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2015
News and More for Alumni, Parents and Fans of CBHS Lax
May 15-16, 2015
****2015 CAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND EDITION****
vs.
Friday, May 15, 2015 @ 7:30 Ensworth (Nashville)
VS.
Friday, May 15, 2015 @ 5:00 Ensworth (Nashville)
Championship Game
Saturday, May 16th, 2015 | 3:00 PM
ALL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND GAMES WILL BE STREAMED ONLINE
atwsportscast.com/tsla.htm
Follow us live on TWITTER: @cbhslacrosse
Amazing things are happening with CBHS Lacrosse!
Now in its 25th season, the lacrosse program and the athletic department at CBHS have set a vision to
field competitive regional and national athletic programs built on Lasallian values. Nearly 100 boys are
involved at the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Developmental lacrosse teams making it the second most
popular sport on campus behind football. Plans are underway to build a state of the art locker room,
weight-lifting and sports medicine facility to be used by all student-athletes attending Christian
Brothers.
Planned Brothers’ Development Center
"The goal for the CBHS Lacrosse program is to train our varsity players with the intensity and focus of
a top college program. Not every boy will go on to play at the collegiate level, but the purpose is to
develop each player so that the decision to play at the next level is in their hands." - Collin Welsh,
Head Coach
CBHS, currently ranked #3 in TN, heads into the TSLA Championship Weekend with an impressive 18-3
record and arguably the most competitive team in the history of the school’s program. Many, if not all
varsity student-athletes have been playing lacrosse since middle school and the influence of competitive
travel teams is seen in the depth chart.
The recent success of the program is in no doubt attributed to the dedication of the student-athletes
and the leadership of second year head coach, Collin Welsh. Coach Welsh played high school lacrosse at
St. Paul’s in Baltimore in what is considered to be one of the most competitive high school lax leagues in
the country. He went on to play DI at Stony Brook, eventually transferring to play closer to home at
Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. He helped coach several competitive club teams in the
Baltimore and Annapolis area and came to CBHS having served as a Head JV coach for Severn School.
His deep experience with developing players, his lax IQ and East Coast contacts have had a significant
impact in year-round preparation, strength conditioning and leadership of the program.
Founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1871, Christian Brothers High School is an all-boys college
preparatory school in the Lasallian and Catholic traditions. www.cbhs.org
Head Coach, Collin Welsh rwelsh@cbhs.org
The 2015 Season Review
2015 will be remembered as one of the most historic seasons in the history of the program. Sadly, the
team lost Senior Christophe Kesterson along with Collin Kilgore, a member of the CBHS baseball team,
on February 14th. Having come together as a band of brothers, the varsity squad took to the road and
opened with 3 wins in Nashville against USN, Ravenwood and Ensworth.
Christophe Kesterson
Returning to Memphis, the team hosted another 3 out of town teams including Missouri state
contender SLU Jesuit from St. Louis. Holding a 6-0 record, the Brothers began local play defeating White
Station and Briarcrest as well as a win over Baton Rouge Catholic. Now 9-0 and going into April,
Brothers defeated Fr. Ryan in Nashville, followed by Collierville, KY state contender Louisville Collegiate,
and a double-overtime win against a quickly emerging ECS team.
The team made a road trip to Indiana and Illinois where they faced three of the region’s top ten teams
including national pre-season #1 Culver Military Academy. While Coach Welsh’s squad did not produce
W’s on the trip, the experience of playing highly competitive teams allowed the group to test their metal
against great competition. The squad practiced at The University of Notre Dame and received an inside
tour of the #2 college team in the country’s facilities.
With the rain pouring down and in front of students, parents and faculty, CBHS then defeated local rival
MUS, ranked #2 in TSLA, (9-8) in an exciting Friday night game at Tom Nix Stadium. This victory was a
statement win for a program that had been unable to defeat the Owls for 13 seasons.
Wrapping up the regular season, CBHS defeated St. George’s to go 16-3 and undefeated in TSLA,
winning the Western Division of the state. The squad now has their eyes set on a State Championship.
