Speaking
of Sports 

by
Lance J. Lilla

 
Closure for the state's top lacrosse athletes

June 18, 2012

Closure. It has finally been attained for the select few All-State Division I and Division II high school lacrosse athletes, two of which being former Novi players (Adam Haynes and Kent Burnett) and now alumni. What permitted these athletes closure on the 16th of June was the Michigan Hall of Fame Game. The game is compromised of two teams, which have on then the top senior players from Division I and Division II high school lacrosse.

The game is set up not really as a stressor for the players in comparison to other huge games with pounds of pressure that tag along with it, but more so an acknowledgement. The game says "here's the best senior players in Michigan, let's see them play together and watch some quality lacrosse."

If you we're in the stands yourself the way I was, it became quite clear that the game was extremely relaxed with the lack of interference by referees or coaches. The kids basically had free reign to do whatever they desired in this final match, which for most, was the last game of organized lacrosse they will ever be a part of.

Speaking with Novi alumni, Kent Burnett after the game provided me with some insight as to what it was like going out this way for someone who held the sport of lacrosse so closely to their heart.

Burnett exclaimed that "it was a nice, casual way to finish off my high school career and I'm glad the competition was as good as it was; it kept things interesting through out the entire game."

The reason why the game was so interesting is due to the fact that for pretty much the entire game each team was volleying scores. One team would score. Then the next team would score. This occurred until the very end up until Division II snuck one passed the goalie forcing the score to be 12-11, a Division II win.

The end has now come and moving on to bigger and better things is all that lies before us. Once this set in for Novi alumni, Adam Haynes, he informed me that "it's all very bitter sweet. This is the end of something that has been my passion for the last six years of my life. It's not easy giving it up now, but the future is bright, which makes it easier to move on."

I congratulate all the members of the Michigan Hall of Fame Game for their outstanding achievement of being voted All-State, and for their impressive performance given on the Country Day field the other day.

I wish you all nothing but the best of luck for your future.

(c) 2012 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org