Celebrating CitySideLax Commits & Alumni
We love to see CitySide players take it to the next level. Learn about their journey in this Q & A with recent commits.
Committed to the Next Level
Guss Simpson
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Committed to: Whittier College, Whittier , CA
High School: Ballard High School Graduation Year: 2018 H.S. Coach: Don Preston
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What are you most excited for in regards to playing in college?
"I am most excised to play and a more competitive level with a new band of brothers."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"CitySide has supported me for years and walked me through the whole recruiting process. Even taking time out of there day to sit down and plan each step."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"They have fine tuned my skills and grown my lacrosse IQ. Especially helped me to step up my intensity every game."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"I would say to never underestimate any player including yourself and to make as many friends/connections you can on your trips."
Shoutouts?
"I want to thank Coach Spenser and Coach a Scott for helping me with any problems I had on or off the field. They really did help me a lot my Junior year."
"I am most excised to play and a more competitive level with a new band of brothers."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"CitySide has supported me for years and walked me through the whole recruiting process. Even taking time out of there day to sit down and plan each step."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"They have fine tuned my skills and grown my lacrosse IQ. Especially helped me to step up my intensity every game."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"I would say to never underestimate any player including yourself and to make as many friends/connections you can on your trips."
Shoutouts?
"I want to thank Coach Spenser and Coach a Scott for helping me with any problems I had on or off the field. They really did help me a lot my Junior year."
Jackson Brown
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Committed to: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
High School: Bishop Blanchet High School Graduation Year: 2018 H.S. Coach: Steve Snorsky
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What are you most excited for in regards to playing in college?
"I am most excited about being able to play on a nationally ranked top-25 team and compete for a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament. I am also super excited to get to be on the same team and play with Henry Johnson for four more years, who has become one of my best friends because of CitySide."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"CitySide has helped me with everything throughout the recruiting process. From helping me identify and contact programs I am interested, to taking me to tournaments to play in front of College coaches, getting me into showcases, and playing on teams like Legends West."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"As my high school doesn’t offer year round opportunities CitySide has prepared me by giving me an opportunity to play and get better year round. Whether it be practices, tournaments, or individual trainings with Coach Will, CitySide has helped me improve my game and be ready to play at the college level."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"Advice I would give to aspiring college players is that if you want to play in college you have to dedicate yourself to getting better everyday. I got cut from the first CitySide team I tried out for and now I am going to play in college because I dedicated myself to my goals. Younger players should also find the best fit school for them. I received an offer from a D1 school and several D3 schools and I picked the place I felt the most comfortable and that will set me up for life after college."
What is your favorite CitySideLax moment?
"My favorite CitySide memory was this past summer at the Trilogy 24 Tournament. We played my favorite team, the Maryland Roughriders, and needed to win to be able to make the championship. I hadn’t played my best the day before but I put it behind me and we won 6-5 where I scored 4 goals including the OT game winner. Best part of it was my teammates rushing the field after."
Shoutouts?
"Shoutout to my family, all my CitySide teammates, and all the CitySide coaches especially my teams coach Will Corrigan who put in a ton of extra time with me and was always there to help when I needed it. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had in any sport and I hope he does well at Washington and Lee unless they are playing Stevens."
"I am most excited about being able to play on a nationally ranked top-25 team and compete for a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament. I am also super excited to get to be on the same team and play with Henry Johnson for four more years, who has become one of my best friends because of CitySide."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"CitySide has helped me with everything throughout the recruiting process. From helping me identify and contact programs I am interested, to taking me to tournaments to play in front of College coaches, getting me into showcases, and playing on teams like Legends West."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"As my high school doesn’t offer year round opportunities CitySide has prepared me by giving me an opportunity to play and get better year round. Whether it be practices, tournaments, or individual trainings with Coach Will, CitySide has helped me improve my game and be ready to play at the college level."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"Advice I would give to aspiring college players is that if you want to play in college you have to dedicate yourself to getting better everyday. I got cut from the first CitySide team I tried out for and now I am going to play in college because I dedicated myself to my goals. Younger players should also find the best fit school for them. I received an offer from a D1 school and several D3 schools and I picked the place I felt the most comfortable and that will set me up for life after college."
