Logan High lacrosse transitioning with new head coach

After nine seasons off and on as an assistant coach on the Logan High varsity men’s lacrosse team, Clay Christoffersen has now taken over as the new head coach.

The change follows the retirement of former head coach Doug Ringle.

Ringle, who was the head coach from 2002 until 2014, stepped down this past summer for personal reasons. That opened the door for Christoffersen to take the team.

“I respect the time and effort that coach Ringle put into Logan High lacrosse, but I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have now to be the head coach,” Christoffersen said. “I won’t let the Logan High lacrosse alumni down.”

Christoffersen said that he has been around the game for a long time, which has prepared him to be successful as the new head coach.

“My experience with Coach Clay has been excellent,” said Logan senior Jorden Hansen. “He has prepared us well for the season.”

Christoffersen played for Logan from 1979 to 1981 and also at Utah State University from 1984 to 1986. He has also introduced a competitive lacrosse league in the summer for Cache Valley players called the Northern Utah Thunder.

“I have seen all the ups and downs of lacrosse in my lifetime and I am prepared to step up to the next level and see what I can do as a head coach,” Christoffersen said. “I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared to take over a program as the head guy, but you learn as you go and some tend to learn quicker than others. I aspire to be one of those guys.”

Christoffersen and the Grizzlies have started off the season with a 4-1 record. Logan has won against Idaho Falls, Timpanogos, Northridge and Roy.

Logan now enters into the tougher part of its schedule with Syracuse and Bonneville high schools up next. Both schools have winning records to start the season and combined have a total of seven wins, compared to the combined win total of just three for the four opponents that Logan has already beaten this season.

More out-of-state players than ever before on the USU men’s lacrosse team

The 2015 Utah State University men’s lacrosse team has the most out-of-state players it has ever had in its history. A team that has traditionally been filled with athletes from all around the state of Utah now has more players from outside of the state than it does from within.

“The 2015 team represents 28 high schools from nine different states from California to New York,” said USU head coach Jon Atwood. “We have 16 players from out of state and 13 in-state players.”

Since 2006 USU has had players from out of Utah on its roster, but it wasn’t until 2013 when the numbers really started to increase significantly. USU had 11 out-of-state players in 2013 and then 13 the following year.

“A big appeal of Utah State is its campus life and small town atmosphere, it attracts players from all over the country,” Atwood said. “The out-of-state players bring a diverse range of experience, skill and personality. The culture of Aggie lacrosse has become a unique brotherhood.”

One of the players who is a part of that diverse brotherhood is Blade Garlow. Garlow, who leads the team in points per game this season, is from Medina, New York, and has been an integral part of the USU lacrosse team, according to Atwood.

“Coach Atwood gave me a chance, he helped me with the acceptance process and gave me a shot I thought I had lost,” Garlow said. “I love Logan, it’s beautiful.”

Garlow, a junior at USU who recently scored five goals and had four assists in a win against the College of Idaho, was the former Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference rookie of the year in 2013, and said he will be back next season to finish his collegiate career at USU.

As the number of out-of-state players at USU continues to increase, so do the number of wins. In 2012 when USU had only two out-of-state players on its roster the team had an overall record of 4-6. In comparison to this past season when USU went 8-4.

This season the Aggies have started off 4-3 and are ranked 17th in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association.

“My expectations for this season are higher than they’ve ever been before,” Atwood said. 

Welcome

Welcome to NorthernUtahLax.blogspot.com, where journalist Chase Ringle covers men's lacrosse in the northern part of Utah. Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in America and has been steadily growing in northern Utah for over 10 years now. NorthernUtahLax.blogspot.com will be covering high school lacrosse teams in the area and the Utah State University men's lacrosse team.

Chase Ringle is a native of northern Utah, and is currently a student at Utah State University, where he is studying journalism and communications. Ringle is a former high school lacrosse player and coach.