1/23/2012

Elite Team Player Drew Barksdale Commits to the University of Michigan

Elite Team player Drew Barksdale (2013), M, Solon has committed to The University of Michigan.  The 6 1, 175 pound midfielder is known for his strong dodging, accurate shot and tenacious defense.  In 2011, Barksdale had 23 goals, 12 assists in helping to lead his team to the number 2 seed in their region and the D1 State Elite Eight.  He was named 2^nd team All-Region.  Barksdale also considered Hobart, Ohio State and Princeton.

1/12/2012

2012 Dick's Sporting Goods Partnership & Promotion

Lakewood, Ohio January 11, 2012 Burning River Lacrosse is proud to announce that Dick's Sporting Goods will be a sponsor of our 2012 Summer Lacrosse leagues.  The agreement will provide Burning River participants with discounts, promotions and in store events at area Dick's locations where Burning River participants can take advantage of Dick's Sporting Good's wide selection of the finest quality lacrosse products at competitive prices, backed by the best service anywhere.

We are looking forward to working with Burning River Lacrosse and appreciate their commitment to youth sports and the community. Joel Layman Community Marketing Manager, Dick's Sporting Goods

As part of the agreement, Dick's Sporting Goods will be holding a Burning River Lacrosse day at their Westlake, Lyndhurst, Mentor and Canton stores on February 25, 2012.  On February 25, 2012 all Burning River participants will receive discounts of all merchandise store wide (some exclusion apply).  In addition, summer league and travel team members will receive additional promotional opportunities that can be either combined with the Burning River Lacrosse day or used throughout the year

This agreement provides Burning River Lacrosse with an opportunity to leverage Dick's Sporting Goods size, clout and reputation to further develop, expand and strengthen lacrosse in Northern Ohio. said Woody Calleri, Director.  We are excited to work with them and look forward to being able to provide additional events in the future.

Burning River Lacrosse was founded in 2005 to provide developmental lacrosse opportunities at all levels (introduction to the game, improvement of skills, national competition and college exposure) to Northern Ohio's lacrosse community.  The company runs leagues, camps, clinics and travel team for players in the 3rd grade through college.  The company also hosts charity events such as the Fall Breast Cancer Research Fund Raiser and the Spring Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase to raise money and awareness for those in need and to teach participants about their responsibility to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others.  For more information please visit our website (www.brlax.net), Facebook (www.facebook.com/BRlax) or contact us at wcalleri@brlax.net or 216-373-5684.

Dick's Sporting Goods started in 1948 by Dick Stack as a small bait and tackle shop in Binghamton, New York. Ten years later, his loyal customers began urging him to expand his business and start selling more products. Over the years, Dick's has grown to what it is now, with over 300 stores selling the finest quality products at competitive prices, backed by the best service anywhere. They strive to meet their goal of being the #1 sports and fitness specialty retailer for all athletes and outdoor enthusiasts through the relentless improvement of everything they do.

1/9/2012

Burning River Takes Sixth At Tournament of Champions

January 9, 2012

Under spectacular blue skies and warm Florida weather, the Burning River U15 team took 6^th place overall at the Dick’s Sporting Goods NDP Tournament of Champions in Tampa, Florida.   A very strong field of nineteen qualifying teams from across the United States played for the title of TOC Champion.

Burning River went 1-1 in the qualifying rounds on Friday winning their first game against Arsenal Lacrosse (Alabama).  Later in the day, the Lacrosse Club of Orlando looked like the home team and defeated BR.

On Saturday Burning River delivered better results with a big win over Cougars Select (Raleigh-Durham) in the quarterfinals of the tournaments. Burning River would fall to Blue Devil’s Lacrosse (Florida) in the elite eight after taking 8 second half penalties. After this loss, Burning River would be put in the consolation bracket and would square off against Copperhead Lacrosse (Atlanta). After a hard fought game late in the day, BR would beat Copperheads 8-6 and move on to play for 5^th place Sunday morning.

On the final day of the tournament, Burning River would be up against the Westminster Wildcats (Atlanta) for 5^th place in the tournament. BR would go on to lose by 2 and take 6^th place out of 19 overall. All the games were very, very close and it is because of this and the break from the cold Ohio winter, BR is motivated to make winning this tournament a goal for next year!

12/7/2011

Elite Team Player Ali Akyuz Commits to SUNY Cortland

Elite Team player Ali Akyuz (2012), M, Jamesville DeWitt has committed to Suny - Cortland. The 6’ 0”, 175 pound attackman from Dewitt is known for his strong dodging, accurate shooting and athleticism. Akyuz helped lead his team to consecutive NY State Class B State Championships and a 44 game win streak.

12/7/2011

Elite Team Player Timothy Schreiber Commits to Seton Hill University

Timothy Schreiber (2012), D/LSM, Shaler Area HS has committed to Seton Hill University.  A 5’ 9”, 170 pound defensemen with good speed, solid footwork and strong on ball defense, Tim led his team in caused turnovers and groundballs (117).  He was named 1^st team WPIAL and is a captain for the upcoming year’s team.

12/5/2011

BR Alum Is Finalist For Burlsworth Award

One of our own Griff Whalen (Sylvania) is a finalist for college football’s Burlsworth Trophy.  The award is given annually to college football’s most outstanding player who started as a walk on.  Griff played for us back in 2007/08 before heading off to Stanford.  He was highly recruited by several top tier D1 programs but chose Stanford for academics.  In doing so he walked away from a guaranteed scholarship for the opportunity to earn a scholarship at one of the top academic schools in the country.

