Division II (Preseason #1: Coppell)

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE LEAGUE DIVISION II

The Team to Beat: Coppell

With most of its players back from the 2008 team that lost in the THSLL Division II semifinals to Cy-Fair, Coppell should be strong again. Coppell lost just four key players from last season’s squad and is “really strong in the sophomore ranks,” according to head coach Gary Dennington.

“Our goal is to move up to Division I next year,” Dennington said. “And with our depth, I think we’ll be able to.”

Contenders: Plano West, Highland Park II

Plano West Coach Rashad Devoe called the 2009 season “The Perfect Storm,” because his team has moved down from Division I and it has plenty of seniors. Senior goalie Jonathon O’Reilly, an All-District selection last season, will head up a tough defense along with junior Garrett Westhoff, who Devoe said is getting “some (NCAA) DI looks.”

Highland Park II will consist almost entirely of sophomores, as seniors are not allowed on the team, and many of the players from last year’s Division II state-title team will play for Highland Park’s Division I team. But coach Ross Thomson still should have plenty of talent, and look for Highland Park II to make another run at the state crown.

Sleeper: Hillcrest

Coach Bill Elliott “lost a lot of guys” from his 2008 squad. But Hillcrest still should be competitive, led by senior middie Andy Cabellero, a face-off specialist who wins approximately 75 percent of the draws he takes. “He’s very solid mechanically,” Elliott said.

Top Players: Trevor Atkins, Att., Hillcrest; Brett Atkinson, Att., St. Anthony’s Catholic; Kirby Ayres, G, Hillcrest; Nick Barber, Def., Greenhill; David Berry, Def., Memorial; Zachary Bigger, Def., Vista Ridge (Trine); Andy Cabellero, MF, Hillcrest; Hunter Cofoid, Att., Texas Military Institute; Trent Dennington, Att., Coppell; Jacob Deshaies, Att., McKinney; Matt First, MF, Stratford-Westchester; Zach Fry, Att., Taylor; Ryan Gamboa, MF, Central Catholic; Carlos Gamez, MF, Roosevelt; Monty Gumble, MF, McKinney; Nate Hruby, MF, Coppell; Brian Ishmael, MF, Allen; Jon Kirk, MF, Friendswood; Greg Kremen, MF-Def., Cinco Ranch; Tyler Landis, MF, Coppell; Kelly Law, MF, Reagan; Robert McCarthy, Def., Plano East; Spencer Montgomery, Def., Allen; Blake Morell, Def., Hillcrest; Will Musselman, MF, Greenhill; Jonathon O’Reilly, G, Plano West (St. Anselm); Evan Pixley, Def., Plano West; Payton Porter, Def., Coppell; Bret Simpson, Def., Stratford-Westchester; Ben Smith, MF, Allen; John Solowiej, Att., Greenhill; Alex Stern, Att., Greenhill; Chris Stockinger, Def., Klein; Matt Stockinger, Def., Klein; Carson Sublett, Att.-MF, Cinco Ranch; Peter Travis, Att., Coppell; Andy Uhl, Att., McCallum; John Uhl, MF, McCallum; Garrett Westhoff, Def., Plano West; Junji Wiener, MF, Memorial (Chestnut Hill).

Preseason Top 10: 1. Coppell, 2. Plano West, 3. Highland Park II, 4. Allen, 5. Houston Memorial, 6. Plano East, 7. Hillcrest, 8. McCallum, 9. Cy-Fair, 10. Stratford-Westchester.

Notes: Division II’s North District no longer will be divided into East and West Conferences, because four teams from Louisiana (Captain Shreve, C.E. Byrd, Caddo Magnet and Loyola) now will compete in their own state….Division II has added a fourth district – San Antonio….Highland Park II Coach Ross Thomson is the younger brother of Highland Park Coach Derek Thomson. Both played at Duke – Derek graduated in 1993, and Ross graduated in 1996.…Highland Park has fielded a Division II team two seasons. The Fighting Scots won the 2008 title and lost in the championship game in 2007.…Plano East Coach Michael Finley said his team has 17 seniors, “but I would say 80 percent of that group has less than a year’s worth of lacrosse experience. So there’s a lot of teaching going on.”…Nathan Torok has taken over at St. Anthony’s Catholic, where he played in 2002 and 2003. Torok will be assisted by his father, Mark, who was the program’s first coach….Stratford-Westchester will be going through what Coach Matt Carr called “a major rebuilding year.” Carr lost several key players to graduation.