BURNING RIVER MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT

September 9, 2018

CLEVELAND, Oh. - Burning River Lacrosse is expanding its operation to create THE premier girls lacrosse program in Northeast Ohio. Burning River Girls will be led by veteran coach Todd Kortowich, a co-founder in Avon’s Youth Lacrosse program and current head varsity coach for Avon. Todd and his team of experienced and talented coaches are dedicated to provide complete player development and nationally competitive teams.

Allison Kortowich & Ella Calleri

“Burning River is very proud to partner with Todd in launching this new division for female athletes seeking to play at the highest level,” said Woody Calleri, Executive Director for Burning River. "This new organization is dedicated to our daughters and their joint desire to improve the landscape of opportunity for the sport they love. Todd’s daughter Allison [D1 commit to Kent State] and my daughter Ella [lead scorer for St. Joseph’s Academy] are dear friends and fierce competitors. Todd and I have coached our daughters’ rival high school teams and shared sidelines every summer as we traveled with our girls' teams.

It became obvious that we both have the same coaching philosophy and are equally driven to provide well-organized competition while fostering true talent. Girls who play lacrosse in Northeast Ohio are often all-star athletes in other sports and are surprised to learn their abilities in basketball or soccer can transfer to excellence in lacrosse. And with the number of colleges adding girls lacrosse to their athletic programs, there is ample opportunity to pursue college placement.

By combining the college recruiting network and established organizational structure of Burning River Lacrosse with a team of experienced and dedicated coaches for girls, the opportunities for athletes to improve and further their runway with the sport is outstanding.”

Burning River Girls will offer a fall one-day tournament opportunity for middle and high school girls looking to sample the new program and to become acquainted with the coaches while playing in a local 7v7 competition. In addition, fall and winter skills clinics will offer individual assessments and small group instruction for goalies, offensive and defensive players. Summer travel teams will compete in three tournaments with ample, centrally located practices designed to build confidence, game IQ and skill set.

Kortowich said about the new partnership, "As the Director of Girls Lacrosse, I am thrilled to be joining with Burning River and to be working with Woody Calleri. Burning River’s core values align with my personal coaching style and we will work tirelessly to foster appropriate playing opportunities for all ages and abilities. Together with the Burning River staff, Woody and I will provide these athletes with endless benefits and the highest level of player development. We are committed to creating the most elite environment for our sport.”

For more information on Burning River Girls, call us at 216.373.5684 or send an email to info@brlax.net.