We ask that you support Griff by:

• Going to the awards website and voting for him

 http://www.razorbackparking.com/wordpressTest/?page_id=608

•  Sending this information out (facebook, email, etc) to everyone you know and asking them to vote for Griff.

Details on Griff’s Career
Whalen, who began his college career at safety, has seen his productivity rise in the Cardinal offense each of the last three seasons. This year Whalen has a team-high 49 catches for 664 yards and four TD’s, helping the Cardinal to a No. 4 ranking in the BCS Standings. Stanford has accepted an invitation to play in the Fiesta Bowl. Whalen has started nine of 12 games in 2011, the highest total of his career. He entered the season with 24 receptions for 309 yards with one touchdown. Whalen, the roommate of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, averages 13.6 yards per catch.

BURLSWORTH TROPHY
The trophy is named after the late Brandon Burlsworth, who walked onto the Arkansas football team in 1994, became an All-American and was the 63rd overall pick of the Colts. He died in a car accident 11 days after the 1999 NFL draft. The Burlsworth Foundation was set up in his memory.

11/23/2011

Elite Team Player Alec Sulesky Commits to RIT

Alec Sulesky (2012), A/M, Medina HS has committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Alec has been the go to crease attackman for Burning River and a strong offensive midfielder for Medina High School. At 6’4”, 185 pounds, Sulesky has the ideal size and athleticism for both positions. As a junior, he put up 22 goals and 10 assists in a very solid 2011 campaign where the Bees came up short in the State Semi-Finals against Hudson High School. He also considered Wittenberg and Roanoke.

11/23/2011

BR Alum Pat Moran Was Named Defensive Player Of The Year in Division 2.

BR Alum Pat Moran (2007 grad - first team ever) was tabbed the William C. Schmeisser Award as the most outstanding defensive player in Division II. Moran, who was named the Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the USILA All-America First Team and Northeast-10 First Team earlier this month, is the fifth Dolphin in the last seven years (Drew Bezek – '09 & '10, Travis Tarr '05 & '06) to garner top defenseman accolades. Moran, who anchored a defense that allowed a national-best 4.64 goals per game, registered 14 caused turnovers, the second most on the team. In his first year as a starter at close defense after serving as a long-stick midfielder, Moran recorded 17 ground balls, including a career-best four in a victory over Saint Anselm on March 26.

11/16/2011

Burning River Alum On The Cover Of Inside Lacrosse Magazine

Burning River Alum and current University of Michigan attackman, Thomas Paras, was on the cover of Inside Lacrosse Magazine's December issue. In an article discussing Michigan’s rise to varsity status, Paras was also featured on the two page photo among the other talented U of M upper classmen who will help the Wolverines transition into being a varsity program. A junior, Paras is described as being the “Most D1-ready body, with good dodging to 5-and-5, where he can finish.” He will play alongside another very talented attackman and two time MCLA Player of the Year Trevor Yealy. BR Alum and Wolverine Freshman, David Joseph, was also mentioned in that article as being “Raw and athletic, a fast, shifty playmaker between the lines and in settled offense.” These two former Burning River Lacrosse Players will be part of a core group of talent for U of M as they take the field this Spring against some of Division 1 Lacrosse’s best programs.

11/15/2011

2011 UP Lax Results - Navy Team (Seniors and Sophomores)

The Burning River Navy Team (Seniors and Sophomores) traveled to Annapolis last weekend to take part in the UP Lax Fall Shootout. Led by a core group of very talented seniors, the Navy team went 5-1 overall.  On Saturday the team went 2-1, beating Indy Elite and FCA - North Carolina, but came up short against a strong Road Warriors team.   BR Navy would bounce back from the loss on Sunday to go 3-0 with wins against Atlanta Rage, No Excuse, and Force Lax. The group of seniors on this team finished off their Burning River careers in dramatic fashion with a very exciting win against Force Lax in their last game of the weekend. Tied at 6-6 with just under 20 seconds to go, Dan Flake (Ohio State) stripped a Force attackmen and found a streaking Brett Hornung (Marquette) who hit James Dahlheimer (Virginia) to spark the fast break. After drawing the Force defensemen, James passed to a wide open Vince Gravino (Canisius) on the crease, who scored the game winning goal with 8 seconds left. After an exciting weekend full of good lacrosse and fun, the Burning River Coaching Staff would like to wish the best of luck to this year’s senior class.

11/11/2011

Elite Player James Dahlheimer picks 2011 lacrosse national champs

Filed by Rick Noland November 9th, 2011 in Medina Gazette.

 Medina James Dahlheimer doesn’t just have a college lacrosse scholarship. The Medina High senior has a scholarship from 2011 NCAA champion Virginia.

“Whew,” Dahlheimer said Tuesday night when asked how that felt. “It makes me want to do the best I can. It drives me to want to be the best, knowing I’ll be playing for the best team in the country within a few years. I need to work my hardest to compete and to live up to the expectations Virginia has for me.” 

A lifetime Medina resident, Dahlheimer took a somewhat circuitous route to the national letter of intent he will sign today at the high school.

After spending his first two years of high school at Medina — the Bees reached the state semifinals in lacrosse when he was a sophomore — the 6-foot, 185-pounder transferred to Western Reserve Academy for his junior year. “I get this question quite a bit,” Dahlheimer said when asked why. “The only thing I can say is some of the decisions I made my sophomore year weren’t the best. I didn’t get into any serious trouble, but I wasn’t on the track I wanted and needed to be on.

“With the levy problems and cuts in advanced courses at Medina, my parents and I felt it was best if I went to Western Reserve Academy. We felt the boarding life and extra-hard curriculum would better prepare me for a school like Virginia. It was a good year. It taught me a lot of different skills that I previously hadn’t learned.”