Brothers faced a very physical and talented ECS team on May 7th at Tom Nix Stadium in the first round of
TSLA Playoffs. The surprising young program was able to strike first and hold the Brothers to a 4-4 tie
heading into the second half. No surprise that on-field leadership from Jr.’s Dominic Nayan and Sam
Ross along with a hat-trick from Sr. Henry Perkins (highest scoring midfielder in the TSLA), that the
Purple Wave was able to pull-away with a 10-5 victory. Second half of the season has been highlighted
by defensive performances by Sr. Jacob Chapman and offensively by So. Attackman, Creed Simonton.
Brothers face Centennial High School from Franklin, TN on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 4:00 in an effort to
make it to the Final 4 in Nashville the weekend of May 15.
You can go to www.laxpower.com for state and national records and rankings.
CBHS Lacrosse was pleased to welcome the Brothers’ new Head Football Coach – Thomas McDaniel (R)
and Assistant, Dale Dunlap (L) to the sidelines for the ECS game. The team has had great support from
faculty and administration all-season.
Pre-game Announcement from MUS Game
Written by Coach Welsh
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'd like to welcome you all to Tom Nix Stadium for tonight's matchup
between the Memphis University School Owls and your Christian Brothers Purple
Wave.
We’d like to take a moment to recognize Colin Kilgore of the CBHS Baseball
program and Christophe Kesterson of the CBHS lacrosse team who tragically
passed away on February 14. We will honor our fallen seniors with helmet
stickers, and warm-up shirts, but above anything else this will be a season about
healing and growth.
Wins and losses will be secondary this spring as these boys, work through
one of the toughest lessons to learn in life. A team that has been forced to bond
through tragedy will not need the extra incentive to be inspired to play harder or
to compete, that motivation, when they cannot find in within themselves, will be
on their helmet and under their jersey. This will be a team that must find it within
themselves to be open to truly being a band of brothers and play their hearts out
for each other because they are fortunate enough to still be able to do so.
To honor Christophe’s memory, the CBHS Lacrosse parents have created a
scholarship fund to give a rising ninth grader the opportunity to play for the True
Lacrosse Tennessee club team this summer. The recipient of this award is Efrain
Razura of the Saints Lacrosse Program. Later this spring, a memorial plaque will
be placed outside the practice field.
At this time we will have a moment of silence for Christophe and Colin.
Please continue to keep the Kesterson and Kilgore families in your thoughts and
prayers…
CBHS 2015 TSLA WEST CHAMPIONS!!!
BROTHERS RANKED #2 IN TSLA BY USA TODAY HS SPORTS
Brothers’ Boys Recognized First Team All-West 2015
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Sam Ross, Goalie (JR)
Matthew Simon, Defense (SR)
Jacob Chapman, Defense (SR)
Robert Hammons, LSM; (JR)
Chris Varnado, Midfield (SR)
Henry Perkins, Midfield (SR)
Dominic Nayan, Attack (JR)
Team Leaders in Points
1.
2.
3.
Reid Lanigan- Sophomore, Attack: 54 Points (35/19)
Henry Perkins- Senior, Midfield: 54 Points (41/12)
Jack Delgado-Sophomore, Attack: 39 Points (22/17)
4.
5.
6.
Dominic Nayan- Junior, Attack: 38 Points (14/24)
Chris Varnado-Senior, Midfield: 35 Points (26/9)
David Valentine-Senior, Midfield: 32 Points (21/11)
Coach Welsh’s Players to Watch
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The 2015 team features two seniors who will be continuing their lacrosse career at the NCAA
DIII level. Christopher Varnado is headed to D3 power, Stevenson University in Maryland and
Matthew Simon is headed to Rhodes College.
Midfielder Chris Varnado and Defenseman/LSM Mathew Simon
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Senior Defensemen, Matthew Simon is now second all-time in ground balls in CBHS Lacrosse
History. Matthew was first team All-State, first team All-West Region, and a finalist for the
Commercial Appeal Lacrosse Player of the Year as a junior.
