Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/18/16
Fusion Lacrosse continued its rapid upward trend with stellar performances by their teams this past year. Fusion is widely considered to have one of the elite team coaching staffs in the country. Fusion has an average of four current or former professional players coaching every single practice for every team, as well as a gathering of some of the best local coaching minds in the Philadelphia area. Lately the Fusion players have been stealing the spotlight and their staff couldn’t be happier.
Over the past year…
The Fusion High School Program has won four tournament championships and been the runners up 3 times. The Fusion Middle School program has won five tournaments and had 3 second place finishes. This includes both box and field tournaments up and down the east coast.
“We just want to share that the hard work and smart training is paying off for our young men,” said Fusion co-founder and MLL-Pro Steven Holmes. “Winning some tournaments and challenging some of the best teams is a nice validation, but I think our best work comes to light when our players are making exceptional leaps in the off-season in the eyes of their coaches.
“Our players have for the majority impacted their school teams and college coaches are taking notice as well. We also feel our middle school and youth players are developing a strong foundation and pace of play that is going to serve them extremely well throughout their playing careers. This is an exciting time, but we’re really just at the beginning and always working to improve.”
Fusion Lacrosse is holding tryouts for their robust yet manageable year-round program on August 27/28 at Henderson High in West Chester.
Find more information for grad years 2026-2024 here:
http://playfusionlax.com/travel-teams/fusion-futures/
Find more information for grad years 2023-2018 here:
http://playfusionlax.com/travel-teams/fusion-elite/
Fusions Fall program includes five 2-hour fall outdoor practices and two tournaments
Fusions Winter Box program includes six 2-hour mini-camps and 3 tournaments
Fusion Middle School teams (6th-8th) will also be competing in nxt’s mid-atlantic Spring lacrosse league on Sunday mornings.
Fusion Summer program includes 6 2.5 hour outdoor mini-camps and 3 or 4 tournaments (age dependent)
Check Out Your Staff:
Steven Holmes: Founder, Programs Director, Defensive Specialist
A Philadelphia product through Germantown Academy, Holmes started in every game of his career for the University of Virginia including two final fours, was the captain of the 2005 team, and won the team defensive MVP award in ’05 including All-America honors. Since 2006 Holmes has been a career starting defenseman logging over 140 career starts 16 goals and over 400 loose balls in both professional lacrosse leagues. Holmes currently plays close defense for the New York Lizards. Holmes is a veteran of the Philadelphia Wings and San Jose Stealth.
COACHING: Holmes has been a career coach since 2006 and has enjoyed ample success in his young career. Highlights include a national championship assisting the defense for UVA in 2011, A 24-0 perfect season as defensive coordinator of the 2014 Malvern Prep Friars, and multiple league titles and playoff runs as a head coach and assistant coach at the High School level. Holmes continues today as #3 Nationally ranked Malvern Prep’s returning defensive Coordinator. Holmes created the curriculum and training philosophy at Fusion which is enhanced by Crowley, Hoffman, McCormick and McEvoy’s additions.
Kevin Crowley: Co-Founder, Offensive Specialist
The only player to be drafted 1st overall in the MLL, NLL and WLA Entry Drafts. Kevin is Canadian born via Vancouver and has dominated every venue lacrosse has to offer. Stars for Team Canada, the MLL Florida Launch and NLL Philadelphia Wings. 2013 MLL-MVP Award Winner. Crowley attended Stony Brook University where he holds the record for most points in school history, was a two-time first team All-American, D1 Midfielder of the Year and Player of the Year. Kevin also made All-World for Team Canada at the 2008 World Juniors. Most recently Crowley lead Team Canada to a World Championship victory, scoring 5 of the first 6 goals and earning game MVP
COACHING An assistant coach with D1 St. Joseph’s University this past Spring, Crowley continues to lend his offensive expertise as a Coordinator for the Shipley school today. Kevin has logged countless hours directing camps including his own Sea To Sky lacrosse camps in British Columbia. Kevin leads the offensive skills curriculum at Fusion.
Matt McCormick: Director of Club Operations, Defensive Specialist
A graduate from Malvern Prep and Drexel University, McCormick has excelled on the field as a player and from the sidelines as a coach. While at Malvern, he was a Captain for the school’s only state championship team in 2006. A natural leader and performer, Coach McCormick started every game of his career at Drexel University, was a two-time Captain and three time all-conference player. Thought of highly by his teammates and coaches, McCormick won the coaches award in 2010. He was also the third Dragon player to be awarded Scholar All-American, given for leadership and performance on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. As a senior in 2010, McCormick concluded his collegiate career being elected to participate in the North/South Senior All-Star game.
