Conference Previews for the 2023 season - The Peach Belt

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's La Crosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is that transcendent genius of D2 Men's La Crosse, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

You're digging deep tonight. Transcendent genius. I'm not a genius at anything. Maybe, maybe a little no, no, no. Anything. I'm not a genius at anything. You dug deep tonight. How are you doing tonight in Northern Virginia, my friend?

SPEAKER_01 0:47

I am doing really well. Really well. I can't complain. You know, when I get to speak to the guru. You cracked me up, bro. The Marshall Dillon of D2 Lacroix. But you know what time it is, Danny? It's time to dig in to our second conference preview, and it's a good one. It's one that we think has a lot of parody, and that's the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Love the Peach Belt. What a great conference. Young, up and coming, young teams, young coaches, good institutions, just a great and great area of the country. Just who wouldn't want to be there? Just it's we love the Peach Belt. So much to talk about in the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_01 1:30

Yeah, so let's just get right into it. Let's start off with the champions from last year, Montevallo.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Yeah, the Falcons, man. Back-to-back conference champs, you know, the inaugural champs. And then, you know what, though? See, they lost in, they had two conference losses last year, whereas Huntsville went 5-0 in conference and Lander went 4-1. And Lander was playing great lacrosse. And I had picked Lander to beat Montevallo in the conference tournament. And boy, the Falcons made me eat my made me eat some Crow. You know, so Montevallo's what a they had 11 11 and 7 over the year, 3-2 in conference. They got a lot of guys coming back, Trevaine Hunter, Scott Freant, Connor Frederick, and the three out of their top four scorers are returning. So, you know, Coach Lang does a phenomenal job there at Montevallo, and I expect them to be right there in the mix again this year.

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yeah, I mean, they had some, you know, they they had some good wins last year against North Greenville and Mars Hill. They lost against teams that they've known before, but tough competition. U Indy, Meryville, you know, Embry Riddle, St.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Leo, but they're but they're not getting blown out. You know, they're not getting blown out. They're playing in close games. They're playing quality. Right.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

And I think I think that's what's interesting, and I think they peaked at the right time last year. They went on a roll.

SPEAKER_02 3:06

Quality lacrosse. I forgot about. Here we go. We're back in the swing at this.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

There we go. There we go. But their out of conference this year in 2023 is stacked as well. They're playing Florida Southern, New Indy, Merryville, Rockhurst. They've got Catawba, which we talked to Coach Murphy. I think that's not a game you can slide by. And you know, they're they're they're playing other good teams. Mars Hill, Lincoln Morrill. They've got a big out-of-conference, Henry Riddle, Palm Beach Atlantic. So they've got a good out-of-conference schedule with some really tough competition to get them seasoned for the Peach Belt Conference.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Yeah, and maybe even a run at the NCAA if they can, you know, beat some of these teams and play well this year.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Well, we talked about we talked about that with the RMAC preview, and I think it's the same thing in the Peach Belt. The Peach Belt, there's several teams that have done well. If you look at Lander and UAH and Montevallo at the top, those teams are gonna have to do better in out of conference to get to that NCAA tournament. But they and they know that.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

Oh, you know that.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Oh, yeah, without a doubt. And but there's some things, once again, that Montevallo on their stats, they improved their face-off up to 56% last year. Jerry Rourke is a junior face-off. He was second team all PBC in 2022, and he was at 61%, so they shared the load a little bit. Now they lose their goalkeeper, Kyle Little. So it'll be interesting to see who steps up. Senior Jacob Bonino has the most experience, but they've got a list of goalies that can come up. You know, they they lost. You talked about the returners coming back up from for scoring, but defense, although they lose Anthony Pecarrero and Stephen Collins, Anthony had 44 ground balls and 13 cause turnovers, and Steven with 36 ground balls and 21 cause turnovers kind of tough. But they got some guys returning. Luke Henneball was the first team all peach belt. He played in every game in his career, so he is someone that is an anchor for them, along with Colin Jeffrey as an LSM. Um and he Colin Jeffrey, interestingly, was a fourth-round pick in the NLL draft. As a goalie, though. As a goalie. As a goalie. Yeah. With all those pads on.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

That's great. That's great. Well, yeah, you know, Montevallo, they're good, man. Coach Lang does a great job there.

SPEAKER_01 5:43

Yeah, so they've got a lot of players coming back. As you said, it's a it's a young team, like most of these are, and I think they're gonna come ready to play and they're gonna be ready to defend their championship.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

Looking forward to seeing what Montevallo does.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Now let's move on to Alabama Huntsville, then.

