Boys lacrosse names seven to all-league teams

The boys lacrosse team recently wrapped up their best season ever and had seven of their players selected to all-league teams. Seniors Scott Nelson, Jens Stadeli, and Porter Ford were first-team picks.

Nelson played attack for the Outlaws, and was the No. 1 vote overall. Scott scored 64 goals, and dished out 47 assists during conference play. He is easily the Outlaws' all-time leading scorer with a total of 144 goals, and 86 assists.

Coach Bill Rexford said, "Scott's numbers were just ridiculous. Each season's stats could have been a normal kids' career. You just look at Scotty, and know he's a culmination of thousands of hours of hard work, which has resulted in his amazing stick-handling abilities."

Stadeli played at middie, and scored 21 goals, and recorded 19 assists. In addition to his first-team all-league honors, Jens was also an honorable mention all-state pick.

"What I like about Jens is that he cared more than the coach," stated Rexford.

Ford rounded out the first-team selections. Porter, at defense, scored four goals during conference play for the Outlaws.

"I want to be Porter," said Rexford. "There's not a tougher player on the team. He's like watching a tsunami on the field. Only a few survive Porter. We have a saying in lacrosse, that is actually an old Iroquois saying that states, 'The greatest strength is kindness,' and there's no one stronger, or kinder, than Porter."

Zach Valoppi, Spencer Smith, and Lane Gladden were all named second-team all-league.

Valoppi (senior) was one of the Outlaws attack players, and tallied 28 goals, and 14 assists during league play.

"Zach is like the Tao," said Rexford. "He's my little Buddha. He makes the most of every opportunity, and maximizes his efforts."

Smith (senior) played at goalie, and did an outstanding job in the cage.

"Every great team has got a great goalie," said Rexford. "What Spencer brought was a level-headedness and calmness to the team that made us all better."

Gladden (junior) rounded out the second-team picks, and played at middle.

"Lane takes a blue-collar approach to the game," said Rexford. "He does everything asked of him without hesitation."

Sophomore Gary Jacques (defense) earned honorable-mention recognition.

"I can't believe how good Gary was at the end of the season," said Rexford. "He was a totally different player. He's always been smart, but now I'll call him smart, and tough."

The team voted in next years' team captains: Mark Fish, Lane Gladden, and Casey Lane.