LifeMed crowned OC Lacrosse Classic champions
In honor of Ryan Andrew and Elijah Ghabor, local high school lacrosse players came together to win the inaugural High School Division Championship at the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic Aug. 11.
The OC Lax Classic has been a staple of the lacrosse community for decades. Thousands of players come together at Northside Park in Ocean City, Md., each August. Players range from hall of famers to current and past college players to retired pros, college coaches and the old guys in the 50+ bracket. In recent years, Colin Fagan, commissioner and founder of the Maryland Lacrosse League, took over as the tournament director and has added multiple divisions. This allows for better competition for all players involved. The OC Classic is mostly about getting to play a game they all love with the OC skyline and the Assawoman Bay in the background.
New to the 2024 OC Lax Classic was the boys’ high school division. In its first year, four JV and three varsity high school teams competed for two championships. LifeMed JV and Edgelaxers varsity came out victorious.
Edgelaxers included players from Kent Island and St. Mary’s high schools. LifeMed JV included local players from Cape Henlopen, Salesianum, Caesar Rodney, Milford and Stephan Decatur.
LifeMed was organized for the purpose of showcasing some of the best high school players from the Camden area south to Ocean Pines. Neil Little, LifeMed assistant coach and organizer, brought this team together with the help of his son, Patrick Little, a sophomore Cape goalie. The team was sponsored by LifeMed Institute and Benchmark Physical Therapy.
When the first whistle blew, there was never a doubt that this group of players was on a mission to win the tournament. During the tourney, LifeMed went 4-0 with 36 goals scored and only five allowed, and won the championship game 7-4 against Edgelaxers.
LifeMed was coached by Delaware Tech head coach Dan Yearick; Matthew Faircloth, Caesar Rodney assistant and former head coach; Patrick Little, rising Cape sophomore; and Cello Orsini, rising Cape sophomore. Little and Orsini were coaching due to injury.
Cape players participating included Grant Conway, Pierce Conway, Braddock Smith, Channing Smith, Mason Jack, Cullen Craffey, Matthew Popovich, Tate Maur, Drew Mongeluzo, Marshall Keys, Jaxson Holgerson and Carter Nemcic.
Milford players included Ty Machert, Chase Reis, Landon Hill and Ja’Zear Speller.
Caesar Rodney players included Braxton Faircloth, Will Autman, Jack Scala and Micah Moritz.
Sussex Academy was represented by Jack “Tacocat” Meszaros.
Also participating were Salesianum’s Christian Hudson and Timothy Hamrock of Stephen Decatur.
