Scouting boys lacrosse: Cook, Lake and northern Fox Valley

Barrington

Head coach: Chris Bluse

Outlook: A heavy senior class that has been playing together for a number of years is ready to help a Barrington squad take the next step. After losing in the second round of the playoffs to Lyons Township last season, the Broncos will need guys like Charlie Stapleton and Scotty Forster to step up on attack. But according to Bluse, the focus will be on the defense and with players like Austin Rich, Nick Parker, Nick Feeny and Oliver Pringle, the team should be well off. “We are definitely positioned to take the next step, but it will depend on how we finish and get seeded,” Bluse said.

Conant

Coach: Bob Grisanzio

Outlook: Despite a down season in 2011 in which Conant finished 2-17, the outlook is still bright for this season. And even though the Cougars have opened this season 1-4, Grisanzio hopes better days are ahead. Getting Jake Pritcher and Robert Parisi back on the attack should help a team struggling to score and maintain possession. Grisanzio is counting on the defense with the likes of Josh Rhodes, Kyle Kilty and converted goalie Gavin Hultgren. “There’s only so much you can do defensively if you are always playing in your own end,” Grisanzio said.

Fremd

Coach: Tony Medina

Outlook: The Vikings have been looking forward to 2012 for some time as 6 three-year starters and a senior-dominated team look to improve upon a 4-win campaign in 2010 and a 9-11 record last season. Fremd will look to keep things up-tempo and run through their midfielders. “This is the year that we’ve been looking for to make some noise,” Medina said. “The kids have grown up a little bit and we have a lot of experienced.” Medina anticipates Nate Serviss, Jon Bryk and Sean Montgomery, among others, to lead control the middle while Colin Raley and company will need to have plenty off the ball cuts and feed off the midfielders. Zach Deutshmann anchors the defense.

Grayslake Central

Coach: Chris Ridella

Outlook: A strong group of seniors is ready to take Grayslake Central to the next level. Captains Jake Paust (midfield), Brian Clancy (attack) and Colton Brunk (midfield) captain a squad that is already 3-1 this season. According to Ridella, the key for the Rams will be focusing on a smart, disciplined brand of lacrosse and value possessions on offense. “We want to be aggressive when it makes sense, but we need to make sure that we are also playing more of a deliberate, ball-control style,” Ridella said. Goalkeeper Thomas Halloran will rely on defenders like Sean Halloran, Steve Moioffer and Nick Traske.

Grayslake North

Coach: Brad Fish

Outlook: Last year, Grayslake North finished second in the state after losing to Waubonsee Valley. But with 24 of 30 players returning, including the state’s leading goal scorer and second-team all-stater A.J. Fish, expectations are even higher. Fish will also look to all-conference selection Matt Schlagetter, Joey Amsler and Jack Mattea to push the tempo on offense. “We have a really good offense and will look for unsettled situations and fast breaks,” Fish said. Brendan Walker, David Collins and Josh Cokefair lead a crew of midfielders. The Knights will rely heavily on goalkeeper Eric York, along with Ben Smith and Shane Pech among others, to anchor a control-type defense. The team is already 3-1 after a trip to California to start the season.

Lake Zurich

Coach: Kyle Dresser

Outlook: A 9-0 start to 2012 isn’t fooling Dresser. Because after a semifinal loss in the state playoffs to Grayslake North last season, Dresser doesn’t want the Bears, 12-6 in 2011, to be satisfied with a relatively soft early schedule. But numbers don’t lie: in nine games, Lake Zurich has allowed only eight goals. Led by Grant Soucy and Evan Williams, the defense will back up goalkeeper Nick Olney and be the team’s backbone. A strong attack unit will go a long ways, as well. The ambidextrous Justin Dweil is tough to defend while Tyler Cohn and Shawn Newman, who is great in the crease because of his height, will play midfielder. “We are very disciplined on offense and do a good job working for the right shot, which is not always the first shot,” Dresser said. Andy Bundra could be an x-factor having won 70 percent of faceoffs this season.

Libertyville

Coach: Brady Sullivan

Outlook: Though 22 players return from a team that lost in the second round of the playoffs to Lake Forest in 2011, Libertyville is still relatively young with only six seniors. One of them, Zach Friedman, will captain the squad while A.J. Schmidt is in his third year on the varsity and is getting recruited pretty heavily. Connor Loucks and Nick Ward return to fuel the Wildcats’ attack while a strong defense features Clay Cusek, J.P. Pistella and Drew Krinitsky. Sullivan is encouraged by his team early on as they led Trinity, one of the top teams in Kentucky, 5-2 at the half and only lost 8-6. “It’s encouraging,” Sullivan said. “We’re the only team to keep them in single digits. We expect to improve.”

Palatine

Coach: Heath McFaul

Outlook: Palatine looks to rebound from a 2011 season that ended in a downward spiral, losing their last three games and a first-round loss to Glenbrook South. Bad finish aside, the Pirates won the conference outright last season and a senior-laden team has high expectations. “They’re been together for a long time and that chemistry has shown on the field,” McFaul said. Ryan Sullivan, an all-conference selection last season, will lead the defense and Dan DiMeo, Tom Hauert and John Millin will play midfield. Austin Marrison, Jack Reynolds and Joey DeSario will be on attack and hope to limit turnovers and win with ball control.

