2024 WINTER WAR RECAP

SEE WHAT OUR ELITE COACHES HAD TO SEE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S ALTHLETES

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BOSTON (NARDELLA) TOURNAMENT SEED 1 FINISH 1

Alex had an awesome weekend recording the top percentage in his class during our 100 rep round. He is insanely fast, has extremely high faceoff IQ, savvy off the ground, and very competitive. Alex is going to be a weapon the circuit this summer.

Alex Dimnaku

3d New England 2027

Ray did an awesome job coming up clutch for Team Boston countless times in tournament play. Ray is quick, strong, physical, and really good off the ground. Ray is a very under the radar ‘25 with good grades and grit. We look forward to seeing Ray dominate this spring.

Ray Gilkes

Fighting Clams 2025

Kevin may be one of our most improved players in the entire New England region over the course of the last year. Physically he was the most dominant player at the event. As Kevin continues to progress, he will become even more of a problem for opponents. He seemingly bullied his way to a near perfect day in tournament play.

Kevin O’Connor

Nemansket Riverhawks 2024

Collin was one of our most versatile athletes winning in a variety of ways. His counter moves, rakes, ability to compete and win off the ground are all second to none. As he continues to develop and control the ball, Collin will be an absolute matchup nightmare.

Collin Fitzsimmons

Laxachusetts 2025

Henry was extremely poised throughout the weekend and showed really well and proved to be dominant against students his age. As he develops strength and consistency off the ground, watch out, because we don't see him losing very much at all.

Henry Zgrodnik

Laxachusetts 2027

Nate was probably the scrappiest guy on team Boston and also one of our most improved in the last 12 months. He has an endless motor and is the type of teammate you want to be around. His compete level is top notch, he mixes up his moves, he hustles, scratches, and claws to earn everything. Nate is going to be a special athlete.

Nate Cooper

Laxachusetts 2027

Tamer was lights out all weekend finishing atop the 2025 class individually and handling all of his tournament matchups. He was one of, if not the quickest athlete hand speed wise at the event. He wins cleanly so often and showed so awesome determination to win 50/50 battles on the ground. Tamer is another under the radar ‘25 that should find a home this summer. He is one to keep an eye on.

Tamer Khalil

Kings 2025

Michael continues to get better and better. He was another one that dominated the ‘26 class, was lights out in tournament play, and made huge contributions to team Boston. He is really smart, smooth, quick, and poised. Michael is a top going to be a top 2026 in this class and we are excited to see how he performs and shows this spring and summer.

Michael Calvo

Fighting Clams 2026

Jack really stepped up this weekend and showcased exactly what he can do on the field. He was quick, confident, mixed up his moves, won tough gbs, and stayed composed even in tight matchups. Jack is a little bit of late a bloomer but I think he is really coming into his own as an athlete. We look forward to seeing how Jack performs this season.

Jack Nozzolillo

NE Twisters 2025

Team Boston did not name an MVP but Sean may have been our top candidate. Sean went against the top guy on almost every other team and seemingly won every matchup. He was atop the 2026 class and even as a 26 was one of our strongest students at the entire event. He is the total package and will be a force this summer.

Sean Coogan

Laxachusetts 2026

WEST (MARINO) TOURNAMENT SEED 6 FINISH 5

The 2024 Colorado Mesa commit from Oregon put on a great showing this weekend in New York. Bennett has been a long time student to the Factory and his hard work towards the position has paid and continues to pay off every day. The strong, physical athlete gave his opponents a nightmare with his hand speed, counters, and ground ball match-ups. Players had a tough time getting into space as Bennett never gave up on his ground ball match-ups. Look for Bennett to finish his Senior campaign strong and get ready to make noise for Colorado Mesa next year!

Bennett Gibbons

Team Oregon, 2024 - MVP

The 2025 is your diamond in the rough. Great hand speed, physical, strong and athletic on and off the draw. Kolby comes from Seattle and made the last minute trip out to New York and definitely came to impress the coaching staff and let everyone know he can compete no matter the stage he is on. Kolby showcased all facets of the faceoff position and made sure to keep his opponents guessing on every rep. From clamps to counters and box out’s, players had a tough time reading Kolby.