Dahlheimer, who carries a 3.1 grade-point average, is now back at Medina for his senior year. He was a starting cornerback and backup running back for the football team, scoring the lone touchdown in the Bees’ 7-0 season-ending victory over Brunswick.

“Reserve did teach me a lot, but it wasn’t the right place for me,” he said. “I felt I got what I needed in the year I was there and I wanted really bad to finish out my high school career in football and lacrosse with all the people I grew up with.”

Dahlheimer, who also fielded scholarship offers from lacrosse powers Syracuse, Maryland, Georgetown and Towson State, as well as the Air Force, has some unfinished business at Medina before he heads off to college, where he plans to eventually pursue a degree in architectural engineering.

“Honestly, I believe with the team we have this year and with the work ethic we have, we can be one of the best teams Medina’s ever had,” he said. “A state championship is definitely within reach.”

A midfielder, Dahlheimer owns 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, which caught the eye of Virginia assistant John Walker at the Southern States Junior Camp in the summer of 2010.

Dahlheimer also has family in Virginia and liked the top-notch academic school’s atmosphere, campus and the lacrosse coaching staff, which is headed by Dom Starsia, who has led the Cavaliers to four national titles in the last 12 years. He will receive less than a full ride because lacrosse teams only get approximately 14 scholarships, which a school like Virginia routinely divides among 40 players.

Last year, Dahlheimer said the Cavaliers had 10 freshmen, with eight receiving action and one redshirting.

“I’ll be able to get some time,” he said. “I don’t know if starting will be a possibility, but I could fight my way to a lot of playing time.”

Dahlheimer, Starsia’s first recruit from Northeast Ohio, was second-team all-state as a sophomore. He’s also earned UnderArmour Underclass All-America honors and played for the Burning River lacrosse program, which afforded him the opportunity to compete against the best players in the country.

“Your sophomore year and the summer leading into your junior year are the most important times in recruiting,” Dahlheimer said. “During those periods of time, I played the best lacrosse I’ve ever played. When I started receiving emails from smaller D-I schools, I started to think this could actually happen.”

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com.

11/10/2011

Burning River Lacrosse To Sponsor Its 2nd Annual College Recruiting Night

Burning River Lacrosse is proud to bring you our 2nd Annual College RecruitingNight. The purpose of this event is to address questions we have received from you and your sons about Burning River and what to expect from the college recruiting / college selection process.

The event will start with a talk by the Burning River Staff about the college selection process, what BR Lax can do to help, and what you need to do. 

The event will then feature a talk and Q&A period with top level college coaches from Division 1, 2, and 3 programs. During this time the college coaches will give a short presentation (5 minutes) about the recruiting process at their school and in general (timelines, what they look for, how players should prepare for it, grades, etc).  The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

Which College Coaches Will Be At The Event?

Division 1        Kevin Corrigan, Head Coach - Notre Dame

Division 2        Chris Ryan, Head Coach - Mercyhurst College (2011 National Champions)

Division 3        Michael Caravana, Head Coach - Denison University
                        P.J. Kavanagh, Head Coach - University of Mount Union
                        Carl Haas, Head Coach - St. Vincent
                        Carl Festa, Head Coach - The College of Wooster

What Are The Event Details?

When               Thursday, November 17, 2011

Where              John Carroll College (Room and directions to follow)

Time:               6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Who:               Any lacrosse player / family with an interest in learning about the college recruiting process.

Participants:    The first 250 registrants only

Cost:                The cost of the event is $10 PER FAMILY(not per player)

What Is The Basic Agenda?

College Selection Process (Burning River’s View)
• Overview (Divisions, NCAA)
• Role of Travel Teams
• Timelines (at each grade)
• What you need to do (communications, selection process, etc)
• What Burning River Lacrosse can do (Explanation of travel team's role)
• What college coaches can do (Timelines)
• Meanings of different letters (form letters, mass mailings, hand written)

College Selection Process (College Coaches View)
Members of the following coaching staffs will talk about the recruiting process at their school and in general (timelines, what they look for, how players should prepare for it, grades, etc). 
• Coaching Staff – Division 1
• Coaching Staff – Division 2
• Coaching Staff– Division 3

How Do I Register?

Registration is simply and easy once you have a Burning River Lacrosse account.

I have an acount
If you have an account please login and then click on the 'REGISTRATIONS' button under the 'YOUR ACCOUNT' heading. Then click on the College Recruiting Night button.

I DO NOT have an acount
If you do not have a account simply click here create an account or the "Create an account" link on on our home page and follow the directions.

If you have any questions about the registration process please contact us at 216.373.5684

11/4/2011

Elite Team Player Seth Brown Commits to The College Of Wooster

Seth Brown (2012), A, North Canton Hoover has committed to The College of Wooster. The 5’7”, 165 pound attackman is known for his vision and ability to finish.  As a junior, Brown was a starter at attack for Hoover. He posted 20 goals and 17 assists in the 2011 season making him 2^nd leader in assists and the 3^rd leader in goals. He also considered Brockport.

10/19/2011

Elite Team Player Hogan Harris Commits to Mt Union

Hogan Harris (2012), A, Medina HS has committed to University of Mt Union.  The 5’10”, 150 pound attackman is known for being very elusive off ball and a talented finisher.  In 2011, Hogan had 55g, 6a while helping to lead his team to the D1 State semifinals.  He was named 2nd team All-Region for his efforts.  He also considered Seton Hill.