COACHING McCormick has spent years during and after college as a high level coach. He was Drexel’s graduate assistant coach in 2011 and an assistant at Penn Charter School for three seasons. Currently McCormick is on staff at local powerhouse and #3 nationally ranked Malvern Prep, and head coach of our 2017 Elite team.
Ryan Sankey: Offensive Specialist
Coach Ryan Sankey has been part of the game of lacrosse for 18 years. In a household of coaches Sankey_2015and players, Ryan was able to be exposed to high level competition at a very young age. As a high school player Coach Sankey was a 3 time all league selection in the Suburban One League as well as being 1 of only 4 players to make the FCA National team. He also holds multiple records at his high school as well as being named team captain. Coach Sankey was able to translate his skills at Cabrini College where his team would go on to win the CSAC Championship 4 years in a row and qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Ryan is currently the Offensive Coordinator at Conestoga High School Varsity. Right out of college Coach Sankey was able to become the head offensive coordinator at Lower Merion High School where he worked for 2 years before transferring to Harriton High School to continue as a coordinator. Coach Sankey has also worked with some of the best club teams and players in the country. Ryan helped lead programs such as Rebel Elite and Dukes Lacrosse Club before joining Fusion. With great energy, the ability to teach players of all ages, and tremendous knowledge of the game, Fusion is very proud to have Coach Sankey on our sidelines.
Kevin Philibin: Director of Recruiting, Defensive Specialist
Another local product, Coach Philibin began his playing career at Avon Grove High School in West Grove, PA. He was a three year starter at close defense and long stick midfield. Coach Philibin garnered all-league accolades as both a junior and senior and added an all-area award his senior season, and participated in the South Eastern PA Senior All Star Game. During his senior season he was named both the team’s defensive player of the year and most valuable player. After graduating Avon Grove in 2006, he continued his playing career at the University of South Carolina where he immediately found himself in a starting role at close defense. Philibin helped lead the Gamecocks to their first league playoff appearance in over two decades.
COACHING Kevin is currently the Head Coach at Bayard Rustin High School Varsity. Kevin began his coaching career in 2011 at Unionville High School where he coached two seasons alongside former US Lacrosse Coach of the Year John Rohde. In 2012 he accepted a teaching position at West Chester Rustin and was brought on as an assistant coach for the Golden Knights and has been an integral part in building the program. He is entering his first season at the helm at Rustin.
Luke Wiles: Offensive Specialist
Coach Wiles finds a new home with Fusion Lacrosse after years as an NLL offensive standout. Born in Ontario Canada, Wiles grew up standing out on the ice in the winter and playing box lacrosse throughout the summers. Awarded a full scholarship to the University of Delaware, Wiles quickly learned the outdoor American game and stood out as a goal-scoring threat. Returning to his indoor roots, Wiles was picked 4th overall in the 2004 NLL Draft to the Philadelphia Wings. With over 450 career points, 3x NLL All-Star Game appearances , and an Indoor World Championship under his belt, we couldn’t be happier to have Coach Wiles passing on his expertise to our players.
As a coach, Wiles has directed Pro-Star Box Lacrosse Camps in Canada for the past 9 years. Drawing the camp’s participants from Orillia, Ottawa, Barrie and Nunavut, Pro-Star Box Lacrosse Camps has been successfully teaching players from various backgrounds the ins and outs of the game for years. Another program Coach Wiles assists with is the Charity Right to Play, a lacrosse development program reaching out to remote areas of Canada and returning the game to its most basic roots. Wiles currently resides in Havertown, PA with his wife and two young daughters and is happy to now call Fusion Lacrosse home. His knowledge and passion for the game shines through every time he’s on the field and sideline. Coach Wiles is perfect match for our program’s staff and philosophies, and another excellent teacher of the game as well.
Alex Turner: Offensive Specialist, Box Specialist
Coach Turner grew up in British Colombia and had a successful career in the WLA before breaking through to the professional ranks.
Coach Turner has spent the last six years in the National Lacrosse League most recently playing forward for the Colorado Mammoth. Turner had his finest season as a professional in 2011 with the Philadelphia Wings amassing 39 points on 17 goals and 22 assists while also collecting 56 loose balls.
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