SPEAKER_02 6:03

That's the team they're gonna have to get through. You know, that's the team. These guys go back and forth at it, you know, Alabama Huntsville. Coach Connor Doyle, he does a really good job there too. You know, again, they were 5-0 last year in conference and 10-7 overall, so they had a really good season. And a lot of their guys are coming back. Junior Jack Schramm, uh midfielder with 19 goals and 16 assists last year. Yeah. You have Ian Arnt, attackman, yeah, 15 goals and 17 assists. And then you have junior Connor Young, another attackman, 20 goals and seven assists. I mean, they got some ballers coming back there for the Chargers.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

Exactly. And then on the defensive side with uh LSM Alex Dorncott and and D poles, Colin Galinsky and Will Castell all returning, they're only sophomores. They're only sophomores. And they played last year as freshmen, so you see that jump from freshman year to sophomore year. It's a night and day. Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:05

Because that freshman year, you're learning. You're still learning the game. You know, you come out of high school, you're becoming a freshman, you don't realize how fast the game is. Everybody's fast, everybody's good, everybody can catch and throw, everybody kind of knows where to be. So that that's a learning year, you know, especially on the defensive side, you're learning slides, whether you're in, you know, man or what kind of, you know, if you're in zone, you're doing a lot of footwork stuff, and just so many things to do. As a freshman, so much to absorb. But you always see a huge difference. And so when freshmen come back, their sophomore year, they kind of I I they're bigger, they're stronger, they're a little faster because they had a year of, you know, being in the weight room and getting themselves into collegiate shape, you know, it's not high school anymore. So now you got these kids coming back, Kev, and they're so much better. It's such a difference when the when you start freshman and they come back sophomore year. Uh, without a doubt.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Without a doubt. And then if you there's a few other things that kind of behind the scenes that I think are gonna help them as well. One, Coach Doyle has gotten his roster up to 36 from 27 last year, which that's a huge difference. And now they have some depth as well. And we talk about depth either from talent or just from fresh legs. Yeah, and I think that's gonna make a difference for them coming in this year. And then secondarily, Coach Doyle has added a second assistant coach, uh, and it's Austin Zambato to go with uh Jordan Warren. Austin is a grad assistant coming from he was a grad assistant at North Greenville, and he also played there. So now Coach Doyle has a team with him of coaches, three guys to help him out, which I think you spread that spread that load out, it just makes things go smoother, easier. You've got more eyes on that you can separate what you're looking at from a defense, offense, special teams. Yeah, I think that's gonna help them as well. Absolutely. I agree with you. I agree 100%. No, so just quickly, their out of conference is good too. They're they're playing uh Florida Southern two days before Montevalo plays them, so I'm sure Montevalo will be watching on that one. They play Emmanuel, Emory Riddle, St. Leo, Tusculum, Marshill, Maryville, Lewis, Davenport, and Rockhorse, Rockers. So they do a pretty strong GLVC out of conference schedule that's brutal in a lot of ways. And I think we'll really come out of there uh above 50% in those games, they're gonna be talked about more than just in the peach belt. Absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

It's a good out-of-conference schedule.

SPEAKER_01 10:05

Yeah. All right, let's move on. Uh, to the other team that uh the one that you bet you you bet to win it all, the Bearcats of Lander.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Yeah, I liked Lander last year. They just played really good lacrosse. They were competitive all year. No, I don't think anybody really expected them being that at Montevallo and Alabama Huntsville kind of kind of dominated the year before in the inaugural season of the Beach Belt. But Lander really showed me a lot. Coach Lapore, he did a really good job there. And and he's he they went four and one in conference, yeah, and 11-6 overall, you know. And they got their boys coming back. Adam Mather, senior attackman, 43 goals, 26 attacks. That kid put up 69 points last year. That kid's a baller right there. Yeah and that now he's a senior. He's got four years under his belt. He's gonna be really tough, a tough handle for any defenseman out there. And you got Cotter Wilcox, sophomore, attack, put up 61 points, 48 goals. Are you kidding me? Another kid. Yeah. Now he's coming, now he's coming back. Sophomore. He's got that year under his belt, gonna be another tough load for defender. And then you got Nolan Oaky, junior attack, put up 22 goals, 19 assists for 41 points last year, Kev. They got some ballers there at Lander.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

And that's what I was gonna point out. You know, they're a young team, but now they're seasoned with a mix of seniors, juniors, and underclassmen. And that's where you want to get to. And Lander was doing that before they got there. So what are they gonna do this year when they've got that great mix?

SPEAKER_02 11:47

I think they can only improve. I mean, you can only improve.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Yeah, if you look at yeah, and if you look at some of their stats from last year, they ranked fifth nationally in man-down defense and sixth in ground balls per game. I mean, not only on the offensive side, but on the on the defensive side, they're they're a solid team. You know, they like I I said last year, and what I love to watch about them is they fast they're fast and they move the ball really well. Now they they haven't gotten to the level of some of the, you know, if you look at them when they play some of the top competition uh that they did last year, either in the sack or in the GLBC, they're not at that level yet. The question will be, are they there this year? And and I think that will be will prove that out during the season.

SPEAKER_02 12:38

Well, I'll tell you, they're gonna be tough in conference for sure. They're gonna be a really tough, tough conference schedule, uh tough in conference for them. Whoever plays lander is gonna be in for a game in conference.

