By Jeffery Laux
The boys are back in business as they are looking forward to another great year in the 2018 season. Coming off of a solid 8-6 record for their last season’s effort proved to be motivating as this year’s team consists of seven seniors that are ready to push this team into district championship territory. First-year varsity men’s head coach Andrew Green is ready to uplift his team to greater chances of improvement as a whole. He fills the absence of former Head Coach Mike Frost, who had success over seven seasons with the varsity boys team as he accumulated a record of 75-52 from 2010 to 2017. Green has insisted on not focusing on the past, but moving on to become the team that will work its way to the top of its district. The culture change has been a blessing in disguise says Junior Matthew Simms, as Green puts his effort into developing the untapped potential of all of his players including his younger ones. He’s building a no-nonsense, hardworking, killer environment on the practice fields and implements work ethic as the main source of success.
Coach Green’s motto that he relays every practice is that “it pays to be a winner.” Many players take this quote to heart, as one of the returning starting seniors Garrett Crisman believes that “striving for greatness and giving it your utmost effort will pay off in the long run as you will become the player you have always anticipated to be.” The defense is led by senior players Noah Altenbach and Garrett Crisman, and this unit has Green wowed about their quickness and ability to get to the ball and cause a turnover to help out the bolting offense that has seniors Clayton Vogel, Richard DeShetler, and Michael Moss running up the score with their endless attack skills.
Their first regular season game is up against the Ocoee Knights. The Darters blew them up last season 21-1, as the Knights did not fare well with a record of 1-13. The players and coaches are amped up to prove to the district that they are here for good and are ready to showcase their most efficient and high powered team that has been produced on the field in the history of Men’s lacrosse.
The momentum after coming off of their recent pre-season tournament results creates pathways for continued optimism for this team’s chances against some of the biggest rivals they have: West Orange and Lake Brantley. The Lake Brantley Patriots have given Apopka trouble for ten years straight as beatdowns over the past have proven to be detrimental to the team’s confidence, but this year this team is ready to move over that hump and cause a rattle in the viewpoint of Apopka Men’s Lacrosse.
As of 2/15/18, the men’s team took on two top-flight teams in their preseason tournament that occurred in their own home stadium. Their first game ended in a tie (5-5) as the Trinity Prep Saints kept up with the Darters offensive tempo all game long and didn’t allow for any fast breaks to bother them. The Darters did bounce back in their second match as Attacker Richard DeShetler had 2 goals and propelled their offense to score 8 goals as their defensive unit held strong against the Lake Nona Lions, limiting their scoring to only two goals. This upcoming season has many players ecstatic about the team’s chances against other top opponents, including Senior Noah Altenbach who believes his team can go as far as they push themselves. The men are anticipating their first regular season matchup against the Ocoee Knights and hope to shock the district in the process.