Kolby Richardson

Seattle Starz, 2025

The Orange County native stepped up this weekend. Kevin has been putting in the work outside of weekly sessions to get him prepared for big events such as Winter War. Kevin is athletic and is great with the ball in his stick. Kevin did a really good job mixing things up this weekend and not being a one move all-star. Kevin showed great discipline on the whistle not timing up the whistles and staying calm every rep. The Sophomore continues to get better and better every week, you all need to mark his name down at any event in the future!

Kevin Ratzlaff

West Coast Starz, 2026

John recently started facing off and coming to the Orange County sessions during his season in 2023 and has really stepped it up since starting with us. This past weekend was a big test for John and he proved that he can hang with the top guys in the 2026 class. John continues to work on his craft and elevating his game to new levels whether that is hand speed, exits, and counter work. John is prepping for a massive Sophomore season and Summer, keep your eyes out for John.

John Walker

Saddleback Stags, 2026

The 2027 from Los Angeles stepped up big time. This weekend was Andrew’s first national faceoff event and as always, he showed up and brought the heat. Andrew is the athlete you all want on your team as he can do it all. Faceoff, pass and catch both hands, ground balls and has tremendous IQ after the draw. Andrew knew this was a big weekend for him to showcase but the nerves never got the best of him as he was composed the entire time and just went to work. Andrew preps for a massive Freshman campaign at Loyola HS in Los Angeles and has tough competition coming his way. This is only the beginning.

Andrew Goldman

Mad Dog National, 2027

MIDWEST (MAY) TOURNAMENT SEED 4 FINISH 6

Teddy is a grinder. He faces off with a chip on his shoulder and maintains a coachable attitude. Teddy showed great ability to counter and disrupt his opponents this weekend leading to loose balls. Teddy was versatile utilizing his clamp and varying his exits, but also able to use his rake effectively. Looking forward to a great spring from Teddy in Minnesota.

Teddy Leidig

2025, MN Chill

Jackson was a huge contributor to Team Midwest. Jackson does not shy away from going against upperclassmen and takes his live reps seriously. At the stripe, Jackson showed off a lightning quick clamp, which resulted in plenty of fast wins. He is also well-rounded showing off some effective rakes, counters, and ground ball pickups. Best of luck to Jackson this spring in Wisconsin.

Jackson Strzelczyk

2026, Rotten Apples

Maclaren is a really well-rounded draw man. He showcased plenty of strong clamps this weekend and did a fantastic job varying his exits. Maclaren is also skilled in tie ups, doing a great job of using his leverage to secure the ball. He also showed poise and experience, knowing when to counter and disrupt his opponent. Best of luck to Maclaren this spring in Ohio!

Maclaren Williamson

2026, SOUL Lax Academy

Malachai had a great showing at Winter War. Malachai was prepared to take on any opponent and demonstrated a strong first move all weekend. He also used his size to his advantage and shielded the ball from his opponent on most of his exits. Malachai had a great attitude and was a pleasure to have on Team Midwest. Lastly, he contributed some huge wins during the team tournament, earning him team MVP.

Malachai Binder

2025, True OH

Gio was a key member to have on Team Midwest. Gio has a quick, hard clamp and uses his length to get separation on his exits. He is also confident enough in his secondary moves to switch it up making him difficult for his opponents to counter. Lastly, he showed that he is skilled picking the ball off the turf and has a good stick showing how well-rounded of a player he is. Looking forward to a big spring from Gio in Illinois!

Giovanni Baggio

2026, True National

Isaiah is a two-time Winter War competitor whose game has improved significantly since last February. Isaiah’s teammates just love him due to his energy and attitude, but he can still flip the switch when it’s time to compete. Isaiah has quick hands and also showed confidence in tie-ups. Finally, Isaiah uses his length to get great separation on his exits. Looking forward to a big spring from Isaiah in Wisconsin.

Isaiah King

2025, Rotten Apples

Jackson had a great weekend at Winter War. Jackson has a great attitude, asked great questions, and didn’t shy away from any matchup. Jackson has great size paired with a strong clamp and also showed a great ability to counter and disrupt his opponent. Jackson also demonstrated some toughness in tie-up situations, battling to secure the ball versus his opponent.

