Class of ’17 Arrives from Eight Different States with Loads of Accomplishments
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – Sept. 2013) Colgate head coach Mike Murphy unveiled his latest signing class with Saturday’s announcement of 15 newcomers to the men’s lacrosse roster.
The Raiders coaching staff went near and far to bolster a lineup that next season will be without a pair of noteworthy members from the 2013 everyday lineup.
“These 15 guys will help us replace the graduation of one of the most decorated classes in Colgate history as we say goodbye to Peter Baum and Jimmy Queeney,” Murphy said. “Eight different states are represented in the class, which shows not only East Coast guys but also the Midwest and the West as we continue to recruit nationally.”
Murphy balanced his class, signing five for the attack, five midfielders, four defensemen and one goalkeeper.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s a decorated group of high school All-Americans, state champs, All-Conference players from some of the best high schools in the country – from Canandaigua in upstate New York to the D.C. area and all the way out to Colorado.
Strecker Backe
Defense
6-3, 190
Fairfield, Conn.
Coach Murphy on Backe: “Strecker is a great athlete and has the ability to play down low or long stick midfield. He has a championship pedigree and will allow us to improve on defense.”
High School: Team captain as senior at Fairfield Prep, which won Connecticut’s Class L state title his final two seasons … Three-time Southern Connecticut Conference winners … Selected as Under Armour Underclass Elite-Star, and played on Team New England at UA Underclassmen games in 2012 … Team captain as senior, but missed regular season because of injury … Names by Inside Lacrosse Magazine as one of nation’s top 40 defensemen for 2013 recruiting class … Three-year varsity performer in both lacrosse and football … Starting quarterback for football team … Awarded Chris Boyle Memorial Award for Perseverance, Loyalty and Determination as football senior … Volunteered teaching lacrosse at Wakeman Boys and Girls Club … Also coached youth football for Fairfield Pop Warner League.
Personal: Parents are Henry and Tara Backe … Born in Bridgeport, Conn. … Has two sisters and one brother … Full name is Henry Strecker Backe.
Brandon Burke
Goalkeeper
5-8, 170
Potomac, Md.
Coach Murphy on Burke: “Like many of the guys in this class, Brandon comes from an outstanding high school program where he enjoyed great success. Brandon has the ability to be a great player in our league.”
High School: Named to Under Armor Underclassmen All-America team as senior … Twice named All-Interstate Athletic Conference … All-State, All-Gazette and second-team All-Metropolitan D.C. as senior … Junior year saw second-team honors for All-State and All-Gazette, along with All-Metropolitan honorable mention … Team captain and Bullis School MVP as senior … Posted 4.97 goals-against average, with 145 saves that final season … For his career, GAA was 6.5 with 313 saves … Also lettered in ice hockey … Member of Booster Club and Sports Debate Club.
Personal: Parents are Glen and Michele Burke … Born in Silver Spring, Md. … Has one brother, Jordan, a goalie for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse … Full name is Brandon Eric Burke.
Chase Cowan
Defense
6-5, 215
Wilmington, Del.
Coach Murphy on Cowan: “Chase is the kind of young man we want in our program. Not only is he a gifted player with great skills, he is a guy that is cut from the same cloth as Jimmy Queeney – and we all know what Jimmy meant to this program.”
High School: Named Champion All-American, All-State first team and Senior All-Star during senior season … 2013 captain and defensive player of year for Salesianum School … Helped Sals to three consecutive state championships … Selected to All-State third team as junior … Also lettered in basketball … 2013 Delaware Person of the Year for charity work in designing and selling ties for pediatric cancer … Member of school’s Blue-Gold Club and Minuteman … Junior year House Representative, senior year House Executive and Senior Class President.
Personal: Parents are Charlie and Lisa Cowan … Born in Spartanburg, S.C. … Has one brother and one sister … Full name is Charles Wolfgang Cowan.
Will D’Avino
Attack
6-0, 170
Moorestown, N.J.
Coach Murphy on D’Avino: “Will is a slasher type who he can play either midfield or attack, and he could be potent on our EMO team as he has good vision and some snap in his shot.”
High School: Scored 16 goals and added 21 assists during senior year … Helped St. Joseph’s Prep to one Philadelphia Catholic League title and two other championship game appearances during three-year career … Also aided Hawks’ run to 2011 Pennsylvania state title game … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Parents are Carey and Mary Lou D’Avino … Carey D’Avino ’76 played for Colgate rugby … Born in Glen Ridge, N.J. … Has two brothers … Full name is Carey William D’Avino.
