TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/8/21 – Staff Report
TINTON FALLS, N.J. – Michael Waite isn’t unfamiliar with high-level lacrosse. Playing at a club like Brotherly Love’s vaunted 2023 squad means he’s used to elite competition.
But at Tuesday’s One Percent Lacrosse Showcase, Waite knew the level was ratcheted up even higher. And the Downingtown East long-stick midfielder raised his game appropriately.
The LSM was one of the standouts of the tournament, making the Class of 2023 all-star game with his stellar two-way play. In a long day in the heat at Capelli Sports Complex, there was no sputtering from the tireless motor of the LSM.
“It was definitely a ton more skill at a showcase like this,” Waite said. “You definitely have to bring your ‘A’ game every game. Especially in the heat, it was tough. I was able to make sure I was playing my hardest every second, and I got the job done.”
Waite was one of two locals on the winning White team in the Class of 2023, joined by defender Luciano Chadha (Radnor/NXT). That squad claimed a 13-8 victory in the final.
Midfielder Ryan Falkenstein (Malvern Prep/Big 4 HHH), faceoff man Ryan Cunningham (Salesianum/Brotherly Love), LSM Walker Schwartz (Germantown Academy/Big 4 HHH) and goalie Nick De Cain (Radnor/NXT) were on the Black team that lost in the final.
The tournament, created by Philly’s Matt Chandik, featured eight teams in each the Class of 2023 and 2024 in competition Tuesday. From those teams were culled two All-Star squads in each division, representing the 44 most impressive players at the tournament. The event continues Wednesday with the Class of 2025.
Waite was certainly one of those all-stars, mixing his tenacious defense and dogged determination on the ground with speed in the open field to be a danger in transition.
“I just try to still work as a team with all my teammates, just learn names and work with the players I’m getting to play with,” Waite said. “I try working with them the best that I can.”
In the Class of 2024, Dylan Jaszcz (Episcopal Academy/Brotherly Love) scored a goal for the White team as it claimed a 10-6 win in the final over the Black squad. Jaszcz was joined by Brotherly Love teammate Nick Wehmeyer of Malvern Prep.
The Black squad got an assist from Anthony Chiango of Academy of the New Church/Duke’s. Matt Jacobsen (CB West/Team 11), Ben McCarthy (Haverford School/Mesa), Stevie Davis (La Salle/Duke’s) and Lucca DiBartolomeo (Malvern Prep/Brotherly Love) were also named all-stars.
Waite is coming off a busy week, with Brotherly Love taking the tournament title in the class of 2023 at Crabfeast in Maryland. For him and his mates, many of whom were present Tuesday, it’s something important to build on.
“It was a really good tournament played by us,” Waite said. “We’ve just got to make sure we don’t get head over heels in our next tournament and continue the good work as a team and play together.”