10/18/2011

Elite Team Player Corey Boeschenstein Commits to Colorado College

Corey Boeschenstein (2012), D, University School has committed to Colorado College. He started for University school as a Sophomore and Junior, and helped lead the team to the Division 2 State Championship game both years. The 6’ 0”, 200 pound defensemen brings a physical presence to the lacrosse field through his tenacious on-ball defense. Corey has great ball handling skills and always looks to push the ball in transition. He also considered Wittenberg University.

10/12/2011

Elite Team player Kevin DeGulis commits to Wittenberg

Kevin DeGulis (2012), D, University School has committed to Wittenberg University.  A 6’ 1”, 180 pound defensemen with good speed, solid footwork and strong on ball defense, Kevin led his team in caused turnovers and had 3 goals and 2 assists.  DeGulis helped lead his team to the D2 State Championship game in each of the last two years.  He was named 1^st team All-Region, 2^nd Team All State and is a captain for the upcoming year’s team.  DeGulis also considered Wooster, Denison and Roanoke.

10/12/2011

Elite Team player Andrew Harris commits to Mt Union

Andrew Harris (2012), G, Medina HS has committed to the University of Mt Union.  A 5’ 8”, 185 pound goalie with lightning fast reflexes, good instincts, and the ability to make the spectacular save, Andrew has led his team to the D1 State semifinals in each of the last two years while compiling a career record of 38-8.  In 2011, he was named 1^st team All-Region and honorable mention All-State.

10/11/2011

Elite Team player Vince Gravino commits to Canisius

Vince Gravino (2012), A, St Edward HS has committed to Canisius College.  The 6’ 1”, 180 pound attackman from Westlake is known for his strong dodging, accurate shooting and athleticism.  Gravino has led his team in goals, assists and points for the past two seasons.  In 2011, he was named 1^st team All-Region, 2^nd Team All State, was select for the 2011 Under Armour Underclassmen Midwest All Star Team and named captain for the upcoming year’s team.  Gravino also considered Mercyhurst and Roanoke.

10/11/2011

Elite Team player Joe Gravino commits to Mercyhurst

Joe Gravino (2012), M, St Edward HS has committed to Mercyhurst College.  A 5’ 10”, 165 pound midfielder from Westlake with good speed, an accurate shot and strong defense, Gravino had 28 goals, 25 assists in helping to lead his team to the number 2 seed in their region and the D1 State Sweet Sixteen in 2011.  He is a two year captain and was named  1^st team All-Region and  2^nd Team All State in 2011. Gravino also considered Roanoke and Wooster.

10/10/2011

Fall Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser raises $12,623.50

Lakewood, Ohio – October 11, 2011 – Burning River Lacrosse announces the results of its 2^nd annual Fall Breast Cancer Research Fund Raiser to benefit the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.  This year’s event was held on Saturday October 8, 2011 at Hawken School’s Walton Stadium.  The event featured scrimmages between top tier college lacrosse teams from Bellarmine University, Mercyhurst College (2011 National Champions), Seton Hill University, The College of Wooster, La Roche College and Davenport University.  The event also featured guest speaker Ellen Perez, a triple negative breast cancer survivor, who shared her story with the event participants.  “It was such a magical moment for me to have the teams right there listening to me share my story while having my son and the BR family supporting me,” stated Ms. Perez.

The event raised $12,623.50 for the Stefanie Spielman Fund and had over 1,000 people in attendance.

“It was a great day for the Northern Ohio lacrosse community and we are thrilled to have exceeded our budget and attendance goals of $10,000 and 1,000 attendees,” said Woody Calleri, Director,  “The funds raised will support the foundation’s goal of translating laboratory discoveries into effective treatments and new drugs for breast cancer patients.

Event revenues are generated through sponsorships, donations, t-shirt and short sales, ticket sales, and concessions sales.  This year’s event marks Burning River Lacrosse’s second Breast Cancer Research fundraising event.

“On behalf of the Stefanie Spielman Fund, The Burning River Lacrosse players, coaches, and families, the college participants and our program sponsors would like to thank everyone who donated, attended or volunteered their time to help make the event a huge success,” stated Calleri “Building on this year’s success, we have already begun planning for 2012 and look to expand the number of teams participating and the amount raised in support of Breast Cancer Research.”

To find out more about the 2011 Fall Breast Cancer Research Lacrosse Fundraiser, make a donation in support of the Stefanie Spielman Fund or request information on how to support the event in the future, please visit our website (www.brlaxx.net), Facebook (www.facebook.com/BRlax) or contact us at wcalleri@brlax.net or 216-373-5684.

Burning River Lacrosse was founded in 2005 to provide developmental lacrosse opportunities at all levels (introduction to the game, improvement of skills, national competition and college exposure) to Northern Ohio’s lacrosse community.  The company also hosts charity events such as the Fall Breast Cancer Research Fund Raiser and the Spring Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase to raise money and awareness for those in need and to teach participants about their responsibility to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others.

The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research is a foundation devoted to advancing research in breast cancer. The fund supports laboratory discoveries that are being translated into effective treatments and new drugs for breast cancer patients, as well as other research. Since 1999, more than $8.5 million has been raised. To find out more about how the fund supports breast cancer research at the OSUCCC-James and about how you can help, visit www.spielmanfund.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpielmanFund.

10/3/2011

Elite Team player John Rayburn commits to Roanoke

John Rayburn (2012), M, Hawken School has committed to Roanoke College. A 6-foot, 160-pound midfielder from Hunting Valley had a 70% face-off percentage as a Junior and plays with great athleticism and speed. He was selected as a First-Team All-State midfielder and is a two year captain. 

