Ray, DelDuca Named to North New Jersey Festival Teams

The Wyckoff Youth Lacrosse Program announced that two of their players, Owen Ray and Matt DelDuca, have been selected to the 2011 North New Jersey Festival team. 

Ray, a 6^th grader, was picked to the U-13 team that is comprised mainly of 7^th graders.  He's one of just 23 boys who will represent New Jersey at the US Lacrosse National Youth Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 17-20.  His coach Bob Robbins was very proud of Ray’s accomplishment.

"Owen understands the importance of teamwork and is looked upon as a leader on and off the field,” said Robbins.  “He is extremely dedicated, has devoted many hours to improving his skills and approaches each task with a positive attitude.  I'm truly proud of Owen for making the U-13 team.  This is a great accomplishment and an achievement that is well deserved.”  

DelDuca, an 8^th grader, was named as an alternate on the U-15 team.  Coach Jim Hogan commented on some of DelDuca’s strengths.

“Matt is excellent at attacking the cage and creating opportunities for his teammates,” he said.  “His vision, speed, agility and lacrosse IQ make him a real threat from anywhere on the field.”

The New Jersey Festival teams (U-13, U-15) will compete against teams from all over the country in the Festival Tournament.  Both boys were chosen over hundreds of players in their age group who competed in several tryouts while vying to win a roster spot. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Wyckoff Youth Lacrosse program has had at least one player named to one of the teams.

The Wyckoff program is in its ninth year of existence with 275 boys in grades 3-8.  Wyckoff Recreation Director Andy Wingfield said it was "gratifying to see that all of the hard work put in by these boys and their coaches has paid off in a way that will make their families and the Wyckoff Recreation Department extremely proud”.