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Boundaries blurring for Minnesota lacrosse

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 07/16/10, 11:06AM CDT

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Explosive growth of sport evident in all-star team's trip to England


Apple Valley's David Louis is one of Team Minnesota's goaltenders. Photo provided

Ten years ago, this never would have happened.

An all-star team of Minnesota players traveling to England for a series of games, some again international competition?

Forget about it.

Today, serving as yet another neon example of the sport’s unabated growth in the state -- that most anything is possible when it comes to Minnesota lacrosse -- is the presence of an under-19 age group all-star team of state players in Manchester, England.

“I was struck by it the other night,” said Adam Crane, one of Team Minnesota’s coaches who spent more than a year organizing the trip, “I can’t believe we are going to be playing lacrosse in England.”

Team Minnesota was scheduled to depart Minneapolis on Thursday, July 15, and play its first game in Manchester on Saturday, July 17.

The 19-member squad consists of players who just completed their senior season in high school or freshman year in college. Team Minnesota is one of several teams entered in various age groups and competitive levels from around the world playing games in conjunction with the FIL World Lacrosse Championships that conclude on July 24 in Manchester.

“I really want to see how the kids play it from other countries,” said Ryan McCready, a Totino-Grace graduate who just completed his freshman season at Indiana Tech. “That interest me quite a bit. I heard some of the rules they go by and the equipment they use is quite a bit different, and I want to see that.”

McCready has a tattoo of his family crest etched on his right calf. He said he solicited the art work displaying his Scottish-Irish lineage as soon as he turned 18.

“That was a huge perk when I got a phone call to be on this team,” McCready said about the opportunity to learn more about his family ancestry.

While sightseeing excursions have been built into the team’s itinerary, the focus of the trip is lacrosse. Team Minnesota is scheduled to play five games in five days, with the possibility of some additional exhibition games mixed in.

“Just the big festival, and being a part of that, is what I’m looking forward to most,” said Drew Gabbert, a defenseman who won two state titles while playing for Blake and most recently completed his freshman season at the University of Wisconsin.

Gabbert tore three ligaments in his right ankle in early July while preparing for the event. His doctor told him he could expect to be on crutches or a walking boot for six weeks as the injury healed, but Gabbert has sped up that timetable through an aggressive rehabilitation schedule. He said he hopes to play in at least a couple of games, preferably against English teams.

“It’s been feeling better every day,” Gabbert said about his ankle.

Crane, who is coaching the team with Colin Mulcahy and Jesse Schelitzche, said he has wanted to take a Minnesota lacrosse team to Europe for years.

“I like the idea that here are these guys that get to use lacrosse to go to Manchester England to go play on a big stage like that,” Crane said.

Ten years ago, when the logistics of putting together a club high school team was daunting for many players and coaches, the idea of an all-star team traveling to Europe would have been laughable.

“I think it’s just going to keep growing exponentially,” Gabber said. “I grew up in Chaska and I didn’t have a program to play for. Now I’m actually coaching a fifth and sixth grade team in Chaska.

“It’s just amazing to see the growth.”

Team Minnesota Schedule

July 17: vs. USA Starz
July 18: vs. England White
July 19: vs. USA West
July 20: vs. England Red
July 21: vs. playoff opponent TBD

Team Minnesota Roster

Name Pos. Team
Ryan Butts A Benilde-St. Margaret's
Kyle Harren A Eagan
Alex Johansen A Lakeville North
Brennan Mach A Simley
Kyle Sturgeon A Eagan
Tony Nelson M Champlin Park
Nate Monsein M Minneapolis Southwest
Guiseppe Palermo M Totino-Grace
Zach Reisner M Robbinsdale Armstrong
Mitch Sierakowski M Champlin Park
Jeff Ulfig M Adrian Callege
Grif Bartzen D Burnsville
Andrew Borowick D Robbinsdale Armstrong
Drew Gabbert D Univesity of Wisconsin
Nathan Hunt D Lehigh University
Ryan McCready D Indiana Tech
Ryan Usher D Robbinsdale Armstrong
Patrick Gilligan G Colby College
David Louis G Apple Valley

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