Minnesota Elite Team Wins National Lacrosse Tournaments
(Created: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 2:16 PM CDT)
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The Minnesota Elite boys lacrosse team completed a national tournament title trifecta this summer.
Bloomington, Edina and Eden Prairie athletes played key roles for the Minnesota Elite team that won three national all-star tournaments against the best high school players in the country.
Local members of the Minnesota Elite championship team were Todd Baxter and Tony Donna of Eden Prairie, Alex Wesenberg and Andrew Larson of Bloomington Jefferson and Edina's Matt Herring and Jamey McPheeters.
Academy of Holy Angels players Derek Michalski, Ryan Hurley and Tony Libra also competed for the Minnesota Elite team.
The Minnesota Elite squad was selected from the 47 boys lacrosse club teams in the state. Elite head coach Hank Marotske selected the 28 Elite players. He coached Blake School to the 2005 state boys lacrosse championship last spring.
Minnesota Elite posted an 8-0 record to win "The War of the South" tournament June 22-26 in Roanoke, Va. The locals finished first in the 16-team event.
Four Elite players were named to the all-tournament team including Matt Dooley (Blake), Dan Pitzl (Totino Grace), Charlie Nesser (Totino Grace) and Joe Costello (St. Thomas Academy).
Minnesota went on to place first in the Notre Dame Midwest Challenge July 15-17. There were 16 teams vying for that tourney title.
Hurley and David Jadin (Blake) of the Elite were selected to the all-tourney team.
Then Minnesota Elite won "The Battle of the Hotbeds" tourney title July 30-Aug. 2 at the University of Delaware. Minnesota was the first team to get through the 38-team, 20-game tourney.
Hurley, Matt Dooley (Blake) and Costello were named to the all-tourney team.
Division I, II and III college coaches scouted the three national tournaments extensively. Minnesota's players are receiving plenty of attention from those recruiters after their successful achievements in the summer tournaments.
Minnesota Elite's coaching staff consisted of Marotske, Justin Hoban and Travis Wells.
-Compiled by Greg Kleven
Reprinted with permission Sun Newspapers
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