June 20, 2008

• GRANDSON MIKE ON LACROSSE MAGAZINE ONLINE

  
  National Senior Showcase: Homegrown Talent

   

  
  Army-bound Mike Anderson looks forward to seeing how Chicago stacks up

  	Printer-Friendly Format   E-mail this article     Lyons Township came up short in the IHSLA state semifinal after Mike Anderson pulled a hamstring 12 seconds into the game. Anderson returns to the field Saturday for the West all-stars in the US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase before heading to West Point to play Division I lacrosse. (Photo: Bryan Cruwys)

   

  June 20, 2008

  
  

  The fifth-annual US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase,
  an all-star exhibition featuring 96 of the top high school boys’
  lacrosse seniors in the country and sponsored by Warrior, is Saturday
  at Benedictine University in Chicago.

  Click here for a PDF of the all-star rosters representing the North, South, East and West regions, or here for an event schedule.

  ---

  by J. Jude Hazard, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

  Mike Anderson has one last chance to bask in the cheers from
  friends and family on the lacrosse fields of Illinois as a high
  schooler before embarking on more than a decade of service to his
  country.

  Anderson, 18, and a graduating senior from nearby Lyons
  Township High School in Western Springs, Ill., will play as a
  midfielder for the West team this weekend at Benedictine University in
  Chicago at the US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase.

  In July, Anderson will head to the U.S. Military Academy at
  West Point, where he’ll play lacrosse for Division I Army. After
  college, he is obligated to five years of active duty military service
  and three years reserve service.

  “There’s so many opportunities after the service and
  everything that opens up because I went to West Point,” he said. “I
  think it’s a great opportunity.”

  Anderson helped the Lions to an undefeated season and a berth
  in the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association (IHSLA) state
  semifinals May 28. After winning the opening faceoff, he drove down the
  field, twisted his body and scored the opening goal within 12 seconds.

  During the play, however, he pulled a hamstring and would sit
  the rest of the game, helpless as his No. 1-seeded teammates lost to
  No. 4-seeded Loyola, 7-3.

  “It was pretty bad,” he said. “I think we should have had that game in the bag.”

  Lyons Township coach Eric Nuss said that losing Anderson was a devastating blow to the team.

  “The fact that we lost Mike in a game where they also had a
  very good faceoff player we were going up against made it a twofold
  loss,” he said.

  Anderson won 71 percent of his faceoffs in 2008, notching 38 goals and 20 assists in 22 games.

  Although he said he might be slightly slowed by the hamstring
  injury this weekend, Anderson said it will be great to see the best
  high school talent from around the country come play 20 minutes away
  from his hometown.

  “I’m kind of interested to see how everyone from the East and
  the North and the South teams do against the West,” he said. “I’m also
  looking to see the other players from the West and how they compare to
  the East players, and if it’s really that big of a difference.”

  Anderson wants improve his quickness and off-hand shot between now and the start of his freshman season at Army.

  His father, Steve, called himself “Mike’s biggest fan,” and
  said he is 100 percent in favor of Mike’s decision to attend West Point
  beginning next month.

  “We are a family that puts a lot of our faith in God, and we
  believe that God has a plan for Michael,” Steve Anderson said. “I am
  nervous, but I’m proud as well.”

  Steve Anderson said Nuss first approached the family about
  Army being interested in Mike coming to play lacrosse there. Eight of
  the 96 players participating in the NSS are bound for military
  academies or prep schools.

  “I’m happy for him. I’m a little nervous,” Nuss said. “I have
  a couple friends that went to the Air Force Academy and really got a
  lot out of it.”

  Nuss said that Saturday will probably be the last time he gets
  to see Anderson play live, because the high school and college
  schedules run parallel. He said Anderson is the best player he’s
  coached in his seven-year career.

  “He’s got a tremendous work ethic. He is one of the most
  explosive athletes I’ve ever coached,” Nuss said. “He’s got a
  tremendous heart and desire to win.”

  Anderson will have to work on relying less on his physical
  skills and strength as he makes the transition to the Division I level
  at Army, according to Nuss.

  The academy pays for all students’ expenses, so Mike technically did not get an athletic scholarship.

  “It’s one of the toughest colleges to get into, maybe in the
  world. So many people apply there,” Steve Anderson said. “Lacrosse
  definitely put his foot in the door.”

  • 9:44 pm
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