The Head Coaches of Section Five met on Sunday afternoon to listen to the presentations on twenty-seven players who had been nominated for All-America Team honors. The awards, sponsored by US Lacrosse, identify some of the best players from each area of the country.

In previous years, the national awards were selected by various leagues. This year, for the second year, the Head Coaches of thirty-seven teams came together to pick the players to receive the various awards.

The Academic All-American award is the highest honor given to a player who is both a great lacrosse player and a great student. US Lacrosse allows one award for each ten teams in the area and so there were three awards for Section Five this year. An Academic All-American must, first be selected as All American and then, where warranted, can be nominated as the result of their academic accomplishments. Nine players were nominated for the award this year.

The All-American award is given to great lacrosse players from the area. US Lacrosse allows one award for each five teams in the area, so with thirty-seven teams in Section Five, there were seven awards available this year. Twenty-seven players were nominated, but after the first team league lists were determined twenty-one players were considered. USLacrosse requires that players who are in leagues must make first team league honors in order to be considered.

New in 2012, USLacrosse added an award named for the long-time Johns Hopkins lacrosse coach and Athletic Director, Bob Scott. The annual award is given to a senior of outstanding character, good academic standing and one who demonstrates good sportsmanship and safe play. Read about the award and Coach Scott at the USLacrosse site. The first winner from Section Five was Pittsford defenseman, Kevin Sanna.

2012 Academic All Americans

Eric Fischer - Irondequoit senior - goalie - Binghamton
Trevor Lang - Bath senior - defenseman - Holy Cross
Justin Rehm - Penfield senior - defenseman - Siena

 2012 All Americans

Nick Doktor - Irondequoit senior attackman - Pennsylvania (Second Year All-American)
Derek DeJoe - Fairport senior midfielder - Syracuse
Gunnar Miller - Irondequoit senior midfielder - USMA West Point
Corey Parke - Pittsford senior midfielder - Georgetown
Blaze Riorden - Fairport senior goalie - Albany
Connor Russell - Penfield junior midfielder - Verbal: Syracuse
Dylan Yonts - Penn Yan senior midfielder - St. Leo

Player Profiles

ACADEMIC ALL AMERICANS

Eric Fischer - Irondequoit

The senior goalie from Irondequoit signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Binghamton next year. An "A" student, he has been a two year starter and three year varsity goalie and has made 304 career saves (pre tournament). The defensive leader and team captain had seven games in his junior year with ten or more saves. His senior year highlights include holding Duxbury (Mass) to three goals on fourteen saves, eleven saves against Pittsford and thirteen saves against Canandaigua. He was a member of the USA-Rochester Brogden Cup Championship team last summer and played for the Upstate Under Armour, Brine Upstate and Nike Upstate teams in junior year.

Comments: "Eric is a dependable and honorable young man that brings energy and enthusiasm to every aspect of life. He challenges himself on a daily basis to get better and challenges the people around him to do the same. His vocal presence on and off the field has tremendous positive effect for our team. " Eric's Player Page.

Trevor Lang - Bath-Haverling

The senior defenseman from Bath has played on the varsity team for three years. He is planning to study pre-med and play lacrosse at Holy Cross next fall. The versatile athlete is well known for scoring goals with his defensive stick and trading sticks to play in man up has 32g-19a this year. The four year varsity player has amassed 92 career take-aways and nearly 400 gbs. He has been the team's MVP for three years and was named to the Class C All Tournament team in 2011.

The class valedictorian this year has a GPA of 97.6 and is president of the student council and the Rotary Interact Club. He has been a two year team captain and in the summers has played for the Brine All American (Syracuse region) team, FCA Elite team and the Finger Lakes Lacrosse club.

Comments: "As one of our team captain he has taken it upon himself to make sure players on the team know their assignment and has spent time making sure other players understand their job while playing defense. He has been a second coach on the field directing our defense. He has an unbelievable vision of an opponent's offense. " Trevor's Player Page.

Justin Rehm - Penfield

The Penfield senior long stick midfielder is a three year varsity player. The A students signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Siena next year. He was named to the All Section Five second team last year and has been a first team all league pick for Monroe County - D-1 for two years.

He was a member of the Brine All-American Lacrosse National Classic championship team last summer and was a member of the Brogden Cup Championship team in Tampa this winter. He also played on the Nike Upstate Rising Senior Team.

Comments:" Justin is among the best that Penfield High School has to offer. When he is not studying for his rigorous course load, which has included many AP and honor courses he can be found leading fellow students on the ice and the athletic field. His work ethic in the classroom carries over onto the field and his attitude, coachability, diligence, intensity, and humility are all character traits that make him a fantastic role model for his fellow teammates." Justin's Personal Page.

