By Madeleine Nichols
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 11/16/15
BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. – Ethan Stannard said there was a simple reason his Everest Academy (Ontario, Canada) went 3-0 Sunday in the team competition at the Can Am Showcase at Detroit Country Day School.
“We had teamwork,” said the 2018 attackman, one of six Everest players that were named Saturday to the Select Game in the individual showcase. “There wasn’t a lot of individual play. We were just working as a team, moving the ball around and finding the open shot.”
The three wins pushed Everest to 15-0 this fall vs. high school teams. Everest has lost several games to Canadian college teams. Everest is new to the Fall tournament scene and many of its players have grown up playing box lacrosse, but this spring Everest will play four US teams from the Midwest.
“I think we were really successful today because we used each other as a team,” said Everest’s Michael Harris, a 2016 defenseman who also made the Select game. “It was a lot of individual efforts coming together as one.”
The following are interviews from all six Select Game honorees from Everest. Click here for a recap of the King of the X champion, MVP and Players that Shined from the Select Game.
Ethan Stannard, 2018, A, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Stannard: “My goals this weekend were to play outside my comfort zone in the individual showcase and I think I accomplished that by playing with some better players.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Stannard: “I learned that I see the field really well and have good vision. It’s easy to find those guys inside on the crease.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Stannard: “I am looking for a competitive lacrosse university that suits my academic and athletic needs.”
How have your box skills helped you in the field game?
Stannard: “It has really helped me on the inside finishing; throw a lot of fakes and find the open hole.”
Corson Kealey, 2017, A, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Kealey: “To play a team game and to win all three [games] on Sunday, and we did that.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Kealey: “I learned to battle through tough games. We were all tired this weekend. We had a 15- man roster and we just played through it.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Kealey: “I am hoping to go to a competitive Division 1 program. I think my athleticism is what hurts my game the most.”
How have your box skills helped you in the field game?
Kealey: “It helps you in tight spaces and really good stick skills. We are able to hand the ball in pressure situations.
You won all three games today. What do you think attributed to your success as a team?
Kealey: “We played a team game and moved the ball around. We didn’t do individual stuff and it just helped us.”
Curtis Conley, 2018, D, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Conley: “My goals this weekend was to become an All-Star [player] and win all three games. And I accomplished both.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Conley: “I think I learned that against tougher teams I can elevate my game to another gear.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Conley: “I’m looking for a small town rural college. I think I need to focus on my footwork because that is the weakness in my game.”
How have your box skills helped you in the field game?
Conley: “It’s helped my footwork and my athleticism. Running in a box you are always sprinting so here I can always sprint down and back without any problem.”
You won all three games today. What do you think attributed to your success as a team?
Conley: We learned to battle through whatever the game throws at us. A lot of us got injured by the end of the day but no matter what, we battled and came out victorious.”
Tristan Hanna, 2016, M, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Hanna: “This weekend I came into just hoping to play a good team game and play well together and go 3-0.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Hanna: “I learned that against tougher teams, I can elevate my game.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Hanna: “I’m looking for a competitive Division 1 or Division 2 program. I need to focus on my strengths.”
How have your box skills helped you in the field game?
Hanna: “They help me because we play differently than the Americans down here and it helps give us some edge.”
You won all three games today. What do you think attributed to your success as a team?
Hanna: “We just have a good group of guys who gel together well.”
Michael Harris, 2016, D, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Harris: “My goals were to showcase really well and get three wins today so we accomplished the goal. I think I showcased myself pretty well.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Harris: “I learned that I have really good foot speed and I can get myself out of tough situations just by running.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Harris: “I am looking for a good Division 1 school with a good competitive lacrosse program. I need to focus on my strength and conditioning.”
You won all three games today. What do you think attributed to your success as a team?
Harris: “I think we were really successful today because we used each other as a team. It was a lot of individual efforts coming together as one.
Owen Grant, 2018, D, Everest Academy, ONT
What goals did you have this weekend and do you feel you accomplished them?
Grant: “I had a team goal that we would go undefeated and keep our undefeated record for this year and we kept that alive. And I had an individual goal to make the Select Game and I succeeded.”
What have you learned about your game this weekend that will help you moving forward?
Grant: “I learned how much of an advantage my size is.”
What type of college are you looking for? What do you need to focus on to help you get recruited?
Grant: “A competitive lacrosse team with a good business program. I need to focus on my strength and conditioning and footwork.”
How have your box skills helped you in the field game?
Grant: “We have quicker sticks and it’s all in tight so it ends up a lot quicker.”
You won all three games today. What do you think attributed to your success as a team?
Grant: “I think our box experience really carried over.