Mike Dennin
Attack
6-2, 185
Severna Park, Md.
Coach Murphy on Dennin: “Mike is another guy who comes from great Colgate stock. He will push for time at the attack.”
High School: All-Academic team member four years in lacrosse … 2013 C. Markland Kelly Jr. Athletic Service Award … Varsity lacrosse letterwinner for four years, with three letters each for football and basketball … 2011 Brine Maryland Prep All-American … Earned Severn School’s team MVP award for basketball … National Honor Society member … Senior Prefect, Schools-for-schools and a peer counselor.
Personal: Parents are William and Nancy Dennin … William Dennin ’77 was a Colgate basketball team member … Born in Annapolis, Md. … Has four brothers … Full name is William Michael Dennin Jr.
Peter Donato
Midfield
6-0, 192
Wayne, Pa.
Coach Murphy on Donato: “Peter may be the next outstanding midfielder to wear the Maroon and White. He is an excellent athlete who could push for immediate playing time.”
High School: Central League MVP while leading Radnor High to 2013 conference title … Also earned 2013 All-American honors, while twice being named first team All-Central League and All-EPSLA … First team All-Delco and All-Mainline as senior, after earned second team honors his junior season … Scored 37 goals and 21 assists as senior to finish with 87 goals and 56 assists for career … Also lettered in soccer … Second team All-Central League and All-Delco as soccer senior … Team also captured 2012 Labor Day Classic Soccer championship … Radnor’s 2013 Male Athlete of the Year … Team captain for 2012 in soccer and 2013 in lacrosse … Named school’s Offensive MVP for lacrosse as senior and Defensive MVP for soccer as junior … 2010 Radnor Freshman Athlete of the Year … 2013 George T. Corrigan Leadership Award for lacrosse …
Personal: Parents are Arthur Donato and June Gilson … Born in Wynnewood, Pa. … Has one sister … Full name is Peter Gilson Donato.
Robby Dunigan
Attack
5-10, 162
Kensington, Md.
Coach Murphy on Dunigan: “Robby, like most of his classmates, comes from an outstanding high school program and understands what it takes to be successful. He is an incredibly smart player who has the ability to play either attack or midfield.”
High School: 2011 and 2012 Brine National High School All-American, and Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Star as senior … Tallied 24 points and 35 ground balls during senior season … Landon School’s Jack Crawford Award for Most Valuable Midfielder senior year … Three letters in both lacrosse and football … Helped Bears to 2012 Interstate Athletic Conference titles in lacrosse and football … Senior-year football captain … Cum Laude junior and senior year … Editor of school’s Landon News.
Personal: Parents are Bob and Jane Marie Dunigan … Born in Washington, D.C. … Has two brothers … Full name is Robert Barry Dunigan.
Niall Durkan
Defense
6-4, 210
Malvern, Pa.
Coach Murphy on Durkan: “Niall is a physically imposing player who, like the other defensemen in his class, can be multi-dimensional in how we use him.”
High School: Team captain helped guide Great Valley High to its first Chestmont League championship in 2013 … Twice named first team All-League, and second team All-Area in 2013 … Honorable mention All-Area in 2012 … Earned second team All-League in 2011 … Also played football and basketball, and was member of school’s swimming team … Earned four varsity letters in lacrosse, one in swimming and three in football … Football team captain in 2013 as defensive end … Had 11 quarterback sacks for his senior year and 19 for career … Team’s MVP for lacrosse and Defensive MVP in 2011 for football … School’s 2013 Ben Crisi Award for work ethic … Member of school’s newspaper club.
Personal: Parents are Michael and Virginia Durkan … Born in Chester, Pa. … Has three sisters … Full name is Niall Patrick Durkan.
Danny LaCrosse
Attack
5-10, 150
Canandaigua, N.Y.
Coach Murphy on LaCrosse: “I am very excited to see how Danny’s game carries over into college. He is a dynamic player who sees the field very well but has the ability to score goals as well.”
High School: Named to All-Greater Rochester Super 16 team by Democrat & Chronicle newspaper … Named to U.S. Lacrosse’s Rochester Senior All-Star Game as midfielder … First team All-Section … Section 5 (Class B) All-Tournament … All-League first team midfielder … Helped Canandaigua Academy to Class B Section 5 championship … Also played football … Future Business Leaders of America.
