EDITOR'S NOTE: First in a series of spring high school sports previews to appear in The Citizen.
SKANEATELES - After its loss in the OHSL, Class C sectional final game to eventual state-champion LaFayette last season, Steve Babbles of the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team believed there would be better things to come for him and his teammates.
Even as a sophomore, Babbles was a member of the 2002 Lakers team that competed in the state championship, the loss to the Lancers last season left him wanting more.
"I was really disappointed, but they (LaFayette) had a lot talent with a bunch of seniors," Babbles said of the loss. "I am looking forward to this season and the loss left a bitter taste in my mouth."
After the season, Babbles got right back to work as he played for the Empire State Games' Central team. Babbles scored one goal in the championship game as Central went on to defeat Hudson Valley to win the gold medal.
"It was a hard work but a great experience," Babbles said. "I got to play with a bunch of kids that have a lot of passion for the game and good skills."
Another important event over the summer was that the highly-recruited Babbles picked national lacrosse powerhouse Syracuse University and will join teammate Dan Didio on the Hill next fall.
"I chose Syracuse because I know the coaching staff and I thought I felt comfortable there," he said. "It means a lot to me to play there and I am really excited."
Even though Babbles is looking forward to helping the Orangemen capture another national title, he still has one more season wearing the Lakers' uniform.
"He is right up there with the good players," Lakers head coach Ron Doctor said. "I think he has a great future and he has already done very well for us."
Before the lacrosse season started, Babbles played soccer and basketball, something his coach believes will benefit him.
"He is a year-round guy and he is very quiet about it," Doctor said. "He does whatever coaches ask him to do and you can't ask for much more that."
The senior midfielder has amassed more than 65 goals and 35 assists in three seasons with the Lakers but he is quick to give his teammates the credit.
With all his personal accomplishments, Babbles would like nothing more than to finish out his playing days holding the state championship trophy.
"I would like to go as far as we possibly can," Babbles said. "If it comes down to us playing LaFayette again, I just don't want to see what happened last year."
After the season, when Babbles trades in his Skaneateles jersey for a Syracuse one, the coaching staff will have the uneasy task of finding someone else to fill his important role.
"He is the total package, he can dodge, shoot and feed," Doctor said of Babbles. "Having that kind of player is like a safety blanket, we call him when we need something."
Team Previews
Jordan-Elbridge
Coach: Rick Young
Last season: 14-6
This season the Eagles, who have started off 3-0 want to continue their recent success and believe three seniors can help them achieve their goal of returning to sectionals.
Young believes the three seniors along with the five juniors, which have with the team since they were freshmen will provide enough leadership for the Eagles.
The Eagles will need senior attackman Jason Fietta, who has compiled more than 55 goals and 35 assists in two years to keep up those kind of numbers. Chris Donohue will join Fietta along with fellow senior Andy Stevenson at the attack position.
"They have three years of experience," Young said. "They are the backbone of the team and we will look to get a lot of productivity from them."
Fietta, Donohue and Stevenson will need to be patience with the ball as the rest of the offense is young.
The coaches also expect another solid season from Jeremy DeJohn and Aaron Guadagnolo. DeJohn was an alternate in the Empire State games last summer and Guadagnolo, whose older brother was an All-American for the Eagles last season, will be looked upon to do a little bit of everything.
On defense, the conservative Eagles will rely on sophomores Fred Bush, Kyle Burton and freshman Tom Guadagnolo. Young believes his defense will need to be cohesive early on in order to be successful.
OHSL, Division III
Skaneateles
Coach: Ron Doctor
Last season: 14-7
The Lakers' trio of Babbles, Didio and Shawn Byrne, who are all headed to major Division I colleges next fall, would like to make their final season a memorable one as they look to avenge last season's loss to LaFayette in the sectional finals.
Doctor believes the Lakers have much more experience and can match up against any team that they line up against.
The one area that the coaches believes might hurt the Lakers is their lack of depth.
"We have three senior midfielders, but we need to gain some depth in the position," Doctor said. "Also on defense we lost Marcus Richards to an injury, so someone will need to step up in that spot."
On offense, the Lakers will rely on attackmen John Marino and Kyle Doctor, both of whom the coaches believe is very skilled and good around the ball. Didio and Babbles will also be joined by fellow senior Matt Welch to make up one of the better midfields in the division.
In the pipes for the Lakers, will be steadily-improving junior Bill Delaney, who is a well-respected goalie. In front of Delaney will be Byrne and Justin Furnia, one of the Lakers' top newcomers.
This season, the Lakers will have another form of motivation; Doctor is closing in on 300 wins, a feat which only 22 other New York coaches have accomplished.
"The 300 wins have nothing to do why these kids are out there," said Doctor, who is less than 10 wins from the milestone. "They love the game and take pride in the school and program and you have to feel good about that."
OHSL, American Div.
Auburn
Coach: Steve Crosby
Last season: 4-12
Even though the Maroons are coming off a disappointing season and their schedule is filled with numerous quality opponents, Crosby is optimistic his squad will benefit.
The biggest problem for the well-balanced Maroons will be finding the right combination of players to put out on the field.
The Maroons will be led on offense by Kevin Nolan, Ryan Lewis and Jay Lattimore at the attack positions. The trio will be counted on to carry the offense.
At midfield, Nick Lattimore and Kevin Hogan will be counted upon to secure face-offs and advance the ball.
Crosby believes that every player on his roster understands his role and will contribute in his own way.
In the net, Auburn will rely on junior Nick Sigona and in front of him will be Dan Vitale, Will Beckwith and Pat Hovey.
