Veteran Rangers Seek Another Title Shot
April 24, 2018
By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half
GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central boys lacrosse team has experienced the gamut of emotions over the past two seasons.
From the euphoria of winning the MHSAA Division 2 Final in 2016 to the heartache of falling short a year ago – and both times the Rangers had to face their biggest rival with the title on the line.
“They’ve felt both sides of it,” first-year FHC coach Andy Shira said. “The thrill of winning it and the heartbreak of losing it, and both of those are the highest and lowest you can get with it being against our rival, East Grand Rapids.”
The Rangers are determined to relive the magical season of two years ago, and they believe they have just the group to do it.
Spearheaded by seniors Bryce Clay and Patrick English, and the return of 21 players total, FHC has the talent to make another postseason run.
“We have a different chemistry from last year, and we want to win because of what happened last year in the state championship game against our crosstown rival,” said Clay, who already has surpassed 300 goals during a stellar high school career.
“It left a bad taste in our mouth, and we’re motivated to get back. We want to see East again, and we want to go out on a high note and have a successful season.”
The Rangers defeated the Pioneers 10-6 in the 2016 championship game, but were denied back-to-back titles with an 11-9 loss last season.
“It’s a huge motivation, definitely,” English said. “I think that is driving us every day. We got them two years ago, and they came back at us. We really have to step it up this year.”
FHC gained a bit of redemption with a 14-7 victory over EGR last week and currently stand at a perfect 7-0.
Shira, who has been in the program the past five years as the defensive coordinator, has seen early positive signs from his experienced team. But he knows there is room for improvement.
“The way we’ve played so far has been surprising at times,” Shira said. “I knew we would be good, but we’ve shown flashes of greatness with how well we’ve played at times against the competition we’ve played. But we’ve been inconsistent at times. We know we can play at that level, and we just have to be more consistent.”
The Rangers also are bolstered by the return of seniors Andrew Trapp and Kyle Basch, and juniors Tate Hallock, Logan Wedder and Jack Nolan.
“We’re playing really well,” said English, a four-year player who is headed to Marquette University in the fall. “A huge part is team chemistry, and we’ve been getting along and playing good team ball.”
Clay has been the team’s offensive juggernaut since joining the program as a freshman.
He scored a school-record 81 goals with 43 assists in his debut season and eclipsed his own mark the following spring with 104 goals and 53 assists.
Last season he notched 99 goals and a career-high 62 assists.
“I was fortunate enough to make the team my freshman year and had a great year, and from there I kept working hard and wanted to be better than the season before,” Clay said. “I work hard, and I want to be the best player in the state. I’ve had a good run, and it has flown by for sure, but I credit my coaches and teammates for giving me the opportunity to do what I do.”
Clay already has collected 36 goals and 23 assists this season.
“He’s a true competitor,” Shira said. “I never have to question whether or not he is giving me his all and going as hard as he can. On the field, in the classroom and in the weight room, he’s going as hard as he can and it shows in his ability on the field. Not many teams can match up well with him.”
Clay, who has committed to continue playing at the University of Michigan, attributes his success to his older brother, Andrew.
The siblings played together for two seasons. Andrew now plays at Michigan State for the club program that plays as part of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association.
“He’s had a big impact on me, and he is why I am the gritty player I am,” Clay said. “For two years I hated him on the field because he was always on me. We would get into fights at practice, and he was the only guy who wanted to defend me and I wanted to go against him.
“We would really get into each other, but it really helped me out with that competitive edge. He was one of the best defenders in the state, and to go against him every day was huge for me. I give him a lot of credit.”
Shira remembers the physicality between the two.
“They would go at each other every day, and there was that brotherly pushing and shoving,” he said. “They were the best players at their positions and it drove them to continue building.”
Clay and English combine to produce a formidable one-two punch.
“Personally, I think we have the best offense in the state,” English said. “We’ve grown up playing with each other, and we push each other to do better. We understand each other’s games, and we play really well together.”
While the Rangers have the potential to reclaim the Division 2 championship, Shira is taking it in stride.
“Our goal every year is to make it there and win, but I don’t think success is us winning a state championship,” Shira said. “There are bigger things outside of lacrosse. Teaching them to be better young men and instilling life skills will still measure the season as a success.”
Dean Holzwarth covered primarily high school sports for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years and more recently served as sports editor of the Ionia Sentinel and as a sports photojournalist for WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Forest Hills Central's Bryce Clay rolls toward the goal on his way to unloading a shot during last season's Division 2 Final against East Grand Rapids. (Middle) The Rangers' Patrick English passes off to a teammate against the Pioneers.
Preview: New Champions Guaranteed as U-M Welcomes Boys Lacrosse Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 7, 2024
Both MHSAA Boys Lacrosse Finals on Saturday will crown new champions – and one contender is seeking to clinch a title for the first time in its program’s history.
Those opportunities were created when Hartland defeated reigning Division 1 champion Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice to advance, and Ada Forest Hills Eastern ended a repeat attempt in Division 2 by Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. A championship Saturday also would be the first in FHE history – but the Hawks must take on 2023 runner-up Detroit Country Day, which won their regular-season meeting 11 weeks ago. Hartland faces reigning Division 1 runner-up Detroit Catholic Central, the first time these two will meet for a Finals title.