SPEAKER_01 12:51

Well, you know, even Coach Vance talked about it. He said those three were at the top, and then there's the next three where we're gonna get to shorter young Harrison Flagler. But the interesting thing is, I think it's gonna get tighter, if not at the top, certainly this year at the top with those three teams. And then I think the three teams we start talking about, especially if you look at what Flagler did last year and how close they came. This is this conference is gonna get tighter and tighter.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

We keep talking about it. We you know, it's a young conference, it's only in its third year. So everybody's new and they all know each other. They want this conference to do well. They want it. These coaches want the conference to do well. They're rooting for each other, believe it or not. Yeah. You know, you know, some coaches be like, I just want to beat that guy. They're not they're not doing that. They really want this conference to to excel. And and it it's gonna be, you know, Flagler did a really good job for their inaugural season last year.

SPEAKER_01 13:52

Yeah. Yeah, they were 3-14, but that does not show how many games they were actually in. They lost. Oh, they were they had some games where they were ahead or they came back. I mean, look at the game in the in the tournament play when they played against uh Alabama Huntsville. They lost 12-9, but they they and they were behind by a lot in this game, and they came roaring back. They hit the pipe twice with two minutes and one minute left in the game, and that and they could have tied it up. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 14:26

I mean, yeah, because they got athletes. I watched Flagler last year. We had Coach Duncan on, and he spoke about he knew that they were going to take their lumps a little bit, and but they went out and they competed, Kev.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah, they were number one in fewest turnovers per game in the Peach Belt, and they were second in ground balls in the conference. And if you look at, you know, Coach Gave us a bunch of the they got some a lot of key returners. They got two goalies, Nate Lair and Paxton Crowell. They got a bunch of middies, Tyler Douglas, Thomas Pritchard, Ty Tom, Dylan Wilson, and then on the defensive side, they've got Dom Traeger, Asher, Westbrook Campbell, Jack Newell, and Matt Gick. And then along with a defensive middy, uh Ben Byrne, and attack Drew Flag and Durant Shaw. So they've got a bunch of guys are coming back. And then they got some transfers. They got a transfer from Kenetius, Antonio Smokis, and a transfer from Lynchburg, Garrett McNulty, and another another transfer from Kenetius, Logan Tobias, and a defender from St. Joe's, uh Blake Gonzales. And then the coach is telling us that they've got a J uh transfer from uh Jacksonville University coming mid-year. So I think I think Coach Duncan is loading for Bear and Bearcats and Falcons and Chargers.

SPEAKER_02 15:48

Yeah, well, first of all, the school's in St. Augustine. It's one of the most beautiful parts of the state of Florida. It's absolutely gorgeous there. What kid would not want to go to college at Flagler? You know, it's just a gorgeous place, great place to be. Weather outstanding year out, year in. You know what I mean? It's just all year great weather. But just imagine the freshman that he coached Duncan brought in. Oh, yeah. So now he, you know, so you got you got 20. What did he have on his roster last year? 27? It wasn't a lot.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

No, it was a lot. He had like 40 guys. Because remember, they were that much.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Yeah. Oh, that's right. They were a club team.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

They were a club team.

SPEAKER_02 16:30

So just imagine he's got he's got freshmen coming in plus the transfers, D1 transfers. So them boys are gonna get their burn. You know? So I I think Flagler, I picked Flaggler to be, I think I, if I'm not mistaken, I picked them to win four games last year. I'm gonna have to go back and listen. And what'd they win? They won three. They won three. I'm picking them to win five games this year, Kev. To improve two games on their record.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

I I'll tell you what, I I mean I have to go back and look at their schedule. Um, I'm not sure it's totally out yet. But no, they're out of conference, they've got it is out. They've got all of the SSE plus Mount Olive and Quincy. So if I look at that, you know, I I think you've got to go. And I think it's gonna be if they get to six, they can get to six, but they gotta really turn it on. They've got to win a lot of Sunshine State games. But it'll be it'll be interesting to see. It'll be interesting to see what they do this year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:35

See, that's what's great about this conference. It's kind of cool conference.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Well, I'll tell you what, now let's talk about the other two teams that we've had the coaches on, and I think those guys, if they can they're gonna bring some continuity over the years. I don't think, let's talk about Shorter first and and Coach Vance. He's trying to lay the foundation and build the culture. The guys seem to be buying in, as he told us, but as he even said, he's trying to build, uh he's trying to get them ready to play kind of at the collegiate level. He's got 11 true freshmen in on the on his roster this year. So he's building for the future. It's not going to come this year. You know, they but I think he's got the right attitude, uh, and their roster is growing. They're up to 24. That's not huge. That's pretty tough throughout the whole season. But, you know, that they uh he's trying to build something there. They were 3-14 last year. They beat Davison Elkins. They got to improve their face-off. That was only at 31%, but their top three scores returned. So the coach has something to build on, along with having Jordan Sleeth and Hunter Harderman coming back from on the defensive side, and their starting goalie returns.

