Phillylacrosse.com celebrates the holiday season by re-posting its All-Phillylacrosse Players and Coaches of the Year and Teams for 2019
By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/25/19, Re-Posted 12/25/19
Penn Charter senior Gavin Tygh knew he was expected to win just about every faceoff in the 2019 season. But how about also being the team’s top scorer?
Yes, it was demanding, he said. But serving those two key roles, and even several more made 2019 a special year for Tygh, who has been named the Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Co-Player of the Year (with Malvern Prep’s Will Pettit and Academy of the New Church’s Hunter Jaronski).
Tygh, named a US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American, won 285 of 374 faceoffs (76 percent) and had 210 groundballs. Meanwhile, the Virginia signee led the Quakers in scoring with 37 goals and 6 assists as he played attack while also playing at times on man up and man down (with a pole).
Penn Charter, playing a national schedule, finished a solid 10-10. Tygh’s goal was to lead his Quakers to an Inter-Ac championship game, but Penn Charter fell to No. 1 seed Haverford School, 9-8, in the league semifinals.
“I couldn’t have asked for more than what we accomplished,” Tygh said, adding that the Quakers had key wins over many teams that went far in the post-season, such as Garnet Valley, St. Augustine Prep, Moorestown and Strath Haven.
“It was certainly upsetting (to lose in the semis to Haverford), but I was super grateful being in the position of playing the best teams in the area and in the country. It helped prepare me for playing at the next level and prepared my teammates for the next level.”
Tygh also set the unofficial (according to LaxRecords.com) all-time North America record for faceoff wins by a high school player with 1,297 (70.8 percentage).
Tygh said he embraced his many key roles for the Quakers.
“Mentally, I had to prepare myself,” he said. “And I had to put in the work, sometimes in the film room or sometimes I took extra time during practice to work on my shooting with (assistant) coach (Joey) Sankey. I also had to work on my defense with (head) coach (Pat) McDonough. It was certainly a cool responsibility and hopefully I filled those shoes the coaches were expecting me to fill.”
McDonough said Tygh clearly met all expectations – which were high after a dominating junior year.
“As a junior he was the league’s Co-MVP and even though his faceoff percentage went down a little (from 81 percent),” said McDonough, “I think he was more effective because of the impact he had on offense and on man-up and other situations.
“To be facing off every tuime against the competition he faced and then to go and play offense is exhausting. But Gavin always had that warrior type of mentality. We had injuries, sometimes he even played long pole or d-middie
“I think when you compare him to other top faceoff guys around the country – they would take the faceoff and get off the field immediately – Gavin didn’t have that luxury. To be honest, he just wanted to play lacrosse.”
McDonough believes Tygh has the ability to raise his game to meet the challenge of the highest level.
“Certainly for him, his offensive contributions were icing on the cake,” said McDonough. “Of course we wanted to win an Inter-Ac championship and beat ranked teams.
“But he is the reason we are even in this conversation and the reason we played the schedule we did. When you look at playing a Brunswick School or a Hill Academy, he gives us a chance to compete and get the other guys the experience.”
Tygh said he was proud of how the Quakers competed against their rugged schedule despite using many young players.
“It was an honor to be a team captain and a leader and being responsible for everyone,” he said. “It wasn’t that hard.
“Everyone brought it every day and the young guys brought out a swagger and energy that pushed us older guys. I was proud to be a member of Penn Charter and play for coach McDonough.”
