By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/28/15
State College 2017 face-off specialist Kyle Engle says that being a wrestler and football player has helped him pick up the sport of lacrosse quickly – especially from the X.
State College (PA) 2017 FOGO Kyle Engle
“I am going into my second year as a lacrosse player,” said Engle. “Being at the face-off position, wrestling helps so much with the spinning movement and hand strength and football helps with defense and footwork.”
Engle was of 60 players from five states competed today in the 2015 Winter Showcase at Maple Zone Sports Institute.
The event featured skill testing in five areas, a recruiting seminar, positional skill clinics and games.
Skill testing was performed by Maple Zone’s Sports Performance staff in broad jump, medicine ball toss, 40 yard dash 300 yard shuttle and 5x5x10. Results will be posted by tomorrow.
Engle, who looks like a linebacker and is bigger and stronger than most at the face-off X, was happy to get both experience and exposure in front of a group of Division III coaches.
“I absolutely love the sport of lacrosse; it is my favorite out of the three that I have played,” said Engle, who plays club for the Center Warriors. “My goal is to play college lacrosse, at the D3 or club level, it doesn’t matter to me just as long as I get to play the game I really like.
“I’d like to get faster and tone out a little.
What did he take from the event?
“Recruitment, that’s what I will take home,” said Engle. “I worked on so many different moves (with Mark Gurenlian) and I scored my first goal in my career. That was fun. I believe I did very well and I tried different moves that I had never tried before and that worked out well.
“This helps 100 percent. It puts me in the mindset; I am raring and ready to go for the season.”
Garnet Valley (PA) 2017 MF Michael Donovan
Others that stood out:
Michael Donovan, 2017 MF, Garnet Valley, Team Man Up
What were your goals?
Donovan: “I saw a lot of opportunities to get noticed. My goal is to play at a college level so I can keep on playing the sport I love to play.”
How did the testing go?
Donovan: “I actually did pretty well. There are areas I need to work on; I have to sprint at a faster pace and keep my legs moving. I need more strength and I need to work on my upper body. I like to know where I stand next to other and this is a chance to work on these and do better next time.”
What went well today?
Donovan: “I think I excelled most in the scrimmages. They gave me the chance to show who I was. I got to communicate with the team and get the ball moving and also getting a chance to score and dodge.”
What did you learn that will help you moving forward?
Donovan: “I learned I need to move off ball. My Dad has been telling me get open and try and score.”
Lyme (CT) 2017 DEF Hayden Hendrik
Hayden Hendrik, 2017 DEF, Lyme, CT, Shoreline Lacrosse
What goals did you have?
Hendrik: “I competed in the Philly Showcase and I felt this was another chance to have colleges look at me. The goal was really to have fun and play my best with kids from all over that I normally don’t play against.”
How did the testing go?
Hendrik: “The testing went pretty well. It was great to work on throwing the medicine ball.”
What went well today?
Hendrik: “I scored a goal and that was one of my goals coming in. It was probably the highlight of the day. We had a bunch of good drills. I feel it was a really great experience.”
What did you learn that will help you moving forward?
Hendrik: “I learned how to break down your defense and what the best way to slide is coming off the crease when the attack is coming down the alley.”
Jake Kidd, 2019 DEF, Honeoye Falls Lima, N.Y., FCA
Honeoye Falls Lima (NY) 2019 DEF Jake Kidd
What was your major goal?
Kidd: “I was visiting family so it sounded pretty fun. With college coaches here I come to get my face shown.”
How did the testing go?
Kidd: “I need to work on the sprints. They show you what you need to work on. It was the first time I did this type of testing. I need to do different exercises and to work on sprints and fitness to get my speed up.”
What did you learn that will help you moving forward?
Kidd: “The thrust; throwing the medicine ball, I need to work on my strength. It was a great experience playing against older kids.”