Updated: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Quakers opened their season on March 25 beating Lewiston Porter 14-3, which has been corrected to 20-3.
Orchard Park, N.Y. – As the weather has begun to warm up, Buffalo is heading into a new season. Not just spring but a new lacrosse season. Reloaded and ready, the Quakers have added a new coach to the staff with the addition of coach Gregory Michael.
Orchard Park lacrosse has been a leading force in Section 6 for the past few years, and this could be another with the same result. Michael has experience in the varsity category and will be working with the offense under head coach Larry Catalano. Recently, Michael was inducted into the OP Athletics Hall of Fame for his time as a student athlete and for his coaching resume at OP.
Since 2012, he has coached 18 seasons for Orchard Park football, basketball, and lacrosse across the varsity, junior varsity, and modified levels. Although he has coached lacrosse, this will be his first time at the varsity level. Michael described adapting to the varsity level.
“It is a much faster game, especially with the new rule change of a sixty-second shot clock. Coaches will be coming up with new strategies to create and prevent offensive opportunities,” said Michael, who will be on the creating side of those strategies and have a lot of star power at his disposal.
“There are so many good players on this team returning from last year. Luke Danna and Jherek Breske are returning First Team All Western New York Players. Danna, who is going to Penn. State, is the best prospect to come out of the 716 in the last 20 years. Breske just committed to Division 1 Providence College as a junior. The X Factor of our team will be the Canisius College commit Justin Relosky. The senior complements Danna very well on the offensive end of our attack. He has a nose for the net, and he can put up a lot of points for the Quakers this season! Underclassmen Owen Wright, Nathan Hamm, Wes Cummings, and Zach Danna are other players receiving interest from Division 1 colleges as well,” Michael described in an email.
With the amount of talent for the Quakers this season, the expectations are high for what the team can accomplish. First and foremost, the goal is always to win the Section VI title, which they’ve done the past two years. The problem is getting over the hump that is the far west regional game. But coaches and players believe that this is the year to break the regionals losing streak.
“I feel we have the right people to go far, and the expectation is to go deep,” said junior starter Owen Wright.
A successful season, as expected by most, hopefully accomplishes all goals for this year with a shot at the first ever State Championship in Section VI history.
Coach Michael is a well-respected voice in the community. Junior strong safety Mason Dommer, who played for Michael’s defense this year in football, has nothing but nice words for the coach.
“He knows how to mix up the intensity of practice and the fun of it. He’s always cracking jokes here and there while still giving you coaching tips to help you improve,” explained Dommer.
The praise didn’t stop there as starting junior defensemen Weston Cummings backed up Dommers’ statements.
“He brings a great positive energy to our locker room while providing great teaching. He makes you want to give your all and be willing to run through a brick wall for him,” agreed Cummings.
The lacrosse team’s vibes were high as the season kicked off on March 25th at home against Lewiston-Porter for a great nonleague matchup, resulting in a 20-3 Quaker win.
