Detroit Mercy Signs 11 For Next Year
from press release
DETROIT -- The Detroit Titans men's lacrosse team stockpiled talent for the future as head coach Matt Holtz announced the signings of 11 high school standouts, all of whom will enter the University next fall as freshmen. Joining the Titans for the 2013 season are: Paul Bitetti (Plainview, NY/Bethpage), Ryan Callaghan (Burlington, ON/Corpus Christi), Connor Flynn (Rockford, MI/Rockford), Brad Harris (Saline, MI/Saline), Andy Hebden (Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice), Chris Perry (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower), Jack Slomsky (Westerville, OH/ Columbus St Francis DeSales), Dylan Swanson (Ann Arbor, MI/ Pioneer), Ryan Tarzia (Hicksville, NY/Hicksville), Kurt Urbin (Rochester Hills, MI/Stoney Creek) and Shannen Wesley (Toledo, OH/ St. Francis de Sales).
Paul Bitetti – D – 6-1/205 - Plainview, NY/
Bethpage
Lettered in lacrosse and football in high school...Earned
All-County in lacrosse as a junior after compiling 128 ground balls
and 36 caused turnovers to go with eight assists...Was selected
All-Academic as a junior in lacrosse and senior in football...
Named the Fran McCall Lacrosse Award winner in 2010, given to the
sophomore varsity player with highest athletic achievements...As a
sophomore, he picked up 117 GB's and had 32 caused TO's with six
helpers...He played club with the Long Island Storm and the Long
Island Vipers, helping the storm to the Lava Lax Tournament title
in 2010...Selected to the All Star Team at Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp
in the 2010 and 2011 seasons...Selected to the All Star Team at
Camp 205 this past summer...A member of National Honor Society as a
junior and senior.
Coach Holtz on Bitetti: "He is an extremely aggressive and athletic defenseman who has all the tools to be a starter for us right away."
Ryan Callaghan – A – 5-10/165 - Burlington,
ON/Corpus Christi Catholic
A scorer from across the border, Callaghan shined in junior
lacrosse helping the Halton Junior Tier 2 to a championship in
2010...He made a name for himself on the club scene playing with
Edge Lacrosse for four years...He also attended the Top 205 and
Nike Blue Chip Rising Senior camp in 2011...He has been a winner on
all levels winning championships in the Ontario B Field Lacrosse in
peewee, bantam and midget.
Coach Holtz on Callaghan: "Ryan is a skilled goal scorer who will help us on the offensive end. He has the ability to play attack or midfield and to provide a scoring punch from either spot."
Connor Flynn – G – 5-10/200 - Rockford,
MI/Rockford
A netminder, Flynn has won three letters in lacrosse and is set for
a fourth this year with the Rockford Rams...He was tabbed second
team All-State as a sophomore and junior...Last season, he tied his
own school record with 23 saves in a game and ended the year with a
68.8 save percentage...He also owns school records with a 71.6 save
percentage and a 4.09 goals against average as a freshman...He owns
a career 65.9 save percentage and another school record with 446
saves...Off the field, he is a member of the National Honor
Society.
Coach Holtz on Flynn: "Connor is a great ball stopper who has good vision in the clearing game. He will compete for the starting spot very quickly in his career."
Brad Harris – A – 6/3/180 - Saline,
MI/Saline
A three-year letterwinner and brother of current Titan senior
midfielder Scott Harris...He earned All-State honors as a junior
after leading the team in scoring with 48 goals and 43 assists...A
team captain, he was also selected first team Southeastern
Conference (SEC) and was the Hornets' Team MVP...For his career,
the attackman has totaled 104 goals and 79 assists...Played club
with Team Total helping the squad to a title at the Notre Dame
lacrosse and Summer Sizzle Tournaments in 2010...He was also a part
of the Connect Program in high school which helps special needs
students.
Coach Holtz on Harris: "Brad Harris has great size and is extremely skilled. We are hoping he can break into the rotation early in his career."
Andy Hebden - M – 6-1/185 - Farmington Hills,
MI/Brother Rice
Another signee who knows all about the program through his older
brother in current Titan junior defenseman Jamie Hebden...A
three-year letterwinner at local powerhouse Brother Rice...Has
helped the Warriors to back-to-back state championships and a pair
of Catholic League titles...Brother Rice was also Midwest champions
in 2010 and runner-up in 2011 and claimed the North American
Invitational Blue Division last season...In his first year of high
school, helped the junior varsity squad to a Catholic League
championship as he was named the team's Offensive Player of the
Year...Played club with 1763...A member of the Student Senate and
the Kairos Student Director.
