Sports of all Sorts: Spring Teams Get Set for the Official Start of Practice

For the last couple of weeks, many varsity teams have been holding voluntary practices.

But on Monday it all starts for real.

That's the first day of official practice sessions, and teams will be making the most efficient use of their time possible with opening day for some coming by month's end and for most, early in April.

John Jay's boys lacrosse team, winners of four sectional championships the last five seasons, will be preparing for its first scrimmage on March 17 against Bronxville and its season opener April 1 against Brewster.

The Indians are moving forward after a tumultuous off-season in which  10th-year head coach Nick Savastano, varsity assistant Vinny Savastano and junior varsity head coach Erik Hoaglund were relieved of their duties in mid-December after the Katonah-Lewisboro School District concluded a months-long investigation of the program.

Nick Savastano, who is now the co-head coach at John F. Kennedy Catholic along with Vinny Savastano, said the investigation began following a parental complaint that cited verbal abuse by one or more of the coaches. District officials have declined to give a specific reason or reasons for the move.

On Jan. 21, one of the most well-known figures in Section 1 lacrosse history, Tim Schurr, was named the Indians' new varsity head coach. Longtime varsity assistant Geoff Nolan has remained in his position.

Schurr, who was inducted into the Hudson Valley Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1996, is a 1980 Yorktown graduate who was a longtime assistant coach on the varsity teams at Yorktown and Somers who also served as Somers' head coach.

Schurr's  success as a player continued long after he enjoyed a standout collegiate career as a defenseman at Washington and Lee. In 2002, he was a member of the U.S. national team that won the International Lacrosse Federation championship at the World Games.

"I just want to work hard," Schurr said. "I hope I can instill in the kids a desire to learn the game. I want the game to be played from the neck up. I want them to play hard and be technically sound, understanding that there are ways for things to be done technique-wise."

John Jay players say they are becoming more and more comfortable with their new coach after first meeting with him on Jan. 26.

"Coach Schurr is great," John Jay senior goaltender Fletcher Franklin said. "Obviously it's a tough situation to come in to, but he and all of us have pushed that aside. I think Coach Schurr is being very well-received because he coaches a lot like Sav (Nick Savastano).  I think the whole team is looking forward to our season, and players and coaches alike have the sectional final in mind."

Some think the Indians have the potential to do even more. John Jay drew the No. 20 spot in the Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse  National High School Power Rankings.

The Indians have four players who have committed to major Division I programs: attackman Mike Daniello (North Carolina), defenseman Will Pickel (Johns Hopkins), Will O'Donnell  (Army) and midfielder Brandon Merlino (Maryland-Baltimore County). Daniello is the ninth-ranked junior in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. The other three players are seniors.

Franklin is headed for Kenyon. Classmate and fellow goaltender Bobby Maher is bound for Springfield. Senior defenseman Zack Waldman is headed for Tufts.

Tryout sessions at John Jay start on Monday at 3 p.m. on the turf field for varsity players and at the Town Park for junior varsity and freshman players.