Outlaws lacrosse gears up for breakout season

Forty boys came out to fill the Outlaws boys lacrosse squad this year, making it the fastest-growing sport at Sisters High School. The high school varsity team will carry a final roster of 20.

Coach Bill Rexford, who is back for his fifth year as head coach, expects this to be the team's best spring ever.

Rexford noted that only three of the players on the roster are new to the sport. He said that this year's squad has more lacrosse knowledge than any team he's had while coaching at Sisters. Some of the new freshman players already have four years of experience under their belts.

"As a group, these guys represent the five pillars of an Outlaw more than any other team I've ever worked with. This year isn't going to be about the wins and losses. It's going to be about the process of making ourselves champions, and these kids get that," said Rexford.

Eleven seniors return to the squad, including captains Justin Duvenick, Billy Sampson, Alex Novotny and Seth Schneider. Cameron Valdez, Drew VanDiver, Isaac Gonzalez, Drew Johnston, Ben Bremmer, Wesley Noone and Anthony Yreugras will round out the veteran senior players.

Also back for another season are juniors Randon Beech, Marteen Jiminez, Jacob Akaka and Michael Williams. Several sophomores saw some time last year at the varsity level and are expected to contribute this year as well. Players include Connor Morgan, Ryan Long, Will Saunders, Chris Smoot and Beau Fitzke.

The Outlaws have players who are athletic, smart and can run.

"These guys will be able to take advantage of the other team's weaknesses," said Rexford. "I'm looking forward to having a team that gets the sport, and by working together they know they can achieve more than they could individually. This team is a great group. Last year we didn't want the season to end, and we couldn't wait for it to start this year."

To honor friend and teammate Stephen Connolly, who died last spring after an ATV accident, the lacrosse team will present each year an award in his name. The Stephen Connolly Award will be given to the JV player who best exemplifies the traits in Stephen the team most admires and want to keep in the program.

Coach Rexford said, "The boys are working on the words, but no doubt whatever we come up with will only scratch the surface as to what Stephen meant to his friends here at SHS. We can honor his name and honor the game."

On Friday, March 13, the team will head to Boise for three days for the Boise Table Rock Tournament. One of the highlights of the season will be the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI) where the Outlaws will host 40 teams from around the country.