As the Auburn varsity lacrosse team prepares for the upcoming, the squad's seniors were honored Wednesday night at the Auburn High School with a pizza party and some announcements of their college intentions.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Anthony Adams, right, claps as fellow lacrosse player, Bob Brannigan, stands up to be recognized by teammates, parents and coaches during a ceremony Wednesday night at the Auburn High School cafeteria. Fellow senior and teammate Ryan Button claps on the left.
Anthony Adams, right, claps as fellow lacrosse player, Bob Brannigan, stands up to be recognized by teammates, parents and coaches during a ceremony Wednesday night at the Auburn High School cafeteria. Fellow senior and teammate Ryan Button claps on the left.
Head coach Steve Crosby was proud to stand his seniors up in front of their families and teammates, listing their accomplishments, highlights of their resumes and their plans for college.
“This is a really special group of young men leading by examples in sports, academically and extracurricular activities,” Crosby said. “They are all talented with great opportunities ahead of them.”
One of the major announcements and honors of the night was for Matt Hoey.
Hoey not only plays on the varsity lacrosse team but also played for the state champion Maroons football team. Hoey has announced his intent to play for the Division III SUNY Cortland lacrosse team.
“I am excited for the college experience,” Hoey said. “It will be exciting to play for a high level college team.”
Hoey has also had success in his academics as a member of the National Honor Society and in his community volunteer work for Relay for Life and the Boyle Center.
With his eyes not only on his college future, Hoey is looking forward to the season ahead with the Maroons.
“We are working hard, focusing on our first game,” Hoey said. “I think we will really surprise people in the league this year.”
Also honored, Brendan Lewis has been on the Maroons lacrosse team for two years and has played for the school's hockey team.
Lewis announced his intent to attend the United States Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I. where he will keep his lacrosse career going for their top-10 Division I team and study economics.
“I can't wait to get down there and start building a bond with the players,” Lewis said. “And the experience I will get from playing for a top-10, Division I team will be amazing.”
Lewis is also optimistic for the season ahead of the Maroons.
“We have a lot of good talent, and some really good sophomores,” Lewis said. “I think we have a great possibility for sectionals.”
The face-off man for the Maroons, Sean Hogan announced that he will attend Siena College. Hogan has also played for the Maroons hockey team and the varsity golf team where he was a captain.
At Siena College Hogan will be playing for their Division I golf team and possibly as a walk-on for the lacrosse team.
“I am really looking forward to the new atmosphere of college and playing golf there,” Hogan said.
Starting his first year for the Maroons varsity lacrosse team, Kane Saunders announced his intent to attend Queens University.
Saunders is unsure of whether he will play lacrosse in college but plans to study sports management and join the United States Marine Corps in the summer of 2009.
Maroons' goalie, Kevin McHugh Dyer has been accepted to four SUNY schools and is still undecided of where to go.
Dyer's choices include Geneseo, Binghamton, Albany or ESF.
Dyer is just as torn on what he will be studying wherever he goes, he is looking at either business, economics or public policy and is unsure of whether or not he will continue his lacrosse career in college.
“If I go to Geneseo, I would like to play,” Dyer said.
Dyer may not be able to decide on college yet but he has a clear view of how strong the team is going into the season.
“We have a really good team,” Dyer said. “We shouldn't be underestimated, we will definitely make some noise this season.”
Another undecided teammate is Michael Fandrich who will take his 92 GPA to either Cornell University, Colgate University, Geneseo or Hamilton College.
Fandrich was also a part of the state champion football team and 2008 Leadership Cayuga.
Bob Brannigan has signed his letter of intent to attend St. Joseph's University to pursue his academic and athletic career further.
Brannigan boasts a 90.92 GPA and high honor roll status along with his volunteer work with the Red Cross Blood Drive.
Defenseman Ryan Button was a member of the state champion football team, the class president in 2006 and 2007 and also won a silver medal on the Empire States team for lacrosse.
Button has signed his letter of intent for SUNY Binghamton where he will play lacrosse.
Anthony Adams was also a member of the championship Maroons football team as well as a current member of the lacrosse team has announced that he will be joining the United States Army after graduation.
Chris Clifford was a member of the ice hockey team along with playing for the varsity lacrosse team and will continue his hockey career playing for St. John Fisher University.
Also pursuing his hockey career is Kevin Festa, who has fully rehabilitated himself after suffering an injury last year and will go on after graduation to play for the National Champion Onondaga Community College ice hockey team.