ALL AMERICANS

Derek DeJoe - Fairport

A three year starter and four year player, Derek has an impressive, long-term record of accomplishments at Fairport. An Adidas All-American team player and Western ESG team member after his sophomore year, he was a member of the Brine All-American National Classic team and the Nike Upstate team in his junior year. This year he played for the USA-Rochester team and won the Championship and then the Brogden Cup in December.

Early in his junior year he made a verbal commitment to play at Syracuse and last fall signed his National Letter of Intent.

Comments:"Derek is an outstanding young man who always has a very strong sense of what is right and ethical and will stand behind these beliefs. He leads by example and is among the best people I have ever known" Derek's Player Page.

Nick Doktor - Irondequoit

A four time first team all-league attackman, the senior from Irondequoit is a two time All-American with a dramatic lacrosse record. He was named to the Class B All Tournament team as a freshman and as a Junior and as a first team All Section Five player last year. He was also named to the D&C Super 16 as a junior. Pre-tournament, Nick as 122g-119a for the Eagles and will take those offensive skills with him as a member of the 2012 North/South game this summer.

After making a verbal commitment to the University of Pennsylvania in his junior year, Nick signed a National Letter of Intent last fall.

Comments: "Nick consistently displays excellent leadership skills. He demonstrates great perseverance and exudes a strong work ethic. He expresses an eagerness to learn as he shows initiative on and off the field. His drive for excellence is apparent in his every day efforts and compliments his enthusiastic, positive attitude." Nick's Personal Page.

Gunnar Miller - Irondequoit

A three year Varsity midfielder, Gunnar Miller has played for the Nike Summer team, the Brine All America Team and the USA-Rochester 2012 Brogden Cup Championship team. Gunnar was named to last years' Class B All Tournament Team. He will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point next year.

Comments:" One thing about Gunner is that he does not command excellence, but rather works to build it. Gunner's teammates trust that he will come through for them and they consistently depend on him. He possess good values, morals, and ethics that are admirable and that people want to emulate. Gunner was a unanimous choice for captain on this years team. Gunner's choice to enroll in West Point is indicative of the type of person he is and the type of person he wants to be." Gunnar's Personal Page.

Corey Parke - Pittsford

A four year player at Pittsford, last fall Corey Parke signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Georgetown University next fall. He is a two-time first team all-league pick on the Monroe County D-1 list and was named to the Class A All Tournament team last year.

Off season Corey has been a member of the Upstate Under Armour team. the Brine All-American Lacrosse National Classic Champion team and the Nike Upstate Rising Senior team.

Comments:" He is a great player who is an extremely hard working person. He is the best I have ever seen when it comes to respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. He understands that the game is just a part of life." Corey's Personal Page.

Blaze Riorden - Fairport

The four year Varsity goalie bound for Albany, Blaze was named to Inside Lacrosse's top 50 Young Gun Sophomores, played on the Upstate Under Armour team, the Brine All-American Lacrosse National Classic Championship team and the Nike Upstate Rising Senior team in 2011. He played on the USA-Rochester 2012 Brogden Cup Championship team after his junior year. He was a named to the Class A All-Tournament team in both his sophomore and junior season. In the current season he has made 114 pre-tournaments saves (73%) and sports 384 career saves (66%).

Comments:" He is always inspiring his teammates to work hard, overcome obstacles, and stay focused. He is a leader by example and is always encouraging teammates to act responsibly on and off the field. He is a role model for our youth kids. Team always comes before Blaze and he is one of the most unselfish kids I have ever coached " Blazes' Personal Page.

Connor Russell - Penfield

Selected this year as a junior, face off specialist and midfielder, Connor Russell was named to the ESPN 2013 Watch list after his sophomore year at Penfield. He announced his verbal commitment to Syracuse last September after playing on the Nike Upstate Rising Junior team in the summer. After his sophomore year he was named to the MC D-1 first team and the All-Section Five second team.

Comments: "Connor is the ultimate competitor. He has the 'it' factor. He has the intangibles that every coach looks for in a player. When he is on the field he is a gritty workhorse. Off the field he is a happy and respectful young man. He has exceeded the programs best in ground balls for the last three seasons. He leads his team by example. He will sacrifice his own scoring opportunities and offensive possessions so that the team can succeed. Connor sets the tone on the field with his hard work on face-off's and ground balls. " Connor's Personal Page.

Dylan Yonts - Penn Yan

Dylan is a four year player for the Mustangs. He was named to the Class C All-tournament team as a sophomore and then again last year as a junior. He was named to the first team All-Section Five list last year and was the Class C Most Valuable Player in 2011. He was named to last year's D&C Super 16. Dylan has (pre-tournament) scored 102 career goals and 88 assist in spite of two major career injuries during his high school career. Last fall he signed a National Letter of Intent to play at St. Leo University (FL).

Comments: "He is an obvious leader and is Captain of both the Lacrosse and Basketball Teams. Dylan as made multiple position role changes without hesitation. I am amazed at the way he has come back through two major injuries in career." Dylan's Personal Page.