SPEAKER_02 18:49

Yeah, there's sophomore Alexander Hutkins coming back. He put up 39 points last year. He had a pretty good year. And he's a sophomore, so you know. This year, the junior midfielder Gunnar Utanon, he's coming back. He had 14 goals, 23 assists, uh, 37 points. You know, a solid player, no doubt. Uh sophomore attack, Jaden. You know, they were all freshmen on the field for shorter last year.

SPEAKER_01 19:13

Yeah, they they had a young team. They're gonna have a young team this year. And and and so that's why Coach knows. I think that's why Coach built his schedule. Uh maybe is already built for him, but you know, they've they've really got two Division II out-of-conference games, two good ones though, Coker against his old coach. Yeah, yeah. And then they got several local D3s and NAIA teams under their schedule. So they're trying to just kind of prep. I I don't think that's the rule really is going to help them for get them really prepared for the peach belt, but it's getting them prepared to be a better team in future years.

SPEAKER_02 19:56

Yeah, it's just m moving the program forward at you know at a at a pace that's good for that for that program. Yeah, without but you know, they didn't win a game in conference last year. It's tough for the Shorter Hawk. You know, when you go out with 25 kids, man, and you're and you're playing a team that was got 39, 40 kids on the roster. It's tough. It's tough.

unknown 20:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:19

You get worn down. Even if you're competitive, you're gonna get beat up at the end. You know, it's tough to like ride them bulls all game. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So let's move on. Last team to talk about are the Mountain Lions of Young Harris, another new head coach with Brandon Gelder.

SPEAKER_02 20:38

Yeah. Lions, well, you know, Young Harris has had their problems, Kev. You know, they were shut down two years ago, and coach came, coach left, and then when another coach came, and he's left, and now Coach Keldart takes over the reigns for the Lions, the Mountain Lions. They went one and four. They won one conference game last year, and that was the only game they won. They were one in fourteen, Kev. Fifteen games. Yeah. They lost 14 of them. That's that's a tough season. But Coach Keldart knows that again, they're in a reboot.

SPEAKER_01 21:13

Yeah, they're still in it. And what's interesting that Coach talked about was that none of those players left. They all came back. So they're showing some resilience right there for this season. Like, no, this is my team. I'm coming back and we're gonna play. You know, so I think that that is something that's something just in and of itself to build on. And they actually have a pretty for them, they've got a very tough out-of-conference schedule. Tusculum, North Greenville, Newberry, Barton, Anderson, Mars Hill, Lincoln Memorial, Chouan, St. Leo, Florida Southern, and then Emmanuel. It's basically the same as last year, but I'll tell you what, that is that is a That's a monster schedule for where Young Harris was last year and what happened in the previous years and then the reboot because it was really all starting over. This gets them seasoned.

SPEAKER_02 22:16

Yep, you know, a lot of a lot of their guys were freshmen last year as well. You know, because it was kind of like a reboot. Yeah. Because two years ago they were down. There was no young Harris. There was no program. But you know, sophomore Tommy Chris is coming back, 24 goals and 22 assists last year, 46 points. Not a bad, not a bad player. Another sophomore attack, Gunnar Faggastrom, 32 goals and four assists, put up 36 points last year. You know, um Nick Baker, a sophomore, coming back. He put up 22 points, and then junior midfielder Wyatt Pierre. He had 22 goals and 13 assists in the midfield with 35 points. So they got some players that can play. Yeah. They just didn't, they just didn't have the depth. No, and they were young and they were learning the game. So again, these guys coming back as sophomores playing against these kinds of squads, they're gonna they're just gonna get better. They might not win, but they're gonna get better.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

Right. Uh so uh they built their roster up to 32 more than what they had that the first year. So that's gonna help you.

SPEAKER_02 23:23

That's a good sign. That's yeah, that's a good idea for young Harris. That's because that's more than some schools, that's more than a lot of schools now. That's right. That's right. And so when you think about it, like two years ago there was no program, and now they're up to 32, that's that's pretty strong. That's that's pretty good. Right.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

And yeah, and as as Coach said, you know, they're trying to build the D Midi area as a focus for them this year. I think if they can do that, I would not be surprised if they win that they they win more than one game this year, if they win two or three games. I'm not don't know if it'll be much more than that looking at their schedule, but I think they have a good shot at a few of these games and and and we'll just have to see where it goes from there.

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Yeah, and they need to stay healthy, you know. That's important.