Both games will be played at University of Michigan Lacrosse Stadium for the first time, and below is a glance at all four contenders. Rankings as part of “best wins” are based on the Michigan Power Rating formula. Tickets cost $11 and are good for both games, and may be purchased online only at GoFan.
Both games will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/MPR: 20-3, No. 2
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Dave Wilson, 19th season (269-99)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2018, nine runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 16-5 over No. 1 Rockford in Semifinal, 19-4 over No. 8 Brighton in Quarterfinal, 15-2 over No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 13-3 over No. 7 Birmingham Seaholm, 10-8 over Division 2 No. 1 Detroit Country Day, 17-8 over Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
Players to watch: Joe Curtin, sr. D; Charles Graves, sr. G; Lachlan Moffatt, jr. A. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: DCC returned to the championship game last year for the first time since 2019 and has dominated this spring, suffering its only in-state loss to Brother Rice 16-10 on April 9 but avenging it in the CHSL Central championship game a month later. The other two losses were by a goal apiece to Ohio powers Cincinnati St. Xavier and Dublin Jerome (the latter in overtime). Those three defeats were three of only four games during which the Shamrocks gave up more than eight goals; they’ve given up two or fewer in nine wins. Moffatt, Curtin and Graves all made the all-state second team last season.
HARTLAND
Record/MPR: 19-3, No. 4
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Nick Levanti, fifth season (80-12)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2022, runner-up 2021.
Best wins: 11-10 over No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Semifinal, 17-2 (Quarterfinal) and 14-13 (2OT) over No. 3 Lake Orion, 17-6 over No. 8 Brighton, 12-9 over Division 2 No. 4 East Grand Rapids, 11-7 over Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
Players to watch: Dylan Ayotte, sr. A (44 goals, 16 assists); Jacob Ross, sr. A (67 goals, 23 assists); Drew Lockwood, sr. M (64 goals, 59 assists); Jake Lewis, sr. A (69 goals, 40 assists).
Outlook: After breaking through the DCC/Brother Rice hold on the Division 1 Final in 2021, Hartland will now make its third championship game appearance over the last four seasons and after avenging a mid-April loss to Brother Rice to get here. The other defeats came to Rockford by a goal in double overtime and also to St. Xavier, and the Eagles otherwise have mostly dominated as well with 10 wins giving up three or fewer goals including their first four of the postseason. Lockwood made the all-state first team in 2023, and Ayotte and Ross both made the second team.
Division 2
ADA FOREST HILLS EASTERN
Record/MPR: 16-4, No. 3
League finish: Third in Ottawa-Kent Conference Tier 1
Coach: Tony Boggiano, second season (30-9)
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2021 and 2019, Division 1 runner-up 2013 and 2011 as part of cooperative with Forest Hills Northern.
Best wins: 11-10 over No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Semifinal, 13-8 over No. 4 East Grand Rapids, 17-9 over No. 5 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 16-9 over No. 7 Byron Center, 17-5 over No. 10 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 14-1 over Division 1 No. 7 Birmingham Seaholm.
Players to watch: Preston Hoexum, sr. A (72 goals, 34 assists); Will Morgan, sr. A (60 goals, 32 assists); Jackson Arnold, jr. M (28 goals, 25 assists); Mark Fuehrer, sr. A (53 goals, 19 assists).
Outlook: Forest Hills Eastern avenged a 15-11 loss to Forest Hills Central from April 29 to advance to this weekend, and its only other losses were to Division 1 Rockford and Grand Ledge and 16-7 on March 23 to Country Day. Hoexum and senior Noah Benedict (24 goals, 21 assists) made the all-state first team last season, and Morgan earned an honorable mention. Senior Camden Klaes has been strong in goal giving up 7.9 goals per game and saving 54 percent of shots he’s faced. Boggiano played at Forest Hills Eastern as part of the school’s first cooperative seasons from 2004-07, and he also previously served as Country Day’s offensive coordinator from 2015-19.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/MPR: 18-2, No. 1
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Chris Garland, sixth season (79-22)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 15-7 (Semifinal) and 12-9 over No. 4 East Grand Rapids, 18-4 over No. 9 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in Quarterfinal, 13-9 over No. 7 Byron Center, 14-6 over No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 14-7 over No. 5 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 16-7 over No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 9-8 over Division 1 No. 7 Birmingham Seaholm, 13-8 over Division 1 No. 6 Grand Ledge.
Players to watch: Caden Daley, sr. A (50 goals, 16 assists); Will Thompson, sr. A (50 goals, 30 assists); Oliver Aaron, sr. A (22 goals, 18 assists); Kellen Curby, jr. G (5.47 goals-against average, .570 save %).
Outlook: Country Day has finished runner-up the last two seasons, and the majority of last year’s top contributors are back for another title attempt after the 2023 lineup included only one senior starter. Daley, senior defenders Shafeek Halabi and Trevor Corless, and senior long stick midfielder Andrew Gryzenia all made the all-state first team last season, while Aaron and Curby made the second team and Thompson made the third. Sophomore Keaton Yearego (50 goals, 15 assists) is another big-time scorer as well, and four more players not listed above have found the net at least 17 times this spring.
PHOTO Ada Forest Hills Eastern’s Will Morgan (2) maneuvers to get off a shot during his team’s Semifinal win over Forest Hills Central. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)