A8
Northeast Suburban Life
Sports & recreation
April 20, 2011
Moeller lacrosse on the attack By Scott Springer
sspringer@communitypress.com
At Moeller High School, the athletic program is nationally known for its achievements. Football, basketball, wrestling, hockey and baseball have all had tremendous success. With that success comes the high expectations of upholding tradition. Not just in the socalled “core” sports, but in all athletic endeavors. Lacrosse is no different off of Montgomery Road. Moeller had a team long before anyone did locally. “We are the most established program in Southwest Ohio,” coach Nathan
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Reed said. “This is our 24th season. We’ve won two Division I state championships (1992-93), a Midwest championship and produced hundreds of allstate players as well as countless numbers of collegiate players.” The Moeller grad (Class of 1998) now is in his third year leading the Crusaders and is looking for his first winning season. This year’s team has eight seniors whom he hopes to send out on a winning note. “The biggest challenge we have is that we have so many successful athletes that, as they get older, they tend to specialize and focus in just one sport,” Reed said. “We also offer a wider variety of sports than most schools so there is some competition for athletes.” The good news is, the future is bright for the sport.
Rarely does a player come out now who hasn’t had contact with a stick. “Ninety-five percent of my freshman class are experienced players,” Reed said. “When I played, everyone’s first time playing lacrosse was their freshman year in high school.” Reed also challenges his squad with a demanding schedule. The bulk of the teams have winning records and/or are established programs. “We pride ourselves on our schedule,” Reed said. “There is no one team in Ohio that plays a schedule any harder than the one we play. We play some Columbus teams and this year we play some Michigan teams.” Senior captains for the Crusaders are goalie Hayden Miller, midfielder James Rogan, defender Justin
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MARK CHALIFOUX/CONTRIBUTOR
Moeller’s No 31, senior James Rogan passes against Indian Hill in a game last season. Rogan is a midfielder for the Crusaders and one of eight seniors on coach Nate Reed’s squad.
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Moeller senior midfielder Tyler Mikolajewski is one of the Crusaders’ senior captains.
Moeller senior defenseman Justin Liggett is one of the Crusader captains for third-year coach Nate Reed.
Liggett and midfielders Michael Lynch and Tyler Mikolajewski. Reed’s top attacker is junior Jacob Fuller. “He’s a three-year starter,” Reed said. “He’s started from the day he walked into the school.” On defense, Moeller is led by the “man in back.” “Our No. 1 defensive player is our goalie, Hayden Miller,” Reed said. “He’s going to continue his career at Bellarmine. Goalies are a little different than anyone else. We’re very fortunate that we’ve had Hayden here for three years.” If people think lacrosse is a sport where sticks are handed out, balls are rolled out and it’s a free-for-all, they are sadly mistaken. A video peak of Moeller practice (see below courtesy ESPvideos 2010) would prove otherwise.
“We approach each practice much like football or basketball,” Reed said. “Every minute of our practice is planned out. We try to work in 15-minute segments throughout our two hours. Every coach knows what we’re doing when we walk up onto the practice field.” The Crusaders play some of their home games behind the school. The night games are at Lockland Stadium. The team prefers the school site. “I think they like playing around the school,” Reed said. “It attracts more of our student body. When the kids come out of their practices, our kids look up and see the baseball team, or the rugby team. We have a little more sense of comfort here.” Naturally, Moeller’s biggest rival is Saint Xavier.
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Moeller senior goalie Hayden Miller is one of coach Nate Reed’s captains and will continue his career in college at Bellarmine. However, Reed points out Mason might have the best squad in southwest Ohio with their growth in the sport. Moeller visits the Comets May 20.
Sam is 54 years old. His youngest
Turning two
daughter just went
St. Xavier High School senior Chad Sudbrack of Sycamore Township turns a double play against Moeller’s Kevin Brinkman during a home game April 14. The Bombers won 6-3 and snapped a sevengame losing streak against Moeller. Sudbrack is among the top two in the Greater Catholic League South division in average, home runs and RBI.
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