10/1/2011

BR Alum Named Captain of U of Michigan's Inaugural Varsity Team

Quintet Selected to Captain Wolverines in Inaugural Season

From the U of Michigan website.

Sept. 23, 2011

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's lacrosse head coach John Paul announced the five captains for the program's inaugural varsity season. The quintet includes fifth-year senior attackman Trevor Yealy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), senior/junior midfielder Sean Sutton (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich), senior/junior midfielder Alexander Vasileff (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm), junior/sophomore defender J.D. Johnson (Malibu, Calif./Loyola), and junior/sophomore attackman Thomas Paras (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Ignatius).

Yealy and Paras ranked first and second, respectively, in points for Michigan during the 2011 season. In 19 games, Yealy led the Wolverines in goals (63) and points (69), while Paras was first in assists (28), third in goals (38) and second in points (66). Yealy was a captain for U-M in 2011 as well.

A key reserve in 2011, Vasileff contributed 18 goals and 15 assists for 33 assists from his midfield position. Sutton chipped in with two goals and three assists in 14 appearances.

Johnson played in 17 games, starting 15 times on defense. He had a goal and an assist on the score sheet.

The Maize and Blue will conduct their first public event on Oct. 2 at Michigan Stadium when U-M hosts Providence and Concordia (Wis.) in a series of scrimmages. The Wolverines will oppose Providence at 1:30 p.m. and Concordia at 5:30 p.m.

9/29/2011

Elite Team player Will Pilat commits to Roanoke

Will Pilat (2012) A, Hidden Valley has committed to Roanoke College.  A 6'5" 185 pound attackmen with great vision and stick skills, Will has led his high school team in goals, assists and points for the past two seasons.  Pilat was chosen as First Team All Area for his high school team and also attended top 205 Juniors at Towson.  He has been a captain of his high school teams since his sophomore year and is also a member of Hidden Valley's basketball team which was state runners up in 2011.  

8/30/2011

2011 Fall Breast Cancer Fund Raiser Update

Division 1 Bellarmine University has committed to play in our Fall Breast Cancer Fund Raiser. Burning River alumnus Nate and Sean Blue will be taking the field for the Knights this fall. 

8/10/2011

Elite Team player Brett Horning commits to Marquette

Brett Horning (2012), M, St Ignatius has committed to Marquette University. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound midfielder from Westlake with great athleticism, a fast shot and strong defense, Hornung led his team to the D1 State quarterfinals in 2011. He was chosen second team all-region in 2011, team offensive MVP and is a two year captain.

8/9/2011

Elite Team player Michael Classen commits to Haverford

Michael Classen (2012), D, University School has committed to Haverford University.  A 6’1”, 180 pound defensemen from Chagrin Falls he has good speed and footwork and solid on ball defense.  Classen helped lead his team to the D2 State Championship game in each of the last two years.  He was named second team all-region in 2011 and is a captain for the upcoming year’s team.  

7/21/2011

Elite Team player commits to Syracuse

Hayes McGinley (2013), M, University School has committed to Syracuse University. A 6-foot-4, 195-pound midfielder from Chagrin Falls with great athleticism, a strong shot and smooth moves, McGinley led his team to the D2 State Championship game in each of his first two years, was chosen for 2011 ESPN RISE sophomore watch list and was part of this year’s Midwest Under Armor squad. McGinley also considered Penn State and Ohio State.

7/20/2011

BR Lax family is saddened by the loss of one of it's members.

The BR Lacrosse family is saddened by the death of one of our lacrosse family members. Sean Chalkwater, who officiated in our summer league died in his sleep a few days ago. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sean's family. Friends may call at Chambers Funeral Home 29150 Lorian Rd Wed 2-4 & 6-9 P.M.

View SEAN P. CHALKWATER's obituary and sign the Guest Book at The Plain Dealer

obits.cleveland.com

Online obituary for SEAN CHALKWATER. Read SEAN CHALKWATER’s life story, offer tributes/condolences, send flowers or create a SEAN CHALKWATER online memorial.

7/13/2011

Fall Fund Raiser For Breast Cancer Research

Fall Fund Raiser For Breast Cancer Research

Burning River Lacrosse is teaming up Hawken School and our program sponsors Chipotle Mexican Grill and Brine Lacrosse to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  To that end, we are holding a 1 day series of college scrimmages on Saturday October 8, 2011 at Hawken’s upper campus (12465 County Line Road, Chesterland, Oh 44026).  The event will feature top tier college lacrosse teams from Mercyhurst College (2011 National Champions), Seton Hill University, The College of Wooster, and La Rouche College among others.

Tickets will be available in advance at all Burning River events, by contacting Burning River at 216.373.5684 or at the day of the event.

We will also be selling specially design shorts (our BR/Chipotle shorts) and T-Shirts (new pink design) with all proceeds from the clothing sales being donated to Breast Cancer Research.

More event information will be available shortly.

7/12/2011

Fall League Registration Now Open

Fall League Registration Now Open

With the summer winding down, we wanted to take a minute of your time to let you know that registration for our Fall 7 on 7 League is now officially open.  Early bird registrations received before 12 midnight on the Sunday August 7^th will receive a free BR Lax white cotton T-shirt (design TBD).  Regular registration closes on Sunday August 28, 2011 unless we sell out sooner, which we have the last 5 leagues)

To register please log into your account and click on the registration button.

If you do not have an account directions on how to create one are on our homepage.

More information on the league can be found by clicking on the league tab on the menubar above.

7/11/2011

2011 NDP Tournament wrap up.

Our 2013, 2014, and 2015 teams attend the Dick’s Sporting Goods/NDP Atlantic Cup this weekend.