St. Viator

Coach: Bill Sanford

Outlook: A team that won plenty of games last season and has already started 5-0 this season is searching for more than just victories after losing in the state semifinals in 2011. “We’re trying to find some consistency from the guys that aren’t our top scorers,” Sanford said. “Once we get to that point, will have a little bit more confidence going into all of the big games at end of our schedule.” Andy Norris, Sam Mesi and goalkeeper Ed Haubenreiser lead the defense. Danny O’Malley and Peter Trunk can do a lot besides score but in tough matchups, Sanford expects his junior-duo to attack. Jeremy Linzing will contribute at midfield for a squad more about quality play than records and statistics.

Schaumburg

Coach: Joe Carey

Outlook: A team that only won three games in 2011 has nearly reached that mark already this season with a 2-1 start. “The guys are hoping to change the tide of our program,” Carey said. With numerous players joining fall and winter leagues for the first time to compete all-year round, there is plenty of optimism for the Saxons. A group of seniors in Zach Beck, Michael Petrey, Sam Korbel and Blake Keenan will look to complete the turnaround they have helped fostered.

Stevenson

Coach: Brian Larsen

Outlook: A young Patriots squad has dropped early season matches to Lake Forest and St. Viator and is prepared to take their licks early. But after an 11-10 record and second round playoff exit in 2011, Larsen knows this is a process. Holy Cross bound Brendan Sheehan will be relied upon not only on the attack but on defense as well. Sophomore Conor Okim is one of several youngsters that is young but capable. “We’re focused on improving,” Larsen said. “We’re young. They’re not rookies anymore, and the nerves should be gone.”

Vernon Hills

Coach: Brian Miller

Outlook: A blossoming program at Vernon Hills is ready for some significant improvements. Two years ago, the Cougars had only 25 kids in the program but this year, 70 kids are spread across three different levels. Zack Berman will look to set up his teammates along with Tyler Amidei for a team that has already beaten Maine South. Cody Christie solidifies a solid defense with athletes like Dan Schnar and Eric Lee. “We’ve had a huge amount of growth but with that growth comes growing pains,” Miller said.

Warren

Coach: Greg Jansake

Outlook: Despite little experience on the varsity level, the Blue Devils have very high expectations. A trio of seniors in Justin Holstein (attack), Andrew Zmjewski (midfield) and Colin O’Keefe (defense) will lead Warren squad that is a run-and-gun team that is also looking to be sound on defense. Nick Avis will be a mainstay at midfield, as well. “It’s a very positive outlook because we have a lot of good kids,” Jansake said.

Arlington

Coach: John Rovetto

Outlook: A Huskies squad with 24 kids hopes to be more competitive at the varsity level than a 2011 campaign in which they went 1-8. Arlington features a mixture of kids that have been playing 4-5 years to kids in their first year, so Rovetto is focused on finding playing time for a lot of different kids. Seniors Sam Eakin and Eric Olson provide experience while juniors Nick Newquist and Nate Kenlie have also been playing a couple of years. “We’ll have a strong season as long as we stay away from injuries,” Rovetto said.

Cary-Grove

Coach:Dylan Weber

Outlook: Expectations are high for a Cary-Grove squad that lost in the championship game to Jacobs and has built up the program for the last six years. Garret Steiner is back to lead the defense while Trevor Dorn, Mike Buetsch and Holden Taylor will be strong on the attack. Clint Post and Zack Graden will be mainstays, as well. In the past, Cary-Grove has been geared more toward run and gun offense, but Weber is changing it up in 2012. “We want to slow down the tempo and have as much possession time as we can to eliminate the other team’s possession,” Weber said.

Jacobs

Coach: John Bigler

Outlook: For a team that went 16-2 and won the NILAX, expectations are high. Basically the entire starting attack is back and will Jacobs’ main strength. With the experience on the attack, Jacobs’ will be attacking more than in past years. Alex Crescenti, Shane Kathe, Brenton Cosden and Steven Ta will help fuel a mentality of being aggressive on both ends of the field. “We pride ourselves in not giving up shots on goal,” Bigler said. “We like to outshoot our opponents in every aspect.”

Dundee-Crown

Coach: William Petersen

Outlook: Dundee-Crown didn’t win last season and is 0-2 this season. But that doesn’t mean a program in its fourth season and second on the varsity level can’t compete this season. Team Illinois member Pat Kennelly is the team’s top scorer and best overall player, but seven different guys have scored so far this season. Dundee-Crown will look to keep the ball in the offensive end to help out Jacob Miller in goal. Brian Richter is also expected to contribute along with a strong sophomore group featuring A.J. Fisher and Andrew Kryca. “We’ll see who rises to the top,” Petersen said.

Ÿ The Daily Herald has two lacrosse applications — one for boys and one for girls — that will help you follow the high school lacrosse season. The apps, available in Android and iPhone formats for 99 cents each, will contain all the lacrosse coverage from our printed sports editions, plus timely results and more photos.