Lacrosse Tournament Bonds Community

Paul Borchelt has seen a lot of talent play for the Brebeuf boys lacrosse program since he became its first and only head coach a decade ago. But Borchelt has never been more optimistic about a squad than he is about this season's team. That's because the roster is rich with tournament-tested players and experienced leadership. The Brebeuf boys lacrosse program returns 13 seniors, including captains Pat Ferrell, Seth Biggerstaff, and Jeff Ackerman, as well as top scorer Jake Nice, who was the eighth leading scorer in the state last year on his way to being named a member of the 2007 All-State team. For the Braves, it's been a winning combination that has pushed the boys lacrosse team into the limelight, being recognized as one of the finest lacrosse programs in the state. And that is the championship-caliber recognition Borchelt says his players have worked hard to achieve. "We are proud to be the Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) champions, going 4-0 in the 2007 season," he says. The team is no stranger to the tournament wars so often found in boys lacrosse. Three years ago, when today's seniors were just starting out as freshmen, they hosted the Midwest Jesuit Lacrosse Invitational. This year, the fourth annual tourney, held on Apr. 26 and 27, is a multi-state event, with teams from Marquette University High School (Milwaukee, Wis.), St. Ignatius College Prep (Chicago, Ill.) and St. Louis University High School (St. Louis, Mo.). The Midwest Jesuit Lacrosse Invitational is the vision of Dr. James Duguid, and the seniors at Brebeuf have been in the unique position of watching the tournament grow from dream to reality—not only playing in it since the tourney's inception, but also by being the annual host. It is the competition the players have looked forward to most each year. Being the best among your peers at other Jesuit schools does come with some bragging rights, but the winning school also walks away with the O'Brien Cup, a trophy is named in honor of - and gratitude to - Rev. J. Paul O'Brien, S.J., who established the lacrosse program at Brebeuf. Father O'Brien passed away in 2004. The Midwest Jesuit Lacrosse Invitation was showcased in the August 2007 U.S. Lacrosse publication, Lacrosse, in an article titled "High School Notebook." It is a tournament that relies entirely on the generosity of Brebeuf alumni and parent volunteers, who donate their time, help and support to make this event a success each spring. In addition, the tournament promotes the values associated with a Jesuit education and the melding of athletic achievement and academic excellence in the student athlete. Borchelt is on the board of the Indiana High School Lacrosse Association, and senior members of the Braves Lacrosse team carry an average GPA of 3.3. That's worthy of a program whose goal, according to the Brebeuf Mission Statement, is to prepare its students for a "lifetime of leadership" pursuing the two essential principles of "education of the whole person and care of the person" through a commitment to social justice, religion and study. And after 10 years, it's clear those goals are being met - and exceeded.