SPEAKER_01 24:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:15

That's important for them. They, you know, you get a guy, you know, one of your studs to go down with an ankle or wrist or an elbow or something. And you know, that could really blow the train off the track sometimes. You know, one little injury could really, really mess things up. But let's let's hope for the best for Coach Gail Darton, the young Harris, you know, Mountain Lions. You know, again, that program's been through some some turmoil in the last two years, but they're up to 32 and they're playing, they got a good out-of-conference schedule. And uh let's see if Young Harris can win a couple ball games this year down in the beach belt.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

Yep, and there we go, Danny. That's the the roundup of those teams, but let's bring in another expert. And with us tonight is Coach Tony Lapor of Lander. Now we had him on last year for the same conference preview. And as I look down, I'm like, who can we get? Well, we've talked to all the coaches, and you know we like to spread the love, and we like to try to get people we haven't talked to, but I'm like, you know what? He was so good last year, let's see what he has to say this year about his team in the peach belt. So how about we bring him in? Let's do it. Coach Lepore, how are you, my friend? It's been about a year, so how are things going?

SPEAKER_00 25:32

Going really well. Just wrapped up fall ball, and um now we're shifting gears, getting ready to go recruit this month.

SPEAKER_02 25:39

Coach Lepore, thank you so much for coming back on. Um, we love having you guys on the Peach Belt. We we pumped the Peach Belt up big time. Um, we love having you on. Who does your Instagram? Who does your social media?

SPEAKER_00 25:52

Well, so that's kind of that responsibility is shared by several. Um, we have an SID, basically we have a uh sports information staff, uh, and one of the young man's name is Hunter Julius. He runs our those accounts in conjunction with uh our assistant one of our assistant coaches, Coach David Salter. Um that I'm way too old for that stuff. Um it's way over my head. Like, you know, I'll retweet things and like stuff, but uh as it relates to creating content and helping create visibility for our program, it's it's mostly those two guys.

SPEAKER_02 26:25

Well, they do a phenomenal job. They really, really do. I just really love I see all the stuff uh on land or on Instagram all the time, like almost on a daily basis.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

And it's cool stuff with good music, slow motion, and just they do some really good stuff, and um you know it's dope, man. It's dope, as the kids say.

SPEAKER_01 26:49

Yeah, it's funny. I see things like that, and I'm I'm the social media guy for In the Crease, and and yeah, I'm like just give me some crayons and and some you know and some paper. That's about my level compared to what they're doing at Lander, without a doubt. Um so let's talk a little bit about your team. You know, when we met last year, I I said I thought your team plays fast, they move the ball well. I think you kind of showed that in your season. You improved from 2021 at 6-5, going 11-6 last year and four and one in conference. So is is yeah, is that kind of that your MO? Is that what you attribute to your success? Or how do you see is this just one of those building blocks for you like which we talked about last year? How keep that on proving?

SPEAKER_00 27:36

Um, well, we you know, our our goal, um, I think this is really important, is the first to have a shared vision within a within uh any type of organization, you know, for what is excellence. And I made sure to define to the leaders here at Lander University what what I feel excellence is, and we want excellence on the field in the classroom, in the community. And you know, the on-field portion, what you're discussing, is um we're always going to push to improve. Um, you know, I I told uh the players and and their families that I want lander to be a lacrosse school, you know, be known for it. Um, you know, and uh yeah, we're heading in that direction. Obviously, you know, we still have a ways to go, but I'm really pleased with uh of the program, uh, the caliber of young men that are that are joining us, and of course, just the support from our school so we can be realistic about lofty expectations. So far, so good. Really, really can't complain. Uh obviously lost a couple of real close ones last year, some very talented teams, you know, had some bad injuries at the end of the year, but um it's a dog fight in in April, you know what I mean? And it was a great learning experience for us.

SPEAKER_01 28:50

So you spoke about kind of that well-rounded team in what you're trying to do academically, off the field, what you're supporting, probably volunteer stuff, and then on the field. We talked to Coach Murphy as we were doing the the coaching changes, and he talked about, you know, you've got to win at every you're trying to win at everything. He was winning as that. But do you look at that as all those pieces actually help you on the field as well?

SPEAKER_00 29:17

Oh, of course. It cultivates a competitive spirit with with these young men. It lets them, it reminds them constantly that everything we do matters. Um, you know, it may sound a little corny, but you know, like one of our captains was talking to our our freshman about this back in September, and he's like, win your nap, you know, win your lunch. Like it's just because you know, we want that, you know, we we we want that. I mean, at least I do. Um, I feel like um those are the guys that are gonna really embrace competing. Um, and yeah, I I love it. And I think it does translate into other things, obviously. Um, but I could talk forever about um trying to instill that in these young men. And it's, you know, this is an environment where it's okay to be really competitive, be really competitive in the weight room and on the practice field. You know, let's get after it. Um, and uh, because that's what's gonna eventually help us win some of those those big games. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 30:16

How how many are you carrying on your roster this year?

SPEAKER_00 30:19

Uh 53.

SPEAKER_02 30:20

Wow, that's a nice size roster. So you're getting after it in practice and everything, and the boys are looking uh to really bring it this year. I I you know what? Last year I picked you to to beat Montevallo in in the conference tournament. Uh and I I I I got upset. Now I got upset with myself because you know what? I thought that was a game that you could have won. I really did. And I think Lander, the Bearcats are a team to be reckoned with. Um, let's talk about some of your players who you're bringing back.