Personal: Parents are Steven and Barbara LaCrosse … Born in New York … Has one brother … Full name is Daniel John LaCrosse.
Peter Marchetto
Midfield/Faceoff
5-10, 170
Chatham, N.J.
Coach Murphy on Marchetto: “Peter is an excellent face-off man and he, along with Alex Kinnealey, will help us be more consistent at the face-off X.”
High School: Key member in Seton Hall Prep’s run to 2013 Essex County championship and New Jersey Non-Public A title game … Compiled 94-of-171 mark as senior at the faceoff X, and was 133-of-231 for his career … Contributed to Wounded Warrior Foundation and Restore the Shore.
Personal: Parents are Dean and Irene Marchetto … Born in Hoboken, N.J. … Has two brothers … Full name is Peter John Marchetto.
Will Mette
Midfield
6-1, 180
Wilmington, Del.
Coach Murphy on Mette: “Will is a high-energy guy who reminds me a lot of John Donnally. He is a fierce competitor who will help re-energize our transition game.”
High School: Three-time All-State honoree … Helped Tower Hill School to 2010 Delaware state championship … Scored 31 goals with 12 assists as senior team captain, and finished his career with 91 goals and 37 assists … Class of 2003 Award for leadership and John J. Buonocore Award for intensity … Cum Laude Society.
Personal: Parents are Luke and Jackie Mette … Born in Wilmington, Del. … Has one brother … Full name is William Nicholas Mette.
Jackson Patterson
Defense
6-2, 215
Millstone, N.J.
Coach Murphy on Patterson: “Another physically imposing player, Jackson is a phenomenal young man who has the potential to make an immediate impact on our club.”
High School: Twice named first team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League and All-New Jersey Prep … 2013 New Jersey Bob Scott Award … Helped Peddie School to 2010 Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship, and Falcons played in three consecutive New Jersey Prep A state championship tournaments … 2013 team MVP after compiling 68 ground balls … Two-year captain and team’s two-time winner of Del-Von Coaches Award for leadership, sportsmanship and commitment … Also played football.
Personal: Parents are Melroy and Demetra Patterson … Born in Princeton, N.J. … Has one brother … Full name is Jackson Clyde Patterson.
Tyler Schmarak
Midfield
6-0, 195
Park Ridge, Ill.
Coach Murphy on Schmarak: “Tyler is a strong shooter from one of the best programs in the Chicago area.”
High School: All-Conference first team in 2012 and second team in 2013 … Helped New Trier High to 2011 Illinois state championship … Senior year captain, scoring 29 goals with 11 assists … Finished career with 63 goals and 21 assists … Also played soccer … Contributed to Special Olympics, French Honor Society and was National Merit Scholar.
Personal: Parents are Bradley Schmarak and Gina Propp-Schmarak ’81 … Born in Chicago … Has one brother … Full name is Tyler Alexander Propp Schmarak.
Max Spohler
Attack
6-1, 185
New York, N.Y.
Coach Murphy on Spohler: “I am excited for Max to join our team. He had an excellent senior year and he adds depth to our young attack.”
High School: Selected to 2013 Mayor’s Cup All-Star Game and All-Lacrosse Ivy League first team … Helped Trinity School to 2013 Lacrosse Ivy League title and second-place finish at NYAIS Championship … Two-year captain who scored 52 goals with 35 assists as senior … School’s Alumni Award for outstanding contribution to the lacrosse program … Also lettered in soccer and played basketball …
Personal: Parents are Bruce and Melissa Spohler … Born in New York City … Has two sisters and one brother … Full name is Maxwell Alexander Spohler.
Jack Stebbins
Midfield
6-5, 200
Littleton, Colo.
Coach Murphy on Stebbins: “Jack is a big strong midfielder who can really move. He uses his size to his advantage and has the skills to add depth to our face-off game.”
High School: U.S. Lacrosse All-American in 2012 and Adrenaline All-American in 2013 … Twice named All-State first team and three times All-Conference first team … Conference MVP in 2012 … Played only five games for Columbine High as senior because of shoulder injury, scoring 13 goals and five assists in that limited time … Team captain senior year … Also lettered in basketball.
Personal: Parents are John and Andrea Stebbins … Born in Denver … Has two brothers … Full name is John Michael Stebbins.