On Saturday the teams recorded our best ever first day showing going a 7-0 and securing the #1 and #2 seeds in the Rising Division and the #1 seed in the U15 division

On Sunday the 2013, 2014 teams continued their winning ways in the morning with convincing wins that moved them both into the tournament semifinals.  However, the 2015 team lost their morning game in the tournament semifinals to move to the consolation game.

Sunday afternoon saw the 2013 team win their semifinal game over a tough Fuze (MD) team while the 2014 team dropped a hard fought game to the Skyhawks (PA).

In the consolation game the 2015 team bounced back to defeat NOVA (VA) 6-5 claiming third place.  The game that saw them take a 6-1 lead early in the second half and then survive both NOVA’s relentless attack and the oppressive heat (95+).

In the tournament finals the 2013 team had to deal with the heat, a hot goalie and an even hotter faceoff middie (this kid can play).  The combination proved too difficult to overcame as the team watched their championship hopes fade.

Overall, our three teams (2013, 2014, 2015) went a combined 11-4 at the tournament and took home a Silver and Bronze.

7/11/2011

Elite Team Written Up At The Syracuse Shootout

Recruiting Roundup: Syracuse Shootout I Day 1

Burning River vs. NY FCA Elite Casey Vock July 9th, 2011

The Burning River squad, comprised of players from the Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio areas, brought some very talented players to the Shootout.  A pair of brothers stood out – rising seniors Joe and Vince Gravino. Joe, a middie, was aggressive, fast and made plays on both offense and in the midfield. He’s got a wicked hard shot. Vince, a skilled attackman, put up at least two goals in the half I watched. His release is very fast, and he’s got a nose for the ball, seemingly always in the right position to make plays. The Gravino brothers were a big part of Burning River’s success Friday.

Hayes McGinley (2013) looks and plays like a Division I midfielder. Tall, fast and athletic, McGinley was incredibly smooth dodging righty or lefty, one time floating down the right alley and ripping a shot into the top left corner. McGinley has reportedly made several visits to some big time programs, including Syracuse and Penn State. He’s a good-sized kid with a lot of potential. Ali Akyuz, who plays for Jamesville-DeWitt, was playing with the Burning River boys, giving him a chance to shine more than he was able to as a member of the stacked Rams this past season. Akyuz is quick, tough and has a great field sense. He did a lot of initiating for Burning River, perhaps a sign he will move into a more prominent role with the Rams next season – potentially a replacement for the departed Alex Hatem.

Middie Andrew Barksdale (2013) has some upside, showing some great speed and a quick change of direction when dodging from the midfield. He bounced a shot on the run into the top part of the net, making it look easy with his athleticism. His stick skills are still a bit raw, but he has the potential to grow into a very strong midfielder in his two final years of high school play. He inverted and dodged from X, blowing by a short stick with his wheels.

For the NY FCA Elite team, goalie Patrick Sheridan (2012) was standing on his head in the midst of the onslaught brought on by Burning River. Sheridan made a series of saves late in the half I watched that was just unbelievable. He stuffed two back to back shots, and then after FCA botched the clear, he made another. His quick reflexes and relentless play will help him draw some recruiter attention. He plays at McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, a program that has produced some highly talented players through the years.

Offensively, attackman Duncan Ayer (2012) – who also plays at McQuaid Jesuit – led the way for FCA. A skilled passer, Ayer set up both of the goals for FCA that I witnessed, working from X and then driving out to the right wing to look to the backside. Quick and always playing with his head up, Ayer led his team in scoring this past season and will likely need to shoulder the weight again next season.

7/6/2011

Elite Team's Under Armor Players Receive Positive Press

2011 Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic: Boys' Underclass Wrapup Notes

Midwest 6, west 5 (OT) - Ty Xanders July 5th, 2011

This was among my favorite games to watch all weekend, as two surprise teams battled for a spot in the semifinals in the second game of the morning on Field 1. This was truly a game of runs and a defensive battle, and the fans behind me from each region were by far the loudest I'd heard all weekend at Towson's lower fields. The Midwest was able to pull out the win with an unsettled score by attackman J.T. Blubaugh (St. Frances DeSales '13) in overtime. 

Midwest got hot right off the bat, started by a goal nestled near the inside pipe by talented midfielder Hayes McGinley (University School '13). A minute or so later, another goal followed before Zach Wood (Metea Valley '12/Virginia) struck on a sweet shot on the run to make it 3-0. This pair of athletic midfielders were the two players that impressed me the most from the Midwest squad, a well-coached team with a defense that surrendered the lowest goals against average all tournament. Some other players that scored and impressed were midfielder Joel Tinney (Culver Military '14) and attackman Vince Gravino (St. Edward '12).

The West did an outstanding job fighting back throughout the entire game, responding to Midwest's opening run with three goals of their own and later forcing overtime after a nice goal by Sean Doyle (Torrey Pines '12/Cornell), the West's top attackman. Doyle's matchup, Zach Powers (Upper Arlington '12/UNC) was superb, only allowing unsettled goals in this particular game. I'd heard good things about Powers but hadn't yet seen him play and he didn't disappoint, boasting great footwork and the ability to make plays in the passing lanes. For West, I couldn't have been more impressed by the stellar goalie play by Arizona native Russell Bartle (Highland School '12), who I had with nine saves in the second half. He made some clutch saves in the last few minutes of regulation and was great saving shots by his ankles. Some other standouts for the West were Tanner Scales (Salisbury School '12/Virginia), who was one of the top defensemen at the event, as well as Bailey Tills (Kent Denver '12/Brown), Collins Gantz (Kent Denver '12/Bryant) and Cali residents Brendan Gaughan (La Costa Canyon '12) and Kieran Eissler (Coronado '13). 

