The 2023-2024 Year-in-Review

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Project Missouri Families,

 

As we enter the final weeks of the summer, I want to personally thank you for your engagement with our club over the past year. To be sure, lacrosse is growing across our city, and we worked with more families and athletes this past year than ever before.  As we wrap up another incredible year, I’d like to share our achievements and outline our vision for the future.

 

Key Highlights From the 2023-2024 Season):

*Names and further details are provided below

 

  • Unprecedented growth in player and family engagement with over 450 players involved in our program over the past year.
    • 200+ players involved in K-4th Grade Champions League
  • Launched The Project Pro Series featuring Tom Schreiber, Will Manny and Justin Inacio, all of whom will be returning in the near future to work exclusively with our players.*
  • All five 2024 Missouri USA Lacrosse All-Americans are Project Missouri players.*
  • Willy Carpenter named Metro Player of the Year.*
  • 20 Players named to STL Today All-Metro teams (8 First-Team, 6 Second-Team, 6 Third-Team).*
  • Strong personal representation in national showcases and events.*
  • Pro representation:
  • NCAA representation:
    • Graham Bundy Jr ( Georgetown University): USILA First Team All-American (4x USILA AA)
    • Thomas Niedringhaus (Boston University): Captain, Patriot League Finals
    • Tanner Placke, Quinn Sweeney, Aiden Italiano, Matt Martyn, Derek Radke, (Maryville University): D2 National Tournament bid
    • Nick Witcher, Kyle Granquist (Centre College): D3 National Tournament bid
    • Tyler Foerstel (Aurora University): D3 National Tournament bid
    • Ethan Hare, Jake Gisi (Illinois Wesleyan): D3 National Tournament bid 

In our eyes, the strength of our brand and the Project Pipeline has never been stronger. Over the last decade, we have worked to establish a player’s path from Missouri, from youth lacrosse to the pinnacle of our game. That path is possible from the Champions League to competing on the national club circuit at Naptown to NCAA and now into the pros. The further establishment of that pipeline is what the future holds.

 

Our Vision for the Future

As we eye our program dynamics for the Fall of 2024 to Summer of 2025 cycle, it is critical for us to continue focusing on our most important role: teaching and coaching. It is clear to me that club experience for players and families is incumbent on the leadership at each grade level team. Creating a more consistent and principles-based leadership system is our primary goal for the next 12 months. 

 

As we coach our coaches, you can expect to see an increase in the amount of time that each player, regardless of grade level, experiences coaching from our city’s best. We can accomplish this by adding in, for each team, a guaranteed skill development session each week with our top and most established veteran staff members. This means that every offensive, defensive, and specialist player will get individualized attention from elite coaches in a small group setting. We have recently pulled local lacrosse legend and longtime Project Missouri coach, Michael Coursault, out of retirement, for example, to train the 2029 and 2027 offensive groups for the upcoming sessions. Also coming on board, for defensive training, is Keith Templin, the most accomplished defensive coach in area history. 

 

Coach Heaton and I have also worked on a restructuring of overall internal leadership roles within our organization to streamline grade-level to grade-level experiences. We are in the process of hiring more administrative operational support, and that frees us up to do what we do best for Project Missouri. 

 

In the coming weeks, you will see several improvements and upgrades to our club coming from our front office. Nearly all of the upgrades and improvements come from the feedback that you all have given us over the past year. Yes, we heard you, and yes it takes time to implement your suggestions. 

 

In the meantime, do not forget to get registered for the 2024 Fall/Winter team evaluations. Link here.

 

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead. 

 

Best,

 

Andy Kay

 

*Accolades Deep-dive

  • Launched The Project Pro Series
    • Tom Schreiber: 3x PLL MVP, 9x PLL all-star, 4x PLL Midfielder of the Year, and Team USA Senior Captain
    • Will Manny: 8x PLL all-star
    • Justin Inacio: PLL FO Specialist and Team Canada team member
  • All 2024 USA Lacrosse All-Americans are Project Missouri players
    • Willy Carpenter – Midfield/MICDS
    • Henry Oliver – Defense/MICDS
    • Colin Pim – Goalie/Priory
    • Marco Sansone – Defense/SLUH
    • John Nicpon – Attack/Chaminade
  • Metro Player of the Year
    • Willy Carpenter – Midfield/MICDS
  • STL Today All-Metro Players
    • Willy Carpenter – 1st team, MICDS
    • Johnny Brison – 1st team, JBS
    • Steele Crissman – 1st team, MICDS
    • Graham Labonte – 1st team, DeSmet
    • John Nicpon – 1st team, Chaminade
    • Henry Oliver – 1st team, MICDS
    • Colin Pim – 1st team, Priory
    • Marco Sansone – 1st team, SLUH
    • Ian Spakowski – 1st team, MICDS
    • Graham Faust – 2nd team, MICDS
    • Bryce Horner – 2nd team, CBC
    • Jack McManus – 2nd team, DeSmet
    • Mick McMurphy – 2nd team, Priory
    • Javonte Tiller – 2nd team, Lindbergh
    • Leyton Usry – 2nd team, Parkway West
    • Shane Bollen – 3rd team, Chaminade
    • Jackson Meyer – 3rd team, Wentzville
    • Peter O’Leary – 3rd team, MICDS
    • Cooper Terry – 3rd team, Kirkwood
    • Tyler Tschudy – 3rd team, MICDS
  • Nike National All-Star Games Players
    • 2026: Peter O’Leary, Gentry Curtis, Ben Williams, Ian Spakowski, Steele Crissman, Mikey Gutchewski, Jackson Toline
    • 2027: Justin Bishop
    • 2028: Wyatt Giles, Brock Chiasm, Henry Swoboda
    • 2029: Jordan Clyne
    • 2028 and 2029 Midwest teams won the National Championship!
  • New Balance Underclass All American
    • 2026: Peter O’Leary, Steele Crissman
  • Andy Kay selected to Coach New Balance All-America Senior Game
  • Maverick Showtime Players
    • 2026: Mikey Gutchewsky, Peter O’Leary, Luke Koman
    • 2027: Justin Bishop
  • First Class Lacrosse: Best in Class
    • 2026: Luke Koman
      • Category leader in Broad Jump and Vertical Jump
  • Juniors Open Players
    • 2026: Steele Crissman (All Tournament), Ian Spakowski, Peter O’Leary, Ben Williams, Mikey Gutchewski
    • 2027:Justin Bishop (All Tournament)
  • Project Midwest Players (29s 2nd in the nation, 28s 3rd in the nation, all others top 20 in nation)
    • 2025: Colin Pim, Mick Murphy
    • 2026: Peter O’Leary, Gentry Curtis, Ben Williams, Ian Spakowski, Steele Crissman, Mikey Gutchewski, Chris Garlich, Carson Kaburick
    • 2027: Justin Bishop, Tyler Obertino
    • 2028: Wyatt Giles, Brock Chisam, Ty Haegele, Henry Swoboda
    • 2029: Jordan Clyne, Luke Westre, Landon Dieck, Graham Wilkinson
    • 2030: Cole Harris, Jordan Soshnik, Michael Glynias, John Seelbach, Patrick Komadowski
    • 2031: Tripp Landy, Wells Bottomley, Luke Giles
  • The Circuit Finishes
    • Project Midwest 28s – 3rd in the Nation
    • Project Midwest 31s- 3rd in the Nation
  • Total Players in Program
    • STL: 450+ players involved during the 2023-2024 season
      • 200+ Champions League players