The Maroons believe that they will need to play up-tempo, physical lacrosse for 48 minutes in order to be successful this season.
Staff writer Joel Herrling can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 257 or
citizensports@lee.net
Even as a sophomore, Babbles was a member of the 2002 Lakers team that competed in the state championship, the loss to the Lancers last season left him wanting more.
"I was really disappointed, but they (LaFayette) had a lot talent with a bunch of seniors," Babbles said of the loss. "I am looking forward to this season and the loss left a bitter taste in my mouth."
After the season, Babbles got right back to work as he played for the Empire State Games' Central team. Babbles scored one goal in the championship game as Central went on to defeat Hudson Valley to win the gold medal.
"It was a hard work but a great experience," Babbles said. "I got to play with a bunch of kids that have a lot of passion for the game and good skills."
Another important event over the summer was that the highly-recruited Babbles picked national lacrosse powerhouse Syracuse University and will join teammate Dan Didio on the Hill next fall.
"I chose Syracuse because I know the coaching staff and I thought I felt comfortable there," he said. "It means a lot to me to play there and I am really excited."
Even though Babbles is looking forward to helping the Orangemen capture another national title, he still has one more season wearing the Lakers' uniform.
"He is right up there with the good players," Lakers head coach Ron Doctor said. "I think he has a great future and he has already done very well for us."
Before the lacrosse season started, Babbles played soccer and basketball, something his coach believes will benefit him.
"He is a year-round guy and he is very quiet about it," Doctor said. "He does whatever coaches ask him to do and you can't ask for much more that."
The senior midfielder has amassed more than 65 goals and 35 assists in three seasons with the Lakers but he is quick to give his teammates the credit.
With all his personal accomplishments, Babbles would like nothing more than to finish out his playing days holding the state championship trophy.
"I would like to go as far as we possibly can," Babbles said. "If it comes down to us playing LaFayette again, I just don't want to see what happened last year."
After the season, when Babbles trades in his Skaneateles jersey for a Syracuse one, the coaching staff will have the uneasy task of finding someone else to fill his important role.
"He is the total package, he can dodge, shoot and feed," Doctor said of Babbles. "Having that kind of player is like a safety blanket, we call him when we need something."
Team Previews
Jordan-Elbridge
Coach: Rick Young
Last season: 14-6
This season the Eagles, who have started off 3-0 want to continue their recent success and believe three seniors can help them achieve their goal of returning to sectionals.
Young believes the three seniors along with the five juniors, which have with the team since they were freshmen will provide enough leadership for the Eagles.
The Eagles will need senior attackman Jason Fietta, who has compiled more than 55 goals and 35 assists in two years to keep up those kind of numbers. Chris Donohue will join Fietta along with fellow senior Andy Stevenson at the attack position.
"They have three years of experience," Young said. "They are the backbone of the team and we will look to get a lot of productivity from them."
Fietta, Donohue and Stevenson will need to be patience with the ball as the rest of the offense is young.
The coaches also expect another solid season from Jeremy DeJohn and Aaron Guadagnolo. DeJohn was an alternate in the Empire State games last summer and Guadagnolo, whose older brother was an All-American for the Eagles last season, will be looked upon to do a little bit of everything.
On defense, the conservative Eagles will rely on sophomores Fred Bush, Kyle Burton and freshman Tom Guadagnolo. Young believes his defense will need to be cohesive early on in order to be successful.
OHSL, Division III
Skaneateles
Coach: Ron Doctor
Last season: 14-7
The Lakers' trio of Babbles, Didio and Shawn Byrne, who are all headed to major Division I colleges next fall, would like to make their final season a memorable one as they look to avenge last season's loss to LaFayette in the sectional finals.
Doctor believes the Lakers have much more experience and can match up against any team that they line up against.
The one area that the coaches believes might hurt the Lakers is their lack of depth.
"We have three senior midfielders, but we need to gain some depth in the position," Doctor said. "Also on defense we lost Marcus Richards to an injury, so someone will need to step up in that spot."
On offense, the Lakers will rely on attackmen John Marino and Kyle Doctor, both of whom the coaches believe is very skilled and good around the ball. Didio and Babbles will also be joined by fellow senior Matt Welch to make up one of the better midfields in the division.
In the pipes for the Lakers, will be steadily-improving junior Bill Delaney, who is a well-respected goalie. In front of Delaney will be Byrne and Justin Furnia, one of the Lakers' top newcomers.
This season, the Lakers will have another form of motivation; Doctor is closing in on 300 wins, a feat which only 22 other New York coaches have accomplished.
"The 300 wins have nothing to do why these kids are out there," said Doctor, who is less than 10 wins from the milestone. "They love the game and take pride in the school and program and you have to feel good about that."
OHSL, American Div.
Auburn
Coach: Steve Crosby
Last season: 4-12
Even though the Maroons are coming off a disappointing season and their schedule is filled with numerous quality opponents, Crosby is optimistic his squad will benefit.
The biggest problem for the well-balanced Maroons will be finding the right combination of players to put out on the field.
The Maroons will be led on offense by Kevin Nolan, Ryan Lewis and Jay Lattimore at the attack positions. The trio will be counted on to carry the offense.
At midfield, Nick Lattimore and Kevin Hogan will be counted upon to secure face-offs and advance the ball.
Crosby believes that every player on his roster understands his role and will contribute in his own way.
In the net, Auburn will rely on junior Nick Sigona and in front of him will be Dan Vitale, Will Beckwith and Pat Hovey.
The Maroons believe that they will need to play up-tempo, physical lacrosse for 48 minutes in order to be successful this season.
Staff writer Joel Herrling can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 257 or
citizensports@lee.net
