By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/12/19
FREDERICA, Del. – Ben Tompkins says he had the best role model while serving as the backup to All-Inter-Ac League and All-EPLCA goalie Carson Marano this year at Penn Charter.
“He’s helped me enormously,” said Tompkins. “He was a great leader. He helped me with my footwork when it was sloppy and he helped me with my mental aspect. He also helped me learn to juggle, which helps your hand eye coordination.”
Now Tompkins is hoping to land the starting spot at Penn Charter for the 2020 season since Marano will play at NCAA Division III finalist Amherst. Tompkins is confident that the past two days spent at the Cascade Elite 80 at the Delaware Turf Sports Complex will greatly help his development.
The event – run by Legacy Global lacrosse – featured a large percentage of instruction from college coaches, a recruiting seminar and showcase games. Tompkins, rangy at 6-foot-2, 2021 from Coatesville, was the lone Philly boy to make the All-Tournament team (see full list below).
“I came here 2 years ago and I remember that the talent was great,” said Tompkins. “The whole event also was fun. There were a lot of practices instead of just games. You got to know each other. It was a great learning experience and a great time to get seen.”
Tompkins (who plays club for Feeedom) served as a reserve at Bishop Shanahan – which won the PIAA Class AA state title – as a freshman and then transferred to Penn Charter last year.
At the Elite 80, Tompkins said he learned many skills he believes will help him succeed in the highly-touted Inter-Ac.
“I had two goalie coaches here and one thing they taught me was when the attackman wraps around the crease to take a step back in to take up more of the net,” Tompkins said. “I tried it in the last game and it worked. They helped me with clearing and also taught me to do a drop pass.
“The games were great and all of them were close.”
Tompkins knows what he has to work on.
“I have to work on stepping and attacking the ball,” Tompkins said. “Carson was fierce no matter where the ball was going. He was straight to it. He always had his whole body over the ball. He was not scared of it at all. He gives it his all; I just have to follow his footsteps and do what he did.”
Others that excelled (with their reflections on the event):
Brynn Klueber, 2022 ATT, Academy of Notre Dame-PA/Philly Blast
“I wanted to come because of the competition to play at the higher level and to compete with older girls. I also wanted to see how coaches from different colleges interact with the players so I could look for future schools I might be interested in. I thought the instruction was great. One coach would stop us in the middle of practice and correct us and tell us what we could be doing better. I can bring some things I learned to my club team. It definitely helps to work with other girls; I probably made 20 or 30 new friends. The ratio of coaches to players was great; there was more instruction. I feel like I made a really good connection with the coaches.”
Ava Delyra, 2022 Goalie, Wando, S.C./Ct Dodgers
“I came last year and really enjoyed it. I like playing against high level players to help raise my game and play with girls looking to go to the next level. I felt the competition was really good. My dad was a goalie and he has kind of been helping me throughout the years. I think i have pretty quick hands; that probably my strong suit. I learned a lot about recruiting, and to not be afraid to try new things.”
Aimie Perino, 2022 MF, Vestavia Hills-AL/Hotbama
“Alabama is not that big in lacrosse and this was a great opportunity for me. To be seen closer and have 1-on-1 time with college coaches was great. In Alabama I have to travel 2 hours to a Division I school. I learned so much from the coaches, especially since we had a better ratio. I play midfield so the first day we worked on getting the quick first start, especially on the circle. That could also can translate on attack with a penalty shot or on D by trying to getting my stick in the way. We also learned that coaches while recruiting are not just looking on ball. They like to see you moving off ball to help teammates out. Everybody wants to score but when you don’t score the coaches might see something else that maybe the parents don’t.”
Jack Ansart, 2021 ATT, West Springfield-MA/Connecticut Valley, Attack MVP
“Where I am from, there is decent lax. But coming up here, it’s more fast paced. This taught me a lot about playing fast paced and against fast paced players. I was used to being one of the best players; they taught me to fight and work for what I am going to get. They also taught me to have fun playing lacrosse. That’s what the sport is about. The first day told us size doesn’t matter and to use your body. As long as you get leverage and play aggressively, it doesn’t matter what your size is – you can beat them. This helped me game, especially my aggressiveness. I noticed when I used aggressiveness in the second day I got more looks.”
Tyler Carney, 2020 G, Rutherford B. Hayes HS-OH, Goalie MVP
“It was supposed to be high level talent and it was. We got more coaching; they were more here to coach us than recruit us. I learned a lot and also got seen by college coaches. Being a goalie, I learned I was standing up too straight. One coach told me to get on my knees and that helped me a lot. I learned you have to be more vocal and that being a loud goalie helps. I also worked on being able to outlet the ball quickly and efficiently. It will help especially at the college level.”
Nick Robinson, 2020 FOGO, North Paulding-GA/Wasatch LC, FO MVP
“There was amazing instruction from the college coaches. They talked all about wing play – you never hear too much instruction on that. It was great to get out here for the recruiting. The competition was very good, similar to the Inside Lacrosse Invitational. Playing against these guys is great experience and it will help me get better. I thought the coaching here was awesome; sometimes you go to a showcase and some coaches are just there to coach (and not instruct). Every coach here knew exactly what they were talking about.”
Boys’ All-Tournament team (a girls’ all-tourney team was not selected)
First Name Last Name Position City State Grad Year Status
Henry Black A Raleigh North Carolina 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Brendan Petronis A Breezy Point New York 2020 ALL Tournament-Team
Truman Southern A Raleigh North Carolina 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Michael Meyer A East Northport New York 2022 ALL Tournament-Team
Miles Wujek A Grosse Pointe Farms Michigan 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Jack Ansart A West Springfield Massachusetts 2021 Attack MVP
Emmerick Dopona D Flower mound Texas 2022 ALL Tournament-Team
Ryan Oh D Redwood City California 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Jack Fearnley D Old Lyme Connecticut 2021 Defense MVP
Nick Robinson FOGO Dallas Georgia 2020 FO MVP
Adam Hyman G Coram New York 2020 ALL Tournament-Team
Ben Tompkins G Coatesville, Pennsylvania 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Tyler Carney G Delaware Ohio 2020 Goalie MVP
Lawrence Adams LSM Staten Island New York 2020 ALL Tournament-Team
Brian Lake LSM Lake Ronkonkoma New York 2020 ALL Tournament-Team
Spencer Deane M Salem New Hampshire 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Preston Kral M Orange Connecticut 2021 Midfield MVP
Christian Decker M/A Bristol Connecticut 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Brock Schwartz M/A Sylvania Ohio 2021 ALL Tournament-Team
Brandon Outler M/A Buford Georgia 2020 ALL Tournament-Team