SPEAKER_00 30:51

Um, well, everyone. That's great. That's great. Yeah, they you know, we we graduated, uh we graduated four young men. It was our first graduates from our program last year. Right. Um, you know, a young man, a backup attackman, um, a backup long stick midfielder, one of our or one of our top four short stick defensive midfielders, and then um the young man who was a graduate transfer from Coker, who played, who gave us some spot duty at both attack and midfield last year. But outside of that, you know, uh the gang's all back, you know, so um real excited to keep working with them.

SPEAKER_02 31:25

So your top three scorers, Adam Mather, Carter Wilcox, Nolan.

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Nolan Oaky. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 31:31

Nolan Oaky. Those three guys, your top scores, and they're all coming back. That's gotta be that's gotta be a great feeling.

SPEAKER_00 31:38

It's been really cool because um, you know, what's been really nice is uh, you know, Adam Mather had that knee injury at the tail end of last year, which prevented him from playing um in the final two games, and he uh he's been rehabbing really hard, working really hard, and he's he's really excited to get back. And it's it's cool when you know one of your players who's an all you know who's conference you know co-player of the year when he's really fired up to play and to get back with his teammates, you know. So uh that's been really cool. You know, another thing.

SPEAKER_02 32:10

He lit it up last year. He lit it up last year. He really had himself a great year before he got injured.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

Yeah, he's a great player, man. And uh, and I think what one of the things that's really kind of cool about him is he's an outstanding student. He was freshman science, scholar of the year, his freshman year. He's an absolute brainiac. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

That's great. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

Like like I say, Danny, I always hate those talented people.

SPEAKER_02 32:35

No, that's great that you got those big dogs coming back. Um, let's talk about your out-of-conference schedule. I looked on um and I didn't see your schedule listed. It's it's theirs.

SPEAKER_01 32:45

Yeah, their out of conference has Mount Olive, Coker, Emmanuel, uh, Lincoln Memorial, North Greenville, Tusculum, Barton, Anderson, Henry Riddle, and Limestone. So you've got some very very competitive and tough schedule, not only with some really tough teams, but with some up-and-coming teams like North Greenville, Henry Riddle, and Anderson. So what are you looking for in that out-of-conference schedule? What are you what are you hoping for? Besides winning every one of them, which I know you want to do.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

But you know, we're um we're looking obviously to be challenged, uh, number one. So that way, you know, we're we're sharpening the sword, getting ready for conference play. Um, and also, you know, we, you know, that after coming off of an 11-win year, I think this is a group who's uh really wants to make a push for the NCAA's, and they know that the way to do that in Division II is to play uh a tough schedule and win tough games, particularly on the road. And um, you know, yeah, just set yourself up for success.

SPEAKER_01 33:49

Great. That's what you need. So, coach, just going back, um uh looking at your stats and really your team stats from last year, you really stacked up well against the competition. I mean, winning a lot of the categories or or leading them versus the the opponents. Are there certain areas uh that you are looking for specific improvement in, whether it's you know, face-off or other things?

SPEAKER_00 34:14

Sure. Um, there's a few areas that I think that uh we're looking to improve into this particular season. Um, and it's uh, you know, I think that uh we had some lapses defensively this past year um where some teams um you know kind of exposed us a little bit. So I would like to be a little bit more consistent on the defensive end, particularly man-down defense. Um, and I think we could do a little bit better job um with um at the face-off uh at the faceoff X, not necessarily from our draw man, but from our our three our three on three unit to our 10 on 10, uh just making sure that we do a better job of uh team face-off work uh in the year.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

Trying to get those 50-50 ground balls and and try to maybe win some of those those draws back with those wingmen. Yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_00 35:07

Sure. And and also to to generate transition um and to generate, you know, uh opportunities to catch our opponent in the sub game. You know, I just think that uh that's something I'd really like to focus on.

SPEAKER_02 35:19

Well, coach, uh we love the peach belt. Kevin and I, we talk we can't talk about it enough. We think there's so much parody in in the peach belt. We think that you know that conference is just cool because kids can go, you know, kids in the the South is really uh coming along with with uh getting players to play a high level lacrosse, Georgia, Atlanta, uh even even Florida, Florida's starting to put, you know, really good teams out there now. And the these players from the South are starting to understand how great uh the game of lacrosse is. And it's tough down there because you got football, football's huge down in the south, and baseball as well, man. Baseball as well. You got kids 12, 13 years old, got three, four pitches already, you know, they're throwing curves, they're throwing curves and sliders and rising fastballs at 13. So I know it's like that down there. And it's great to see the South getting getting that. And the peach belt, I think, just personifies that. Would you agree?

