DURHAM – Incoming Blue Satan Nikolas Menendez was named USA Lacrosse’s Midwest Boys’ Participant of the 12 months as introduced in June.
A product of Culver Academy in Culver, Indiana, Menendez will arrive in Durham within the fall to assist bolster Duke’s protection after the commencement of Kenny Brower and Tyler Carpenter. The 6-foot-3 defenseman had 33 prompted turnovers and 48 floor balls in his senior season with the Eagles.
Senior shortstick midfielder Jack Grey additionally was a Culver Academy product, graduating from the varsity in 2021. Menendez and Grey didn’t play collectively at Culver as Menendez didn’t make the prep workforce his freshman season. He labored his means onto the highest workforce as a sophomore and rose the nationwide ranks shortly from that time on. His path not too long ago was profiled by USA Lacrosse Journal.
“Earlier than Nikolas Menendez earned a fame as one of many nation’s prime defensemen, he turned heads on Culver’s campus.
Earlier than the Eagles senior began rising recruiting lists, Menendez caught coach Jon Birsner’s eye with a extra delicate — however equally spectacular — achievement.
As a freshman, Menendez did not make Culver’s prep workforce, the one which faces prime groups from all around the nation, as a substitute taking part in for varsity. That is not unusual in an extremely deep program. What was utterly out of the abnormal was what occurred subsequent.
“He was on our ‘B’ workforce as a freshman when he first got here in, and I informed him on the finish of that 12 months, ‘You are essentially the most improved participant in our program, I believe you’ll be able to actually play this sport on the subsequent degree,'” Birsner mentioned. “One 12 months later, as a sophomore, he is beginning for us, and the remaining is historical past there.”
Menendez by no means stopped rising.”
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5 Future Blue Devils Take Half in Nationwide Senior All-American Sport
Among the nation’s prime gamers gathered at Tierney Area in Baltimore final week for the Nationwide Senior All-American sport. The Blue Devils have been nicely represented with 5 incoming gamers on the 46 picks. Faceoff specialist Ben McCarthy and shortstick midfielder Connor Nolen have been on the American roster whereas attackman Austin Hicks, midfielder Ian Dykes and Menendez landed on the Nationals checklist.
McCarthy, who’s ranked fourth by Inside Lacrosse within the Class of 2024 rankings, and Nolen hail from Haverford College. The duo helped lead Haverford to an unbeaten report in Inter-AC motion. McCarthy was chosen as a captain for the All-Star sport.
A California native, Hicks performed his highschool lacrosse for St. Margaret’s Episcopal College in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He was named the CIF DI/Orange County Participant of the 12 months after totaling 117 factors from 90 targets and 27 assists. He notched 18 targets within the three playoff video games to steer the Tartans to the CIF-SS DI Championship.
Dykes, a midfielder from Sacred Coronary heart Prep, helped lead the Gators to a 17-7 report this previous season. He’s ranked forty third by Inside Lacrosse and earned first-team West Catholic Athletic League honors this previous season after being named the San Mateo Each day Journal Boys Lacrosse Participant of the 12 months in 2023.
4 Blue Devils on Senior All-American Roster
Future Blue Devils Liam Kershis, Ben McCarthy, Nikolas Menendez and Connor Nolen are among the many 44 gamers to have been chosen to compete within the Senior All-American Sport.
The annual all-star sport can be held at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Area July 27 at 8 p.m. The ladies’ senior sport will happen at 5:30 p.m., with each televised by ESPNU.
Kershis, an attackman, was ranked sixteenth in Inside Lacrosse’s Class of 2024 rankings heading into his senior season after main Shoreham-Wading River to the 2023 Suffolk Class C title and scoring 59 targets as a junior. The Wildcats completed this season with an 11-7 report.
To remain updated with Blue Devils males’s lacrosse, comply with the workforce on Twitter, Instagram and Fb by looking out “https://goduke.com/information/2024/6/25/DukeMLAX”.
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking 100 years since Trinity Faculty turned Duke College. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its historical past, encourage pleasure and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and put together for a second century of continued excellence and impactful management. To be taught extra, please go to 100.duke.edu
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