YOUTH
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MAY 26, 2021
Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com
23
For more Youth News visit thefoothillsfocus.com @TheFoothills.Focus
/TheFoothillsFocus
Three BC Lacrosse players commit to colleges BY ALEX GALLAGHER Foothills Focus Staff Writer
F
resh off their state championship win, three lacrosse players from Boulder Creek High School — Thomas Cook, Danny Carolan and Max Armitage — signed letters of intent to further their academic and athletic careers on May 18. “I’m just incredibly proud,” said Nick Hillier, Boulder Creek’s lacrosse coach. “These guys have put in the work, and they deserve every bit of it. These three were a huge part of growing this program and the fact that they got it done is something I’ll never forget.”
In a 13-12 overtime win against topranked Brophy College Prep, one of the Jaguars did not immediately realize what he accomplished. “It actually took me three days to comprehend what happened,” said midfielder Carolan. “Losing to that team 15-3 in March, it was demoralizing and to be able to beat them in overtime and assist YOUTH on my best friend’s goal to win it was the best feeling in the world.” The trio had been dreaming of a state championship since their freshman year. “Since I was in youth (lacrosse), you look up to the high schoolers and to be the first ones to win a championship here is awesome,” attacker Armitage
said. The athlete/coach relationship goes beyond high school. Hillier coached Armitage and goalie Cook in middle school. “My friends and I, we played in the summer, and we played fall ball and we all traveled together,” said Cook, who will study biochemistry and play lacrosse at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. “We also grew with each other and learned our strong suits. That’s what led to the big win in the state championship.” Others took a break from the sport but picked up where they left off to be successful on the field. “I played lacrosse from third grade to
seventh grade and all my friends play lacrosse,” said Carolan, who didn’t suit up for the Jaguars until his sophomore year. “I really missed it and it’s my best sport. I don’t know why I quit playing in the first place.” During the last four years, Hillier has witnessed his players’ growth. “One of the things about Thomas that’s been so impressive is his effort,” Hillier said. “The number of times I’ve had to tell him to get out of shooting drills because he was taking too many shots and I didn’t want him to get hurt was more than any coach wants to do.”
see LACROSSE page 24
CONSIDERING A MOVE? Speak with a Local Mortgage Advisor
Chris A. Gonzalez
Your Neighborhood Loan Consultant
Loan Consultant | NMLS #669924
(602) 612-7964 office | (480) 442-4494 cell
cagonzalez@loanDepot.com | www.loanDepot.com/cagonzalez
7878 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020 | loanDepot.com, LLC NMLS ID 174457. Licensed by the AZ Department of Financial Institutions, Mortgage Banker 0911092. (042621 485956)