What is your favorite CitySideLax moment?
"My favorite CitySide memory was this past summer at the Trilogy 24 Tournament. We played my favorite team, the Maryland Roughriders, and needed to win to be able to make the championship. I hadn’t played my best the day before but I put it behind me and we won 6-5 where I scored 4 goals including the OT game winner. Best part of it was my teammates rushing the field after."
Shoutouts?
"Shoutout to my family, all my CitySide teammates, and all the CitySide coaches especially my teams coach Will Corrigan who put in a ton of extra time with me and was always there to help when I needed it. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had in any sport and I hope he does well at Washington and Lee unless they are playing Stevens."
Henry Johnson
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Committed to: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
High School: Seattle Academy of Arts and Science (SAAS) Graduation Year: 2018 H.S. Coach: Scott Pattison
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What are you most excited for in regards to playing in college?
"I am super excited to play for a Top-25 D3 school in college. I was very lucky to receive multiple offers from Top-25 D3 schools and it was a very hard decision to make. I had to figure out what decision was best for me and my life after lacrosse and Stevens was the best choice for me academically. I am very excited to play against other high level D3 teams and compete for conference championships and maybe even a national championship. I know it will be a lot of hard work but this is what CitySide has prepared me for."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"I've been with CitySide since the start and the program and coaches have helped me so much. The coaches have helped me become the best player that I can be. CitySide gave me the chance to get recruited by taking me to tournaments so that I can play in front of schools like Stevens. CitySide gave me the chance to get recruited and pursue a lacrosse career past high school."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"I have been able to play lacrosse year round since my freshman year because of CitySide. I got to compete all year round at high-level tournaments around the U.S. I've been prepared through CitySide practices and tournaments, every single one challenged me and helped me become a better and more disciplined player."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"Don't take anything for granted. You can be the biggest guy on the field and shoot the ball the fastest but at some point everyone else is going to catch up to you if you rely on your physical gifts instead of working hard. I was never the biggest guy on the field, but I put in extra work in my backyard or at Queen Anne Bowl doing training sessions with Coach Will. We working hard in the class room and on the field and be realistic about college choices. On the West Coast it's harder to get recruited by D1 schools because they can't watch you play as much and not everyone can go D1. To be honest the Top-30 D3 schools could beat the bottom 50% of D1 teams so keep your mind open and make the right choice for you academically."
What is your favorite CitySideLax moment?
"My favorite CitySide memory was at the Rumble in Richmond fall of my Junior year. I remember going into the tournament not thinking we were going to do well but we ended up going 5-1. I most remember the game we played against Trojan 40, which we won in OT. I scored 4 goals including the game tier and game winner on a bar-down shot. It was crazy having all my teammates rush rush the field after."
Shoutouts?
"I want to thank my family, my teammates and the CitySide program for helping me through this process. I really want to thank Will Corrigan, he has been my coach since freshman year and he has taught me so much in these past years. He's an incredible coach and I wish the best of luck to him at Washington and Lee unless he plays Stevens."
"I am super excited to play for a Top-25 D3 school in college. I was very lucky to receive multiple offers from Top-25 D3 schools and it was a very hard decision to make. I had to figure out what decision was best for me and my life after lacrosse and Stevens was the best choice for me academically. I am very excited to play against other high level D3 teams and compete for conference championships and maybe even a national championship. I know it will be a lot of hard work but this is what CitySide has prepared me for."
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
"I've been with CitySide since the start and the program and coaches have helped me so much. The coaches have helped me become the best player that I can be. CitySide gave me the chance to get recruited by taking me to tournaments so that I can play in front of schools like Stevens. CitySide gave me the chance to get recruited and pursue a lacrosse career past high school."
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
"I have been able to play lacrosse year round since my freshman year because of CitySide. I got to compete all year round at high-level tournaments around the U.S. I've been prepared through CitySide practices and tournaments, every single one challenged me and helped me become a better and more disciplined player."
