After a grueling preparation and tryout process, three young area lacrosse players will soon be on their way to a weekend in Raleigh, N.C., for the 2012 U.S. Lacrosse Southeast Regional Championship.
Blake Hansen, 12, will be playing on the U13 (players under 13 years old), while Tyver Butler and Taylor Rosales, both 14 ,will be part of the U15 bracket (players under 15 years old).
The boys are all students at Indian Mills Memorial School in Shamong.
“They were nominated by their coaching staff to go and try out up in Princeton,” parent Joseph Rosales said. There were two days of intense tryouts involved at that time.
Hundreds of “elite” lacrosse players competed for the spots, he said. From that number, 22 players were selected for each bracket for the N.J. South All Stars team.
“These guys made the cut,” Rosales said. “You’re looking at three of the top kids around.”
The tournament will be held the weekend of June 15 to 17.
“It’s a very intense tournament,” he said.
There will be 32 teams competing in the regional tournament with the top four advancing to the national championship in Orlando, in July.
Tyver and Taylor regularly play on Seneca’s youth lacrosse team and Blake plays on South Jersey Boys Lacrosse Black Storm in Medford.
They each play different positions — middie, attack and defender.
The boys explained the strengths needed to play lacrosse. Practicing is a necessity, they said, as are quick hands and quick feet. Stamina and speed are basic with “the balls flying” with speeds of 80 mph, added Rosales.
Overall, it’s a very physical, active sport that combines many other team sports, he said.
“It’s the fastest-growing participant (team) sport in the country,” he said. “Kids get tired of playing baseball. Lacrosse is very active. They’re running all the time.”
This is the 15th annual series of events for youth.
That concept of using the stick to make goals is what has a large part in making the sport fun and different for the kids, Rosales said.
Meanwhile, health and safety tips are utilized and are detailed on the national website.
An invitation to a regional competition like this is rare, Rosales explained.
“This is a once in a lifetime trip,” he said. “It’s a big deal. You get invited and you go try out and you make it or you don’t.”
Tyver and Taylor are missing their eighth-grade graduation to attend, he said.
“There was a big discussion amongst our families because it’s the same night as graduation,” he said.
The parents had to make the decision to miss the ceremony, but they had support throughout the middle school, including the principal, he said.
There is no school funding involved in the trip. It is completely funded by private, family contributions, Rosales said.
Last year’s champions hailed from Georgia. This year, the players from New Jersey hope to change that.
The team has a few more practices in Central Jersey prior to heading down to North Carolina.
“It’s a very great opportunity for these three kids who are playing at the elite level,” he said. “It’s very elite.”
