LAX Star Rama Excels in Summer All-star Competitions

Enjoying this summer's warm weather can wait for Michael Rama, at least until he finds a college where favorable temperatures are typical.

In the meantime, the Upper Dublin junior continues playing his chosen sport of lacrosse, while thinking about what he'll do after high school.

"I'm starting to think about college because it's getting closer," Rama said. "I'd like to go somewhere south, where it's real warm, and where they have a good lacrosse program."

To that end, Rama has found a way to stand out among a team laden with top players from Abington and Hatboro-Horsham players, as a member of the Wet Bandits traveling team.

In his third year with the team, the 16-year-old contributed to the Bandits winning at the Lehigh Laxfest championship, held June 18 and 19 at Lehigh University. The following week, they reached the finals at the Meltdown Tournament, a competition they host at Abington Junior High School, losing in overtime to Springfield-Delco.

"It's an All-Star team from all over the area," said Rama, who's been playing lacrosse since grade school. "It's good to play at a higher level. I'm learning a lot from the older guys and the competition is tougher."

Rama is coming off another sterling performance from among the area's best players, having earned a spot on the Class of 2013 roster of the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association.

The EPSLA assembles All-Stars from Philadelphia private and public schools for two games that showcase the best juniors and seniors-to-be for the coming season for top college coaches.

Playing for the public team, Rama scored twice in a 10-6 loss to the private team. More important than the score, the event was watched by more than 60 coaches.

With the Bandits, Rama is a bit of a legacy. His father, Mike Sr., played for Wissahickon High School in the mid-80s, on the first Trojans team coached by Bob Ambler, who now coaches the Wet Bandits.

"He's a leader on the field, just like his dad," Ambler said. "At times, he's not challenged enough, but he can really dominate a game. He's a very good player who likes to go with the opposite hand."

Rama should be challenged on a Cardinals team that lost attacker Andrew Lunney, midfielder Willy Beury and defensemen Charles Minehart and Max Strotbeck to graduation.

Among the returnees are seniors J. P. Pertucci, Leighton Young and Matt Graham, and juniors Drew Potts and Jack Deragon, who also plays for the Wet Bandits.

A quarterback on the JV football team, Rama also played basketball and soccer, but lacrosse is his favorite.

"There is something about lacrosse that makes me feel good," Rama said. "And playing in these games, where everyone is good, makes me play better."