SPEAKER_00 36:20

You know, what's really cool is you you hit you you described it perfectly. The growth of the sport, especially like let's just take the state of South Carolina. Obviously, that's one that we focus on heavily because we're a state university. Um, you know, our conference defensive player of the year this past year is James Lynn, and he's from Clover High School, right outside of uh, you know, just south of Charlotte in the in the north northern part of South Carolina. You know, he's um you there are there are some tremendous players uh in this state because the caliber of coaching at the high school level has improved significantly the youth program, and you're seeing it explode. It's a sponsored sport now uh in the in the in the South Carolina High School League, and um it's attracting really competitive athletes. And you mentioned about the football piece. Um, in a way, it's a it's a it's a double-edged sword. Yes, like football's really big, but you know, obviously they play in the fall, and those schools have tremendous facilities. Like the facilities that some of these high schools have down here are but you gotta see Greenwood High School, the press box they have here. It would it would rival any like mid-major division one football stadium.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

It's been I bet. I bet, yeah. It's awesome. I I love that about the South because it really gives athletes, you know, all those better facilities, I think. You know, and you get to play more, you get to be outside more.

SPEAKER_00 37:41

They're very serious about it, too. Athletics are just an important part of the of the southern, you know, uh high school, middle school culture. It's part of the fabric here.

SPEAKER_01 37:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:50

100%, 100%.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

Yeah, now sticking with the peach belt, there are a couple coaching changes this year with young Harris and Shorter, but I actually we've talked to those coaches, they're coming with a lot of fire in their belly. And so you talked talked to us uh off podcast about this. What are you looking at with that? Is that you think that's just gonna intensify the competition in the peach belt as it already is?

SPEAKER_00 38:16

Absolutely. Um you know, what we're hopeful for uh is I understand that you know, obviously the the the situations that those those two schools were a little uh you know unstable for a little while. And um, I'm hopeful that those coaches will uh be there for for a long time and you know are well are tenured. What that'll do is it'll really help our our address our our conference top to bottom. Um, particularly young Harris, who wasn't that long ago, they were very good. Right. Um very, very good. And so we would really like to see a matter of fact, it's shorter as well. Like when uh my uh second year at Belmont Abbey, we went down over spring break and played Rollins and then came up and played shorter, and they gave us a hell of a game. Uh they were, you know, they were an eight-nine win team that year. So there's absolutely no reason why those teams, you know, with some stable leadership and some time and some recruiting, will get right back to where they want to be.

SPEAKER_02 39:13

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Now, coach, totally changing from that, uh, is that you announced some coaching change this year. I saw that in a press release uh just a couple months ago. Can can you just elaborate for our listeners a little bit on that? How you think that um I know you lost one of your coaches, he's moving on to I think the four service or something like that, but which is really kind of cool. So just elaborate on that and how you see your your assistance. As Danny and always talk about assistants are very, very important to a head coach, and you gotta have the good one. So, how sure how how that is for you?

SPEAKER_00 39:47

It's it's been better sweet, because obviously when Coach Calligari moved on, uh he was able to essentially kind of lock up his dream job, which is he's gonna go be um, he's presently in training right now uh to be a uh a wildlife enforcement uh officer with the state of Louisiana. It's almost a year-long training program that he's undergoing right now. Um, you know, so when he got that opportunity, that was a very lengthy interview and selection process for him to get that. So, you know, God bless him. Um, you know, and as far as the remainder of our staff, Coach Salter is back. This is his third season with us. Um, we were able to elevate Coach Gifford, who was our graduate assistant coach this last season, were able to elevate him to an assistant role with us. I was thrilled about that because you know, his playing credentials speak for themselves, but he's a he's a great goalie coach. He understands, he really helped master our uh, you know, we were number two in the country in clearing last year, and it was all because of him. Um he's got such a great, great mind for that. Um, and then of course, um that freed up our graduate assistant position, and I I I tried to make a splash with that hire, and I think we did, um, you know, hiring uh Adam Wiedemann to join us, and it really worked out because he um when his rookie contract expired with the swarm, the swarm wanted to you know extend him and lock him in for a while, and that meant that you know the swarm played two hours from here.

SPEAKER_03 41:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:07

So yeah, now we have an NLL player on our staff. Um and he's um, and not only is he just an NLL player, he's one of the best players in the league. And that guy is I mean, just having that at practice and you know, his experience as a player, as a current player at the highest level, rubbing off on our players. Um, but he's um man, that kid. I I know I coached him as well at Belmont, like, but just I I love all those guys. Like I think we have the best staff in America because they're you know, aside from you know, they're lacrosse acumen, they love lacrosse, they're great guys, and they love being around the team. And um, yeah, I mean, I I couldn't be happier with what we have uh together right now.

SPEAKER_02 41:48

Sounds like a grand slam to me.

SPEAKER_00 41:51

Yeah, I mean, it's been really cool too because um, you know, it's uh it's forced me to to step into some slightly different roles with the team and coaching them, um, you know, which is always good to keep it fresh, you know what I mean. I'm you know always trying to learn something new and build a better mousetrap. Uh, but also, you know, to turn some stuff over to the younger assistants uh and not micromanage them as much because they're hungry and they're and they're really good. You know, the players are responding, and we had a very, I felt like we had a very good fall. Um and um credit to them. It's credit to the assistant coaches and and the and the hours that they put in and the work they do with the guys.

