Back in early June, Elliot and I drove down to Troy, spent the night at Lisa’s parents’ house, and then got up early the next morning to go to the Cranbrook LAX Jam tournament.  It was a fun day.  It was obvious that the coaches’ expectations weren’t too high because they had been crushed over and over again at the same tournament the previous year.  However, it was a different story this time.  I think the fact that we (the parents, at least) weren’t expecting much made it even sweeter when the boys played so well and went undefeated for the tournament. 

I was especially proud of Elliot.  His skills seemed to have improved quite a bit over his first season of LAX.  He was playing “middie,” and he would catch a pass from a teammate (at this level, just being able to catch a pass in the air is a big advantage…as opposed missing it and having to pick it up off the ground before making your next move) and then take off sprinting down the field toward the goal.  He had his first two assists of the year, and they were important in their close wins.  He was also hustling.  In the fourth game, after a long day, it was clear that he was still giving it all that he had.  On a couple of occasions he chased down a player who had the ball from behind by not giving up when he first got passed him.  His coach noticed his hustle too and praised him afterwards.  It was a great feeling…the first time that I’ve been, I guess I’d say, inspired by my kid and his teammates for their performance on the field of play.

The following “Peak Performers” article appeared in the June 20, 2010, Midland Daily News:

The Midland Lacrosse Club's third-fourth-grade team completed its season recently by winning all four games at the Cranbrook LAX Jam tournament, the largest such tournament in the state with teams from across Michigan.

Midland began the tourney with a 5-4 win over perennial power Birmingham, then beat Gross Pointe 7-3, Forest Hills Central out of Grand Rapids, 5-4, and Rockford 9-3 to finish the season at 8-1-2.

Only five members of the Midland team had played lacrosse prior to this season, which is only the second year in which the MLC has fielded a third-fourth-grade squad.

Eleven different Midland players scored in the Cranbrook tourney, and the team used seven different players as goalies throughout the season.

Members of the team are (front, from left) Garrett Brillhart, Ryan Flint, Noah Treangen, Davis Purtell, Elliot Moore, Pierce Morley, Adam Nunn, Adam Wolok; (second row, from left) Carter Bean, Jack Treangen, Michael Hogan, Jared Zahn, Andrew Carras, Creighton Annelin, Brandon Kovacevich (third row, from left) Jacob Pokreifka, Joey Kilbride Parker Laffey, Jeremy Brookens, Chris Bellefeuille, Carson Winter, Nick Rappuhn; and (back, from left) head coach Kurt Brillhart, assistant coach Tom Grey, and assistant coach Jamie Zahn.

Not pictured are Graham Bailey, Jonathon Baillargeon, and Willem Short.