6/7/2011

3 Burning River Elite Team players were selected for the Midwest Under Armour Team

3 Burning River Elite Team players were selected for the Midwest Under Armour Team (Top 24 Underclassmen in the Midwest)

James Dahlheimer (WRA - Committed to UVA) - 2012
Vince Gravino (St Edwards) - 2012
Hayes McGinley (University School) - 2013

3 Additional players were in the final round of 40.

Drew Barksdale (Solon) - 2013
Dan Flake (Medina - Committed to Ohio State) - 2012
Joseph Gravino (St Edwards) - 2012

6/6/2011

6 BR Lax Players In The Final 40 players at the Midwest Under Armour Tryout

6 Burning River Elite Team players were selected for the final 40 player pool at the Midwest Under Armour Tryouts  (Top 24 Underclassmen in the Midwest).  They are:

Drew Barksdale (Solon) - 2013
James Dahlheimer (WRA - Committed to UVA) - 2012
Dan Flake (Medina - Committed to Ohio State) - 2012
Vince Gravino (St Edwards) - 2012
Joseph Gravino (St Edwards) - 2012
Hayes McGinley (University School) - 2013

6/6/2011

Liam Ganzhorn (US) named Defensive MVP of the D2 State Championship game

Burning River Travel Team goalie Liam Ganzhorn (University School) named Defensive MVP of the Division 2 State Championship game.

5/19/2011

Chagrin Falls 8th Grade Team Reaches State Finals

Led by 5 Burning River U15 starters, #3 seed Chagrin Falls took home the State Runner-up title after losing a hard fought battle to Upper Arlington Hastings (Columbus) in the Ohio Middle School Division 1 Championship game Sunday May 16 at Dublin Scioto High School in Columbus.

After definitive wins against the Cincinnati Blue Jays and Liberty Powell Middle School (Columbus), Chagrin took on Upper Arlington Jones (Columbus) in the tournament’s semi-final game.  Two quick goals by attackman TJ Subel set the early pace for Chagrin.  Exceptional defense led by long-stick-defenseman Patrick Donley kept Jones in check throughout the game.  Middies Griffen Stephens, Sean Mackin and Charlie Winovich stepped up, took over, and led Chagrin’s potent offense in the second half.  Chagrin traded goals with Jones until the game was tied 8-8 at the end of regulation.  On Chagrin’s first possession in sudden death overtime, Charlie Winovich ended the contest with the game winning goal.

4/28/2011

Fisher House Showcase Game Photos

2011 Fisher House Showcase photos are now available for the following games:

Medina vs Wooster
Avon Lake vs West Geauga
Hawken vs Orange

The photos were taken by David Turben (Photos by Turben - PBT) and are available to the players and parents for puurchase.  Mr Turben has agreed to donate 50% of the profits to The Fisher House Foundation. 

4/21/2011

Lacrosse tournament will raise money for wounded soldiers

Lacrosse tournament will raise money for wounded soldiers

by Vincent  Dorsey 

Burning River Lacrosse created the Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase in 2008 with three goals in mind - promote the sport of lacrosse in the region, foster relationships among the area's lacrosse coaches and teach Burning River players the importance of giving back to others by raising money for the Fisher House Foundation.

As Burning River prepares to hold the charity event for the fourth consecutive year at Hawken School's Walton Stadium on Saturday, those goals are about the only aspect of the now-annual event that hasn't changed - for the better.

What began as a couple of high school lacrosse games played for a good cause has evolved into a full-day of lacrosse games and family friendly activities that now represents the second-largest, one-day event associated with Fisher House.

"You're not just coming out to see a lacrosse game - you can see multiple lacrosse games - but you're also able to interact with a lot of people that this impacts in a positive way," Burning River director Woody Calleri said.

Through the event's first three years, Burning River has contributed more than $125,000 to the national organization's mission of providing a free "home-away-from-home" for America's military families so that they can be with their severely wounded or ill service member during a stay at a military care facility.

Through sponsorships, donations and the sale of program ads, T-shirts and presale tickets, Burning River has already secured $35,000 in conjunction with this year's event.

"Every year, we see more and more people get involved, and we see people from the previous year come back and do 10 times what they had done the previous year," Calleri said.

With a little luck from Mother Nature, event organizers expect to exceed their goal of $40,000 with walk-up ticket sales and donations, as well as increased concession purchases and higher bids on donated auction items.

Calleri said Burning River pays all costs associated with running the event, so that all proceeds can be given to Fisher House.

"Donors can be assured that if they donate $500, the full $500 goes to Fisher House," he said

Funds stay in Cleveland

Donors can also rest assured that any contribution they make will remain in Northeast Ohio, as Fisher House has vowed to add all the proceeds from this year's event to the ongoing fundraising effort to build Cleveland's first Fisher House, a 16,000 square-foot home that will be capable of hosting 42 families. Fisher House already contributed the proceeds from last year's event - $37,500 - to the cause.

Once $3 million - roughly half of the project's estimated $6 million price tag - has been raised, construction will begin.

Putting a face to the cause

As part of each year's event, Burning River invites a service member to speak about his experiences with Fisher House to give attendees a true sense of the cause they're supporting.

This year's guest speaker is scheduled to be Sgt. Joe Gross, an area outreach coordinator for the Wounded Warriors Project. The Stow, Ohio, native lost one of his legs while serving in Baghdad in 2005. During his medical treatment and recovery, Gross and his family stayed in the Fisher House at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Not just about money

While the money raised is always the biggest tangible result of the fundraiser, Calleri said the outpouring of support shown for past and present service members each year is just as meaningful.