SPEAKER_02 42:30

That's great. That's great. Love to hear it.

SPEAKER_01 42:32

Yeah, that's awesome, coach. And and once again, just like we thanked you last year, we really appreciate you coming on. I think having coaches like you on really helps our listeners understand different schools that are out there that they can possibly could possibly look at. So we really appreciate you coming on and and we are looking forward to watching Lander this year in the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_00 42:53

Well, you guys, uh look, I want you just you know, obviously an opportunity to say thank you and in all of your kind words, you guys have been not only tremendously supportive of our particular program, but just Division II Lacrosse in general, uh, which you know means a ton to me. Um, and of course, uh I know your fan base is growing, and um, I I love it. I I love the work that you guys are doing, and I think um, you know, the best is yet to come. And I know I'm excited for this upcoming season, and uh I know you guys are pretty jacked up too. So look at that.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

Oh, yeah, we're pumped. Thanks so much for those kind words, Coach. We really appreciate it. We we love Lander, we love having you on. You've been a great guest. This is we're gonna have you on again because you said you do.

SPEAKER_00 43:33

Look, I mean, talking lacrosse, I it's like one of my favorite things to do. If like uh I go over to like my friend's house or something like that, my wife is just like, oh look, he's talking about lacrosse. I just love about it.

SPEAKER_02 43:46

Yeah, I hear you. Well, thanks so much again. We wish you guys the best of luck this season. We'll be watching the Peach Belt hard like we always do. And um next we we've got to get you over that quarter, quarter conference final home. There and get you into that into that championship game this year.

SPEAKER_00 44:05

We talk about it every day.

SPEAKER_02 44:07

Good for you.

SPEAKER_00 44:08

Good luck, Coach. Thanks so much. You got it, guys. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 44:13

Once again, I I don't think uh Coach Lepore disappointed us with his insight into not only his team, but the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_02 44:22

Yeah, what a nice guy. I really like Coach Lepore. He's just a good guy, man. He's just, he's what else can I say? He's like the kind of guy like I just love to hang out with. And I could see myself eating some wings and drinking some beers and just talking lacrosse with that kind of guy. He's just just my kind of guy, you know what I mean? He's just down to earth. And man, he loves the peach belt. He and he's he's doing a great job there at Lander. And I I told him, you know, I told him I picked you and beat Montevallo last year.

SPEAKER_01 44:55

Well, it's funny too. I if you listen to it, he he's pretty humble and he's talking about we kind of try to egg him on of where he was gonna go, what he thinks he could do. But like we talked about, uh they could be the pick this year.

SPEAKER_02 45:12

We just have to I'm gonna be following them pretty close this year. I just I just like that team. I like what they do. I just I don't know, they play my kind of brand of ball, they're quick, they move the ball good, they're they just play a good brand of ball, you know. And and and again, you know, that it's Alabama Huntsville, it's Montevallo, and Lander has been in that kind of like that third spot there. And I don't think Coach LePore likes being in that third spot anymore. I think this is the year they make a move.

SPEAKER_01 45:44

Yeah, but I'll tell you what, Coach Doyle and Coach Lang will have nothing of that if they can say have any say about it. And the great thing I I you know, we didn't we didn't have them on this this podcast, but you had them on the coaching reviews, uh, Coach Geldart and Coach Vance. Those guys, those guys are bringing some energy to those those programs, and and it's great to see, and I think I think it won't happen this year, but I think it will in future years, and you'll just see a really tight conference.

SPEAKER_02 46:13

Yeah, you know, those guys at at Shorter and Young Harris, they they've got to put them ingredients to build that cake, you know, like we talk about so much. You know, they're building that cake, so they're building, they've got to get the ingredients. So they're starting, you know, Young Harris having more players on there. And let's see what Shorter does. Hopefully they can get a couple of more wins and three wins on their belt. But we love that Peach Belt. We think it's a parody, a great parody of, you know, Flagler was a great addition to to the Peach Belt. And I just really think they're they're athletic down there. And Flagler watched a few of their games last year, and I expect them to do I expect them to be a tough, a tough team as well.

SPEAKER_01 46:57

So they're they're gonna be a wild card in any game they play.

SPEAKER_02 47:02

Meaning Yeah, I just I think they have the athlete the athletes there, you know what I mean? And they have the depth, and now they're bringing in some seasoned veterans, played some Division I, you know. So let's see what Flagler does. I again I I pick I picked Flagler to win five games.

SPEAKER_01 47:21

I pick Young Harris to win three. Okay. All right. Well, I'll tell you what, it's gonna be a great 2023 watching the Peach Belt. But I think for this conference preview, Danny, that's a wrap. That's a wrap, Kev. This is a good one.

SPEAKER_02 47:36

We love the Peach Belt. Go get them, boys.