Senior Midfielder, Chris Varnado has returned to form since missing his junior season with a
back injury. The future Mustang is currently the top faceoff guy in the state of Tennessee and
had an excellent showing against tough opponents during the trip to Culver and Illinois.
Senior Defensemen Jacob Chapman, who turned down multiple offers to play next season, is
currently reconsidering his college options. Chapman was first team All-West Region as a junior
and has become one of the best takeaway defenders in the state. Chapman scored the first
defensive goal of the year against St. George’s.
Arkansas-Bound Senior Midfielder, Henry Perkins continues to have a breakout season. After an
injury riddled junior year, Henry has become the highest scoring midfielder in the TSLA.
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Creed Simonton has had an explosive second half of the season and has been able to put points
on the board in critical times including 2 goals against MUS. The Sophomore has now scored 5
goals in past 3 games.
Junior Goalie, Sam Ross has committed to play D1 lacrosse at Mercer College. Sam has had an
excellent junior season and has fit nicely into the program since transferring from the Blue Ridge
School this fall.
The Core Four: Reid Lanigan, William Varndo, Jack Delgado, and Creed Simonton all played
significant minutes as freshmen and have excelled during their sophomore campaign. Lanigan
leads the team in points, Delgado leads the team in assists, and Varnado has been 70% from the
face-off X.
Junior, Dominic Nayan had an outstanding sophomore season earning his second team All-State
and first team All-West Region. He has been moved back and forth all season between attack
and midfield which has allowed him to make many key plays in decisive moments.
Junior, Dominic Nayan #20
CBHS to host college lacrosse recruiting event in fall 2015
US Lax Events www.uslaxevents.com is proud to announce the inaugural Mid-South Showcase October
31 through November 1, 2015 at Christian Brothers High School, Memphis, TN. This professionally
organized event will allow regional talent to be displayed in front of DI, DII and DIII coaches from across
the country. All players will be placed on teams by US Lax events staff and compete in full-field games
Aaron Ranson ’97 (Ohio Wesleyan) - Matt Garibaldi ’99 (Auburn) - Nolan Vihlen ’08 (Villanova)
Alumni Notes
Andy Ticer & Michael Hudman ’98 Congratulations to CBHS Lax Alumni, Andy Ticer & Michael
Hudman ’98 on being named finalists for the James Beard Foundation Award. The two are chefs and
owners of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Hog & Hominy and Porcellino’s Craft Butcher in Memphis.
Tashan Mitchell ‘11 -
has made a positive impact on the Lehigh men's lacrosse program and
Lehigh athletics overall. Recruited to play both lacrosse and football, Mitchell played in one game as a
freshman in 2012 during Lehigh's Patriot League Championship season. After focusing on football over
the ensuing years, Mitchell returned to the lacrosse team this season and has continued to be a strong
influence in practice. He's gotten into two games this season, at Monmouth and Holy Cross.
AJ Fick ’14 – wrapping up his freshman season at Lincoln Memorial University.
Brothers’ Walk to MUS Game
CBHS Lacrosse Summer Camps hosted by CBHS Coach Welsh
CBHS Lax Day Camp – Boys entering grades 4-9 – June 15-18
http://www.cbhs.org/portals/0/UploadedContent/camps/2015%20camps/LACROSSE_DAY.PDF
Queener Lax Day Camp – Boys entering grades 3-12 – July 13th – 16th @ CBHS
Lead by Albany Asst. Coach and MLL Florida Launch Goalie, Brett Queener, a great opportunity for
Memphis area boys to have exposure to and instruction from athletes who have competed at the
highest level in lacrosse http://www.queenerlax.com/boys-lacrosse-day-camp-brat-christian-brothershs.cfm
Help support CBHS Lacrosse by designating your gift to the CBHS Annual Fund
You can now support CBHS lacrosse directly by designating your gift the Annual Fund. Your gift
supplements the budget provided by the school including uniforms, nets, assistant coaches and travel
expenses. Support CBHS and support CBHS Lacrosse by clicking DONATE HERE