By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 1/29/14

La Salle College High (PA) sophomore midfielder Austin Clibanoff has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Lehigh University.

Austin Clibanoff ledger:

High School: La Salle College High, Wyndmoor PA

Graduation Year: 2016

Position: midfielder

College Choice: Lehigh University (ConnectLAX college profile)

Club Affiliation: Duke’s L.C.

Major lacrosse honors, All-Star teams, Camps, Showcases: Jake Reed Rising Sophomore, Nike Blue Chip, Dukes 2 as freshman, La Salle Varsity freshman member of 2013 state championship team, Terrapin Classic Watch List

Academic honors, service projects: ECRN Charity Walk/Run, Pheed Philly, LaSalle Freshman Branchout Day

What will you major in/study? Leaning toward Business or Mathematics

Why did you choose the school? “The first time I stepped on the campus I knew it was the place for me. I loved it! Coach (Kevin) Cassese and the rest of his staff are amazing and they made me feel welcome when I got there. Coach Cassese is the type of coach I love to play for and I am excited that one day I will have the opportunity. Being close to my family is also something I cherish a lot and since Lehigh is 45 minutes away it makes it easy for our relationship to stay at a high level.”

HS team’s outlook for next season? “After losing 16 seniors from last year, it is going to be hard. But we are leaning on our few seniors and we have a young team with a lot of potential. The goal every year is to win PCLs and go to states. That’s every team’s goal, but we will push hard for that. If we can win (the league), nobody in the state can stop us.”

Thank You: I’d love to give thank yous to (Dukes LC) coach Ebe Helm for making it his priority to help me throughout the entire process; coach (Jason) Christmas for pushing me when I needed it the most and giving me the chance to play at a high level for the Dukes. Coaches Vetrone and Fallon at Dukes 2 for selecting me on that team and making me feel like I could play at a high level and be one of the younger guys on the field. To my youth coaches, Dave Sowers and Bob Erwine and for coaching me at such a young age and helping me up until high school. To Coaches (Bill) Leahy and (Tony) Resch at La Salle for helping me with all the sticks skills and coaching their type of ball and thanks for being motivational and showing me what it feels like to win big. Also, thanks to all the rest of the coaches at La Salle.

“Thanks to a lot of other people along the way: Ryan Cranston and Johnny Christmas for taking me aside for individual help and making me the player I am today’ and for starting with me at such a young age.

“Last but not least, my family; probably the most important people. Without them none of this would be possible. They always wanted me to go to practice. And to my brothers Michael and Matthew and my sister, Bridget, for always putting up with having to come to my practices.

“I want to give a huge thank you to my parents for always giving me motivational speeches and for pushing me to do my best. And also to Coach Cassese and the Lehigh staff for giving me the chance to fulfill my dreams of playing college lacrosse and competing for a national championship.

Other schools considered? Penn State, Marquette, Cornell, Hofstra, Richmond

ConnectLAX, the official sponsor of Toplaxrecruits.com Boys’ Recruits, congratulates Austin Clibanoff. ConnectLAX helps recruits highlight their skills and connect with college coaches. Recruits maximize their recruiting exposure with a mobile recruiting profile that is linked to their team’s roster, helping coaches find them on the field and evaluate their profile while watching them play. Create your ConnectLAX mobile recruiting profile for free. Click here to sign up!