Marysville High School lacrosse player Mark Frendberg (13) gets set to pass the ball during a 2019 contest. COVID-19 has wiped out the 2020 season for juniors like Frendberg. A player’s junior season is important in the collegiate recruiting process. (Photo submitted)
Student-athletes may have to be pro-active
High school spring sports seniors are coming to grips with the fact their prep careers are over.
The global COVID-19 pandemic made sure there would be no final athletic season for the class of 2020.
A number of graduating seniors, however, will still have a collegiate sports career ahead of them.
What some folks may not realize is the coronavirus may have a big impact on some sports futures for those in the class of 2021.
Marysville High School boys varsity lacrosse coach Zac Engle said the cancelation of the 2020 season may hurt those who would have been juniors on his team.
“These guys, like everyone else who was set to play for us this year, have put in a lot of hard work over the past six months,” said Engle, who would have begun his second season at the Monarch helm this spring.
The coach said lacrosse seniors basically decide where they are going to play in college long before their final season.
That’s because a good deal of collegiate lacrosse coaches do the scouting during a player’s junior season and also into the summer between that and their senior campaign.
“Lacrosse players want to be seen during their junior season,” said Engel.
The coach said current MHS juniors who have an opportunity to play on the collegiate level include David Bonczak, Mark Frendberg, Christian Iberra, Brody Overbey and Adam Pfarr.
With the season halted because of the pandemic, next year’s seniors will only be able to rely on summer camps and competitive leagues that would allow college coaches to watch them play.
That is, however, if summer leagues and camp are permitted to be held.
“The summer camps and leagues are also a good way for college coaches to watch the next year’s seniors,” said Engle.
The coach said he’s not sure whether camps or leagues will be held this summer due to the virus and social distancing mandates.
“It’s going to be hard for college coaches to tell (who the top players are) if no one can hold camps or leagues,” he said. “Those are always among the best ways to look at prospective players.”
With that in mind, junior lacrosse players may have to think a bit outside the box.
“I think juniors are going to have to become more pro-active in the recruiting process,” said Engle. “I think they will need to ‘self-recruit.’”
By that, Engle meant players in the class of 2021 will need to get films of them playing into the hands of college coaches.
“They are going to have to get out in front of people,” he said.
Engle said the Monarch coaching staff will also help as much as possible in the recruiting process.
“College coaches often e-mail us, inquiring as to which players they should look at,” he said. “We will be pro-active as well.”