"All we're doing is putting on a lacrosse show, but it means the world to these people that somebody gives a damn," Calleri said.

Game schedule

12 p.m. - varsity game - Medina vs. Wooster

12:30 p.m. - middle school game - University School vs. Hawken School

2 p.m. - JV game - West Geauga vs. University School

2:30 p.m. - varsity game - Seneca Valley (Pa.) vs. University School

4:30 p.m. - varsity game - Avon Lake vs. West Geauga

5 p.m. - varsity game - Orange vs. Hawken School

4/19/2011

Team Fisher House Journal Article

4/19/2011

Burning River and Joe Gross on WKYC TV 3's Good Company talking about Fisher House

Burning River's Woody Calleri is joined on the set of WKYC TV3's Good Company by Joe Gross of the Wounded Warrior Project and the "Lax Bros" to talk about the Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase and the "Lax Bros" fundraising efforts (over $6,500).

4/19/2011

Burning River speaks with Munch on Sports about the Fisher House Showcase

ESPN Cleveland's Munch is joined by Burning River's Woody Calleri to talk about the upcoming Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase (This Saturday at Hawken School)

4/12/2011

Fisher House Auction Items - Now Available

Burning River Lacrosse is hosting the 4^th annual Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase on Saturday April 23, 2011 to raise money for The Fisher House Foundation.  This foundation provides a “home-away-from-home” for America’s military families so that they can be with their severely wounded and/or ill family member(s) during those service members’ medical treatment and/or lengthy physical and/or occupational therapy treatments. In the last 3 years the event has raised approximately $125,000 for the families of our wounded service men and women.

As part of the Showcase we have lacrosse and non-lacrosse related that we are auctioning off to raise money for the Fisher House Foundations.  100% of the proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Fisher House Foundation.  To view the items and/or make a bid please click here.

4/11/2011

Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase

Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase is set for April 23, 2011. The Showcase features games between Medina HS (2010 OH Semifinalist) / Wooster HS, Seneca Valley HS (2010 PA semifinalist) / University School (2010 OH Finalist), Avon Lake / West Geauga and Orange HS / Hawken School. The event is held to raise money and awareness for the Fisher House Foundation which provides “home-away-from-home” for America’s military families (like Ronald McDonald House) so that they can be with their wounded and/or ill family member during those service members’ time of need. In the last 3 years the event has raised over $125,000 to help our military families. (Read More.- Press Release, Event Flyer or Ways to Help ) or visit the 'Fisher House' link under the 'Community' button above.

4/11/2011

Fisher House Story in Inside Lacrosse

Established in 2005, Burning River lacrosse offers opportunities for players in Northern Ohio, starting with basic skills development through the college recruiting process. About 2,000 players have worked through the program since its inception, and teams have showcased their skills in championship efforts on the club circuit.

Burning River has also always put charity work in the forefront of its mission, whether through impromptu events like last fall’s breast cancer research fundraising movement or through their more established efforts.

“We teach kids responsibilities in lacrosse,” says Burning River founder Woody Calleri. “But we’re also teaching kids how to be responsible in their community. It’s something that’s overlooked in a lot of other clubs.”

The Fisher House Charity Lacrosse Showcase is Burning River’s biggest yearly fundraising program. The annual event, which is set for April 23 at Hawken School’s Walton Stadium, helps raise money for the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that houses military families near hospitals during the rehabilitation process of a soldier wounded in combat.

This year’s lacrosse showcase includes a daylong series of games featuring local high school programs. This year’s event includes Medina, Wooster, Seneca Valley, University School, Avon Lake, Orange High, West Geauga and host Hawken School.

NCAA programs have participated in the past, and Burning River is looking for willing college participation for future showcases. Wounded Warrior Project Area Outreach Coordinator Joe Gross,
whose family received help from the Fisher House while he underwent rehab after losing his lower right leg in a car bomb attack, will be this year’s speaker.

This year Burning River hopes to bring in $40,000 and sell 2,500 tickets for the event. Over the past
three years the club has helped raise $125,000 for the foundation, matching grassroots fundraising
efforts with regional corporate help. Nationally, the Fisher House has helped 120,000 families since 1990. “We had one family tell us about a soldier who went to sleep, and woke up without his leg,” says Calleri. “With the Fisher House, he was able to have his wife at his side, and he said he wouldn’t have made it without his wife and kids there. He wouldn’t have made it without his family.”

The Fisher House project follows on the heels of Burning River’s fall cancer fundraising efforts. Prior to attending a winter tournament in Florida, the club received an extra 100 pairs of game shorts in an overorder. The players decided to sell the shorts at the event, eventually raising $3,000 for Cleveland-based breast cancer research efforts.

“It’s in keeping with what we’re teaching the kids. It’s all about being a part of a family,” says Calleri. “We wanted to show how people can turn around and help each other. If something happens to you, guys are there.”

—GEOFF SHANNON

3/11/2011

Short-ing Out Cancer (WKYC TV3 Report)

On Sunday February 6 WKYC - TV 3 ran an interview/story that they did on our Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser. A link to the story is below. Way to go Bobby Perez, Nate Blue and Josh Kuehn (nice shot).

2/15/2011

Short-ing Out Cancer (NDP Lacrosse article)

BURNING RIVER LACROSSE TURNS MISTAKE INTO OPPORTUNITY

Sometimes a mistake can lead to an opportunity to help. That’s exactly what happened when the Burning River Lacrosse Club (Cleveland, OH) received a set of game shorts they ordered to wear at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions. (Read More.....)