As the defending Division 2 champion,
Detroit Country Day's boys lacrosse squad entered this pre-season as the state's
top-ranked team.
The Yellow Jackets now enter the state tournament as the top-seeded regional team.
However, second-year head coach Byron Collins is not focused on rankings. He realizes the team ultimately must perform on the field, and that's the message he's given as the 2012 state playoffs kick into high gear.Buying a coats outlet from seller in another country.
"Defending to me means that you placed your focus on last year," says Collins, a former Division III college coach. "No one has been crowned state champs for this season. We, like all teams, will have to go out and earn every victory we can.
"No one will feel sorry for us, and neither do we," he says. "We are looking forward to the state tournament but we will approach each day as a day to get better as a program."
Streaky season
Country Day has struggled through a streaky season, mainly due to injuries.
The Yellow Jackets won their first five games, then lost three in a row, won two, lost two and won three. Their only in-state loss was to defending Division 1 state champion Brother Rice, and they are 10-5 on the season after 15 games.
Collins is somewhat amazed at his team's success considering all the injuries his team has suffered.
At times this season, DCD played without returning All-Americans Ahmed Iftikhar and Harrison Rosenfeld. Senior midfielder and captain Rob Prior, senior face-off artist and midfield defender Mike Vander Lugt, senior midfielder Jacob Scott, senior defender Nick Berman, face-off specialist Nick Martin and All-State defenseman Sam Resk are others who missed time due to injury.
"I'm not sure most people understand what this program has gone through this year," said Collins. "We have endured more injuries this year than any team I have ever coached.
"We started out the season as a senior laden team. But we have been playing without some of our best players for almost a month and some longer. Because of all these injures we have become a young team who had learn quickly as our expectations remain the same against our brutal schedule.Every people wants to buy Cheap Arc'Teryx Outlet Sale but with best quality.
"The remaining seniors had to raise their level of play while bringing along the young guys. We hit some bumps in the road but they have found the hard work ethic we have been looking for.
"So right now, I think we are over achieving and that is all that a coach can ask for," he said. "And that's a tribute to the remaining seniors and each of the players on our team."
Big Midwest win
Country Day gained a great deal of confidence heading into the state tournament by winning the Midwest "B" Bracket championship last weekend. The Yellow Jackets scored a pair of exciting victories over Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) and Western Reserve Academy (Ohio).
Many of those injured players participated in that tournament and are well-rested heading into states.
"We have had our ups and downs this season and that is all learning the process," said Collins. "For us, we have always focused on peaking at the end of the season. We are starting to head in that direction but we still have work to do."
Country Day begins state tournament play Friday on its home field, playing the University Liggett/Grosse Pointe North pre-regional winner.
The Yellow Jackets won five straight games en route to last year's crown, outscoring their foes, 46-15. They opened with a 12-goal win over East Lansing, then posted wins by eight goals or less to win their first state title since the 2005 season.
Collins believes all the game experience his team has gained this spring because of the injuries has added great depth to the squad.
"I think the keys (to winning) are the same for any program trying to win the states," he says. "You need a little luck here and there, a hot goalie and a team who is focused on just that — a team.
"We believe through our hard work we can create our own luck. We have the best goalie in the state, maybe one of the best in country, who is a game changer. And the players have really started to buy into the next man up, due to our injures, and do it for the greater good of the team.
"I believe we have the keys but that doesn't guarantee anything in a tournament where it's win and advance or lose and go home," he said
The Yellow Jackets now enter the state tournament as the top-seeded regional team.
However, second-year head coach Byron Collins is not focused on rankings. He realizes the team ultimately must perform on the field, and that's the message he's given as the 2012 state playoffs kick into high gear.Buying a coats outlet from seller in another country.
"Defending to me means that you placed your focus on last year," says Collins, a former Division III college coach. "No one has been crowned state champs for this season. We, like all teams, will have to go out and earn every victory we can.
"No one will feel sorry for us, and neither do we," he says. "We are looking forward to the state tournament but we will approach each day as a day to get better as a program."
Streaky season
Country Day has struggled through a streaky season, mainly due to injuries.
The Yellow Jackets won their first five games, then lost three in a row, won two, lost two and won three. Their only in-state loss was to defending Division 1 state champion Brother Rice, and they are 10-5 on the season after 15 games.
Collins is somewhat amazed at his team's success considering all the injuries his team has suffered.
At times this season, DCD played without returning All-Americans Ahmed Iftikhar and Harrison Rosenfeld. Senior midfielder and captain Rob Prior, senior face-off artist and midfield defender Mike Vander Lugt, senior midfielder Jacob Scott, senior defender Nick Berman, face-off specialist Nick Martin and All-State defenseman Sam Resk are others who missed time due to injury.
"I'm not sure most people understand what this program has gone through this year," said Collins. "We have endured more injuries this year than any team I have ever coached.
"We started out the season as a senior laden team. But we have been playing without some of our best players for almost a month and some longer. Because of all these injures we have become a young team who had learn quickly as our expectations remain the same against our brutal schedule.Every people wants to buy Cheap Arc'Teryx Outlet Sale but with best quality.
"The remaining seniors had to raise their level of play while bringing along the young guys. We hit some bumps in the road but they have found the hard work ethic we have been looking for.
"So right now, I think we are over achieving and that is all that a coach can ask for," he said. "And that's a tribute to the remaining seniors and each of the players on our team."
Big Midwest win
Country Day gained a great deal of confidence heading into the state tournament by winning the Midwest "B" Bracket championship last weekend. The Yellow Jackets scored a pair of exciting victories over Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) and Western Reserve Academy (Ohio).
Many of those injured players participated in that tournament and are well-rested heading into states.
"We have had our ups and downs this season and that is all learning the process," said Collins. "For us, we have always focused on peaking at the end of the season. We are starting to head in that direction but we still have work to do."
Country Day begins state tournament play Friday on its home field, playing the University Liggett/Grosse Pointe North pre-regional winner.
The Yellow Jackets won five straight games en route to last year's crown, outscoring their foes, 46-15. They opened with a 12-goal win over East Lansing, then posted wins by eight goals or less to win their first state title since the 2005 season.
Collins believes all the game experience his team has gained this spring because of the injuries has added great depth to the squad.
"I think the keys (to winning) are the same for any program trying to win the states," he says. "You need a little luck here and there, a hot goalie and a team who is focused on just that — a team.
"We believe through our hard work we can create our own luck. We have the best goalie in the state, maybe one of the best in country, who is a game changer. And the players have really started to buy into the next man up, due to our injures, and do it for the greater good of the team.
"I believe we have the keys but that doesn't guarantee anything in a tournament where it's win and advance or lose and go home," he said
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