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
"Don't take anything for granted. You can be the biggest guy on the field and shoot the ball the fastest but at some point everyone else is going to catch up to you if you rely on your physical gifts instead of working hard. I was never the biggest guy on the field, but I put in extra work in my backyard or at Queen Anne Bowl doing training sessions with Coach Will. We working hard in the class room and on the field and be realistic about college choices. On the West Coast it's harder to get recruited by D1 schools because they can't watch you play as much and not everyone can go D1. To be honest the Top-30 D3 schools could beat the bottom 50% of D1 teams so keep your mind open and make the right choice for you academically."
What is your favorite CitySideLax moment?
"My favorite CitySide memory was at the Rumble in Richmond fall of my Junior year. I remember going into the tournament not thinking we were going to do well but we ended up going 5-1. I most remember the game we played against Trojan 40, which we won in OT. I scored 4 goals including the game tier and game winner on a bar-down shot. It was crazy having all my teammates rush rush the field after."
Shoutouts?
"I want to thank my family, my teammates and the CitySide program for helping me through this process. I really want to thank Will Corrigan, he has been my coach since freshman year and he has taught me so much in these past years. He's an incredible coach and I wish the best of luck to him at Washington and Lee unless he plays Stevens."
Ryan TsoiCommitted to: Arcadia University, Glennside, PA
High School: Sammamish Graduation Year: 2018 H.S. Coach: Matthew Turbak
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What are you most excited for in regards to playing in college?
“I am excited for the college experience and to play NCAA lacrosse. I was lucky enough to get offers from multiple schools, and Coach Will stressed the importance of focusing and knowing the location, size, and type of school I wanted to attend ahead of time. He made sure I didn't commit too early, and that I visited my top choices in person. And he was right - my top choice on paper had much better facilities and win-loss record, but once I stepped on campus I knew Arcadia was right for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of building the program there, and helping them compete against more established schools.”
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
“CitySide has been there from the start, stressing the importance of grades as well as developing my lacrosse game. Coach Will was instrumental in putting me in front of coaches on the East Coast, helping me with my highlight film, and contacting college coaches. He guided me through the recruiting process from beginning to end.”
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
“CitySide taught me to prepare every day and compete all the time, and to compete in practice as much as or more than in games. Coach Will challenged and taught me at every practice and game. Every CitySide coach has played at the next level, and learning from their experiences took a lot of the surprises out of my own college search.”
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
“Put in the work every single day, practice like it's a tryout, and enjoy the game. A highlight reel is a must, but keeping your grades up is the most important thing of all. Be flexible and realistic about your college choices, know what you're looking for in a school, and don't give up - there's a lacrosse program out there for everyone.”
“I am excited for the college experience and to play NCAA lacrosse. I was lucky enough to get offers from multiple schools, and Coach Will stressed the importance of focusing and knowing the location, size, and type of school I wanted to attend ahead of time. He made sure I didn't commit too early, and that I visited my top choices in person. And he was right - my top choice on paper had much better facilities and win-loss record, but once I stepped on campus I knew Arcadia was right for me. I'm looking forward to the challenge of building the program there, and helping them compete against more established schools.”
How has CitySideLax helped you through this process?
“CitySide has been there from the start, stressing the importance of grades as well as developing my lacrosse game. Coach Will was instrumental in putting me in front of coaches on the East Coast, helping me with my highlight film, and contacting college coaches. He guided me through the recruiting process from beginning to end.”
How has CitySideLax prepared you to compete at the next level?
“CitySide taught me to prepare every day and compete all the time, and to compete in practice as much as or more than in games. Coach Will challenged and taught me at every practice and game. Every CitySide coach has played at the next level, and learning from their experiences took a lot of the surprises out of my own college search.”
What advice would you give to our younger players who aspire to compete at the next level in college?
“Put in the work every single day, practice like it's a tryout, and enjoy the game. A highlight reel is a must, but keeping your grades up is the most important thing of all. Be flexible and realistic about your college choices, know what you're looking for in a school, and don't give up - there's a lacrosse program out there for everyone.”