Jackson Masson

2025, Topgun Midwest

Oliver showed improvement throughout the weekend, and we loved having him on Team Midwest. Oliver has a great attitude and is extremely coachable. He also displayed a solid secondary move, utilizing his rake effectively over the course of the weekend. What I like most about Oliver’s game is his ability to scrap for loose balls and disrupt exits. Best of luck to Oliver this spring in Missouri!

Oliver Matney

2025, Topgun Midwest

MID-ATLANTIC (DEREK) TOURNAMENT SEED 8 FINISH 8

Quick, the best word to describe Drew. His hand speed and recognition IQ are his greatest assets. It is very apparent that his recognition ability is second to none. This allows him to react according to how much of the ball he has off the whistle, although a majority of the time he has 100% before his opponent can even touch the ball. Drew’s positive attitude and hard work was helpful with keeping the team focused and in high spirits despite the results of the tournament. He is definitely a player that any program would be lucky to have.

Drew Romano

2027, Team Maryland

An athletic and fast handed faceoff player, Aiden utilizes his impressive clamp to his advantage. When rotating with opponents Aiden is very comfortable with a quick counter to make it a 50/50 ground ball situation. His athleticism prevails as he found success in these circumstances throughout the day.

Aidan Tsolis

2027, Fusion

Jacob is a tall strong faceoff athlete. He uses his size in ground ball situations to box out and gain positioning for a clean pick up. Off the whistle Jacob has a strong first move. This allows Jacob to not only find success with a clean pinch and pop, but with a scrap for a 50/50 ground ball as well.

Jacob Correia

2025, Shoreline Sharks

Team MVP from the weekend for his NO QUIT attitude. Ezekiel has ZERO issue with putting his body on the line to win a faceoff. His hand speed and clamp strength are fantastic but if he gets beat to the ball, he makes his opponent earn that ground ball. Throughout the tournament Ezekiel would make diving checks for the ball and catching unsuspecting opponents off guard. This worked in his favor multiple times resulting in a clutch win for him and the Mid-Atlantic squad.

Ezekiel Miller

2025, Go Big Lacrosse

The youngest of the Mid-Atlantic squad, Nate never backed down no matter what the matchup was. Majority of the time facing off against guys up to 3 years older than him. Nate found success in his counters and most of all learned from his peers. His spirits stayed high throughout the session and he always faced off with a smile on his face. Supporting his teammates and scrapping for ground balls made Nate more than enjoyable to coach and have as a part of the Mid-Atlantic squad.

Nate Handbury

2028, Madlax

TRI STATE (BARB) TOURNAMENT SEED 4 FINISH 3

Liam possesses quick hands and an efficient first move. When he gets on the whistle he is hard to beat. Although he was sick he still brought a great attitude and was willing to compete Liam is primed for a strong performance in the upcoming season

Liam Scott

2026, Predators

George showed very strongly throughout the weekend and was the MVP for team Tri-State. He did extremely well against 24s and 25s and dominated most of his 26 matchups. He is very quick, super skilled off the ground, and gets out against some of the best counter guys. George is going to be someone to definitely keep an eye out for early in the recruiting process for 26a.

George Mavlios

2026, Shore2Shore

Jake was another huge asset for Team Tri-state. He played with an edge all weekend seemed to frustrated a lot of opponents with tough exits and relentless counters. He battled the top guys on every team neck and neck and was a huge reason for his teams run to the podium. Hake does a good job controlling the ball when he wins and maybe an even better job at disrupting the opposition when he loses. Jake is a 2025 to look out for.

Jake Kelshaw

2025, True NJ

Working alongside Ronin is a pleasure; his exceptional skills on the field are matched only by his positive attitude and coachable demeanor. His unwavering dedication to self-improvement, coupled with his innate athleticism, renders him a tough competition for any matchup. Looking forward to seeing him compete this year for Trinity Pawling

Ronin Mitchell

2026, 2Way

Michael was one of tri states top guys all weekend long. He won over 70% of his draws in individual play and bested most of the other 26s in tournament matchups. He’s quick to the ball, tough, scrappy on the ground, has the ability to counter, and is definitely someone to look out for this spring

Michael Scurti

2026, Express North

Jake is a great athlete and showcased it this weekend battling against tough competition. He is able to turn face off losses into 50-50 battles and come out with tough wins. He was a great teammate and brought a positive mindset all day.

