams of all ages. The Young Bucs have won a championship three times since entering the tourney in 2011.
The U13 Young Bucs went 3-0, outscoring their foes, 57-18. The key win was a 13-12 triumph over the Vernon Vikings Beach Bums (N.J.). John Scibello had the game-winner after a tying goal by AJ Porreca. Also, the Interboro U18 Beach Bucs team won its division with a 12-10 win over the Vernon Lax Goon squad.
Meanwhile, the Interboro U15 Beach Bucs went 3-0-1 (second place), the U14 Beach Bucs went 3-0-1 (second place) and the Interboro Youth Lacrosse team competed in the U11 division.
The U13 Young Bucs featured Scibello, Porreca, Jerry Curran, Michael Hanna, Gavin Kingsborough, Logan Sanders, Nick Mormondo, Ryan Keeney, Vinney Kalodner and Vaughn Kalodner.
“I know everybody says this about there teams but I really mean it. I have coached and know these boys on a personal levels for a long time now,” said Interboro U13 coach Jeff Hanna. “They are just a great group of kids and a lot of fun to be around. They may not be the best technical players but they are some of the best athletes around.”
Porreca said the Young Bucs enjoy playing on the beach.
“The team was so successful because we all have a great bond, we work hard and we work as a team,” said Porreca, who will be an eighth grader at Norwood School in the Interboro district. “Every player puts in hard work and effort and it helps us win games.
“I like playing in this tournament because you get to play against teams that are bigger than you and you get to play on the beach, witch is a hard thing to do so it makes you a better player.”
Porreca said playing on sand forces players to work harder on groundballs and placing shots.
“The adjustment I had to make playing on the sand was trying to get groundballs faster and getting my stick deep in the sand when I scoop,” he said. “Also, I wanted to get my shot low, knowing it would not bounce. That was a pretty hard adjustment.”
Porreca said the atmosphere of the Morey’s Piers beach tourney is ideal for playing lacrosse.
“I have played in this four years and won the championship twice,” he said. “It is very organized I recommend it to any lax teams that are willing to have fun and compete against some really talented players.
“Same blood sweat and tears went went into it and I’m glad I got to share that with my second family.”
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