Lax Bros Bash the Competition

How does Head Coach Jamie Archer feel about his team’s success so far this season? “I guess very good,” answers Coach Archer with a relaxed smile.

Good is an understatement for the 2010 Jamesville-DeWitt Boys Varsity Lacrosse team. The Red Rams won the Section III Class B championship on June 2 with an 11-8 victory over Auburn High School. The team is currently ranked No. 1 in New York State and No. 4 in the nation for Class B schools, with a perfect regular season record of 16-0. “Every game we win gives us confidence,” says Coach Archer.

Coach Archer acknowledges that his team went into the season with a goal of making it to the state tournament and they have been working hard towards achieving it. With players working out in the off-season, playing on club teams and improving their personal skills on their own, it’s no surprise that their goal is becoming a reality. “We have an extremely talented team with a lot of depth,” says junior Robbie Klink.

There have been many highs and lows to the Red Ram’s monumental season: highs include non-league wins over West Genesee and Carthage and one partially unpleasant low is the recent loss of Syracuse University-bound senior and team captain, Jake Bratek. Bratek broke his collarbone during practice and will not return before the end of the season. “When you lose a player like Jake you lose leadership and skill. But with the talent we have we should be able to continue our great season,” says junior Matt Kopp. As for Jake’s insight on the season after his injury, he says that he is “really hopeful about taking the state championship.”

While watching his team win the sectional championship Bratek felt confident and didn’t feel like the Maroons were a match for the Red Rams and their depth. When Bratek was a freshman, the team won the Class B State championship but compared to that team he believes that this year’s team has more depth, talent, and even better chemistry.

Despite the loss of Bratek, Coach Archer believes that the team will be able to rally and keep on performing well. He adds that you can’t replace a guy like Bratek, but the depth on this year’s team will show in tougher games at the end of the season. He also adds during the first game the Red Rams played without Bratek, they scored more goals then they had all season with a 24-2 victory over New Hartford on May 18. Agreeing with Coach Archer, Klink adds that because of the team’s depth they will still be able to win without Bratek. With everyone individually stepping up, Coach Archer expects the team to perform just as well. “The undefeated season means nothing in playoffs,” says junior Brad Diamond “but if we overcome difficulties we can succeed in the long difficult road to states.”

Coach Archer graduated from Nottingham High School and attended Syracuse University where he won two National Championships and still remains one of the all-time leading scorers. Following in their coach’s footsteps are several seniors playing at the collegiate level next year: Jake Bratek at Syracuse University, Cam Stone at Hobart College, Mac Feiner at Cabrini College, Dima Bakrukov at C. W. Post University, Joey Shepard at Mercyhurst College, Ed Kiesa at St. Lawrence University, Peter Goss at Clarkson University, Robbie Elbers at Stevenson University and Eric DeJohn who is attending prep school with hopes of playing at SU.