Jake Davis

2025, Eclipse Orange

SOUTH (ROWLETT) TOURNAMENT SEED 2, FINISH 2

Owen is a do it all kind of player. He has incredible reaction time which makes his opponents continuously guess what move he is about to throw which gives him a leg up throughout the entire day. Owen’s ability to clamp, counter, or rake is going to make him a huge problem come this spring season. Owen won two huge matchups in the championship that gave Team South a well-needed moral boost to continue fighting throughout the day.

Owen Mong

2026, Thunder Lacrosse

Noah Garcia was one of the most under rated face off men at the event. He was not a big name that people knew at the beginning but by consistently winning matchups with ease, his name was well known by the end amongst the players and staff His contribution to Team South was felt throughout all the campers at the event and his ability to exit through counters was some of the best I have seen at that age group.

Noah Garcia

2026, TNLX

The 8th grader battled all day and was one of the more fun teammates to be around as a coach. With incredible knowledge of the faceoff, he was able to help out our team with tips/tricks to win key matchups. Where Rowen played the biggest role was being able to battle regardless of the matchup. At an event with mostly high school players, Rowen held his own and used a variety of skill sets depending on his matchup which demonstrates his ability to read, adapt, and react.

Rowen Lyon

2028, FLC Regional

Isaac was one of the most sound fogos I have ever coached. Being a face off athlete, it is important to stay calm win or loss and Isaac did that to perfection. His calm presence allowed him to dominate most matchups with incredible tie-up strength and ground ball ability. He has the balance of a wrestler as he constantly used his opponents weight and balance to his own advantage - leading to many won ground balls.

Isaac Lyon

2026, 2Way Black

Donovan was one of the most positive and supportive teammates on Team South. He constantly was thrown into weird matchups and attacked them full speed. His willingness to take on any matchup made Donovan a problem to face off against. Although he was not the tallest FOGO at the event, he was able to match speed when going against quick players, and strength when it came to the bigger matchups which is a great skill to have.

Donovan Walker

2026, True Florida

Harrison Downs was one of the most dominant 9th graders at the event. Every time the whistle was blown, I would see Harrison with the ball already in his stick. His stick protection through his exits is what allowed him to stay so dominant. His ability to get in and out of the faceoff quickly is going to make him a transition beast come this spring.

Harrison Downs

2027, Birmingham Bandits

Gavin was awarded the MVP of Team South at the end of the camp. Gavin has an extremely competitive drive which often intimidates the opponents. With good size and incredible reaction time, Gavin is going to be a matchup problem for other FOGOs for years to come. What is so special about Gavin is that he recognizes when he can win a faceoff faster than the previous time which throws off opponents but also provides opportunity for transition.

Gavin Gaertner

2025, 3D Georgia

Dawson is definitely a player that you want on your roster. He is a swiss army knife of a player which makes him incredibly dangerous to play against. Throughout the day, he showed that he did not have one specific move that worked. All of his moves worked and his ability to react and adapt mid-faceoff gave Dawson a leg up on most of his opponents throughout the day.

Dawson Roper

2026, Kings ATL

NEW ENGLAND (NOAH) TOURNAMENT SEED 3, FINISH 4

AJ was atop the 2026 class and took on some of the toughest matchups in tournament play. He has continued to show extremely well on the national scale and will be one of most coveted kids in the 26 class. AJ is the total package. Hes smooth, poised, has elite speed, exits at a high clip, is tough off the ground, and has a good stick. AJ continues to outwork his competition and it has shown in his results.

AJ Yeung

NH Tomahawks 2026

Finley stepped up huge for team NE at the Winter War and contiunues to progress at an isane rate. He has been extremely consistent with his training and even as a 27, Finley battled with some of the top kids at this event. Finley has really rounded out his game to become a complete FO guy and we saw him win in a ton of different ways. He was strong and efficient when clamping, tough and reliant when conterting, and brought great energy and effort all weekend.

Finley McClintock

Boston Freight Train 2027

Mark is another one who really stepped up and showed extremely well at the Winter War. Mark is very consistent with his weekly training and we definitely saw a jump in his performance and confidence. As a 2027 he showed well against a ton of older competition and really battled well against some tough matchups. Mark is another one of our most improved students.