“These guys have bring so many benefits to this lacrosse program,” Crosby said. “With their leadership skills, maturity, wisdom and talent I am optimistic for the season ahead and their futures ahead of them. We have a good mix of old players and new comers this season, they are getting better each day.”
The Maroons lacrosse team will start their season with a scrimmage weekend at Westpoint. The first scrimmage is on Saturday at 10 a.m.
“This is a really special group of young men leading by examples in sports, academically and extracurricular activities,” Crosby said. “They are all talented with great opportunities ahead of them.”
One of the major announcements and honors of the night was for Matt Hoey.
Hoey not only plays on the varsity lacrosse team but also played for the state champion Maroons football team. Hoey has announced his intent to play for the Division III SUNY Cortland lacrosse team.
“I am excited for the college experience,” Hoey said. “It will be exciting to play for a high level college team.”
Hoey has also had success in his academics as a member of the National Honor Society and in his community volunteer work for Relay for Life and the Boyle Center.
With his eyes not only on his college future, Hoey is looking forward to the season ahead with the Maroons.
“We are working hard, focusing on our first game,” Hoey said. “I think we will really surprise people in the league this year.”
Also honored, Brendan Lewis has been on the Maroons lacrosse team for two years and has played for the school's hockey team.
Lewis announced his intent to attend the United States Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I. where he will keep his lacrosse career going for their top-10 Division I team and study economics.
“I can't wait to get down there and start building a bond with the players,” Lewis said. “And the experience I will get from playing for a top-10, Division I team will be amazing.”
Lewis is also optimistic for the season ahead of the Maroons.
“We have a lot of good talent, and some really good sophomores,” Lewis said. “I think we have a great possibility for sectionals.”
The face-off man for the Maroons, Sean Hogan announced that he will attend Siena College. Hogan has also played for the Maroons hockey team and the varsity golf team where he was a captain.
At Siena College Hogan will be playing for their Division I golf team and possibly as a walk-on for the lacrosse team.
“I am really looking forward to the new atmosphere of college and playing golf there,” Hogan said.
Starting his first year for the Maroons varsity lacrosse team, Kane Saunders announced his intent to attend Queens University.
Saunders is unsure of whether he will play lacrosse in college but plans to study sports management and join the United States Marine Corps in the summer of 2009.
Maroons' goalie, Kevin McHugh Dyer has been accepted to four SUNY schools and is still undecided of where to go.
Dyer's choices include Geneseo, Binghamton, Albany or ESF.
Dyer is just as torn on what he will be studying wherever he goes, he is looking at either business, economics or public policy and is unsure of whether or not he will continue his lacrosse career in college.
“If I go to Geneseo, I would like to play,” Dyer said.
Dyer may not be able to decide on college yet but he has a clear view of how strong the team is going into the season.
“We have a really good team,” Dyer said. “We shouldn't be underestimated, we will definitely make some noise this season.”
Another undecided teammate is Michael Fandrich who will take his 92 GPA to either Cornell University, Colgate University, Geneseo or Hamilton College.
Fandrich was also a part of the state champion football team and 2008 Leadership Cayuga.
Bob Brannigan has signed his letter of intent to attend St. Joseph's University to pursue his academic and athletic career further.
Brannigan boasts a 90.92 GPA and high honor roll status along with his volunteer work with the Red Cross Blood Drive.
Defenseman Ryan Button was a member of the state champion football team, the class president in 2006 and 2007 and also won a silver medal on the Empire States team for lacrosse.
Button has signed his letter of intent for SUNY Binghamton where he will play lacrosse.
Anthony Adams was also a member of the championship Maroons football team as well as a current member of the lacrosse team has announced that he will be joining the United States Army after graduation.
Chris Clifford was a member of the ice hockey team along with playing for the varsity lacrosse team and will continue his hockey career playing for St. John Fisher University.
Also pursuing his hockey career is Kevin Festa, who has fully rehabilitated himself after suffering an injury last year and will go on after graduation to play for the National Champion Onondaga Community College ice hockey team.
“These guys have bring so many benefits to this lacrosse program,” Crosby said. “With their leadership skills, maturity, wisdom and talent I am optimistic for the season ahead and their futures ahead of them. We have a good mix of old players and new comers this season, they are getting better each day.”
The Maroons lacrosse team will start their season with a scrimmage weekend at Westpoint. The first scrimmage is on Saturday at 10 a.m.