Coach Holtz on Hebden: "Andy is a long and athletic midfielder who can provide an offensive punch. We are confident that he will develop into an excellent offensive player."
Chris Perry – M – 6-0/185 - Shelby Township,
MI/Eisenhower
A multi letterwinner in lacrosse and football, Perry was selected
third team All-State as junior...He totaled 31 goals in his first
two years at Eisenhower and was named the Rookie of the Year after
helping the team to a co-championship in the MacRed Division in
2010...He played club with Grosse Point Select and 313 Lax for two
years...He was nominated and attended the Rising Junior Blue Chip
225 Lacrosse Camp's Elite Division in 2010...He clocked a 104-mph
shot to win the Ohio State Team Camp Fastest Shot Competition...He
is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the
Congressional Youth Leadership Council.
Coach Holtz on Perry: "Chris is probably the best overall athlete in our class. He has blazing speed, and a shot that has been clocked over at 100-mph."
Jack Slomsky – A – 5-9/185 - Westerville,
OH/ Columbus St Francis DeSales
Slomsky has been a member of the varsity lacrosse team since his
sophomore year...Had a fantastic junior season finishing the year
with All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State honors after
tallying 43 goals and a school record 37 assists...Scored 34 goals
and had 24 assists as a sophomore and was named an adidas
All-American...Has 85 goals and 65 assists going into his senior
year...Played club with Titanium the last two years...A member of
the Model United Nations, Business Club and Student Government.
Coach Holtz on Slomsky: "Jack is a versatile and skilled player who can play attack or midfield. He has the skills to be a feeder or a goal scorer for us."
Dylan Swanson – M – 6-3/190 - Ann Arbor, MI/
Pioneer
Earned letters in basketball, football and lacrosse...A two-time
All-State honoree earning third team in 2010 and first team in
2011...Also tabbed All-Region twice and MVP Midfielder as a
sophomore and junior...Last season, he recorded a team-high 72
points on 38 goals and 34 assists and has 60 goals and 59 helpers
in his career...Just this past summer, he was the NSCLA Tournament
Offensive MVP with True Lacrosse leading the squad to a team
title...He was also on the Ohio State Team Camp All Star Team.
Coach Holtz on Swanson: "He is an excellent athlete who is growing into his lacrosse body. He has a ton of upside and potential."
Ryan Tarzia – M – 5-7/175 - Hicksville,
NY/Hicksville
Has earned three letters in lacrosse and has made a name for
himself as a faceoff specialist...Helped the Comets to a Nassau
County Class A Championship in 2009...Invited to Top 205 as a
sophomore and junior...Played club with For The Love Of The
Game...A member of the National Honor Society.
Coach Holtz on Tarzia: "He is an excellent faceoff man who competed and did very well against a number of very good players over the summer. We are going to look for him to step into the first face off man roll very early in his career at Detroit."
Kurt Urbin – M – 6-0/180 - Rochester Hills,
MI/Stoney Creek
A three-year letterwinner and another local product to add to the
Titan roster, Urbin earned All-State Honorable Mention as a
sophomore and junior...He was also named All-OAA Red Division and
All-Area after tallying 20 goals and 19 assists last season...He
played club 1763, GP Select 1 year and 313 LAX...He has been a
member of the Student Council all four years.
Coach Holtz on Urbin: "He is a player that we have seen improve greatly over the past few years as we have watched his development. He has a great work ethic and drive."
Shannen Wesley – M – 5-10/180 - Toledo,
OH/St. Francis de Sales
An explosive offensive player, Wesley made a name for himself last
season as he looks to earn his fourth varsity letter in 2012...He
was tabbed second team All-State, All-Region and first team
All-League as a junior...Tallied 102 ground balls, 44 goals and 55
assists as a junior, while leading his team to a Toledo Area
Lacrosse Association (TALA) championship...He has scooped up 172
GB's in his career...He played club with GP Select helping the
squad to a 17-5 record and a Great Lakes Invitational U19
championship...He was also an All-Academic selection for two years
in football...Off the field, he was involved in the Interact Club,
the school's chapter of Rotary and Campus Ministry.
Coach Holtz on Wesley: "Shannen is a superior athlete who will be a first-line midfielder for us at some time in his career, it's just a matter of when, not if."