Mark St Jean

HGR 2027

Will has really elevated his game in the past year and you can just tell he is more confident out there and it has translated to some exceptional faceoff play. He was dominant all weekend and showcased that he can win in a ton of different ways. He is very tough and resilient off the ground, he continues to work very hard and stay consistent with his training, and seems to improved his hand speed. He is an under the radar 2026 to definitely keep an eye on.

William McIlroy

4 Leaf Lacrosse 2026

Ayoub was one of the scrappiest guys on Team NE and we love his determination on every ground ball. He takes every faceoff like its his last, has a ton of fun while hes out there, and just loves to compete. He brings enthusiasm and energy to every opportunity. He showed that he can win with speed, different moves, and counters. Ayoub is an uncommitted 2025 that should be getting serious looks this Spring and Summer.

Ayoub Kahsay

Penguins 2025

Ozzie is one of our late bloomers in the 25 class and has really made a ton of progress in the past 6 months. He loves the game, works hard, is a true student of his craft, and just an all around awesome kid. He also showed that he can win in a ton of different ways and will be another uncommitted 2025 that should start to get some love soon. Ozzie is a worker and the sky is the limit.

Ozzie Rosenholm

NH Tomahawks 2025

John was one of the most coachable guys on Team NE and immediately implemented some suggests to find immediate success. John worked hard and battled all weekend. He brought great energy and enthusiasm to Team NE, showcased clean wins, and was effective with his counters.

John Gay

Buzzards 2025

Oliver held up extremely strong as a 27 against a lot of older competition in tournament play. He did a great job of matching speed on numerous occasion, showcased success with a few different moves and was a tough out for all his competitors

Oliver Jackson

RI Bulldogs 2027

Griffin was one of our youngest students at the event and often was matched up against older guys. He embraced every challenge with a smile on his face and made a ton of progress in just two days. We were extremely proud of his effort and his coachability. He is going to be a problem in the 28 class.

Griffin Carlson

RI Bulldogs 2028

The UMBC commit was probably our top 2025 at the event and gave most of the 2024s a lot of trouble. Paulo is another long time student who is a very complete faceoff athlete. He handles the ball, counters very effectively, converts almost all of his clamps to wins, is tough off the ground and a true throwback hard-nosed worker on the field. Paulo is someone you definitely want on your squad.

Paulo Vazquez

NH Tomahawks 2025

UPSTATE (TD/ CONNOR) TOURNAMENT SEED 7, FINISH 7

JJ faces off with relentless competitiveness and a keen ability to learn. His hunger to win pushes him to quickly adjust to his opponents' tactics, adapting his strategies to as he goes. Page's dedication to mastering the art ensures he enters each match up ready to battle.

Jeffery Page

2024, Albany Power

Hailing from Hamburg, Dylan's prowess in rotations sets him apart. His exceptional strength adds another layer. This ability makes him difficult to counter and he is able to exit with ease. Jagow's tactical awareness and physical dominance earned him the title of team MVP.

Dylan Jagow

2025, Harvest

Colin Miller's exceptional clamp technique makes him a force in the faceoff circle, consistently gaining possession. As the event progressed, He showcased his versatility by employing a wide array of exits. He is a great teammate and leader. He was always helping his teammates. This allowed the Upstate team to get better as the tournament went on.

Colin Miller

2026, Predators

Andrew Altieri's standout qualities include coachability and unwavering work ethic. He was very receptive to feedback and was dedicated to improvement. Similar to the Upstate team as a whole his faceoffs improved throughout the tournament. His relentless commitment sets a high standard, earning respect both on and off the field.

Andrew Altieri

2025, Albany Power

Jerrick Decker's fast hands give him a distinct advantage going into any match up. This Allowed him to swiftly gain possession pulling the ball far away from his opponent. Decker's combination of speed and precision makes him a game-changer.

Jerrick Decker

2027, Upstate Salt Kings

Andrew Mainville, the Fulton native, embodies grit and toughness. These strengths make him tough in ground ball battles. Scrappy play and relentless pursuit of loose balls, he consistently outworks opponents to secure possession. His tenacity sets the tone and he will continue to refine his technique.

Andrew Mainville

2024, True Upstate

Dominick Cosenza showcased one of the best sweeps in the event. He does a great job pairing this with counters to allow him to gain possession. His ability to consistently defeat top-tier competitors at the event shows he is ready for any level of competition.

Dominick Cosenza

2024, Monroe Woodbury