Most successful Division I athletes had at least one mentor that helped them along the way.
For many, it’s a coach or parent.
For Mike Lange, it was a player.
As a freshman at Southington High School (Conn.) who had just started playing lacrosse less than two years earlier, Lange was like a sponge whenever senior standout Zach Wholley spoke about the sport, absorbing as much of his input as possible.
Wholley is now a junior midfielder at the University of Maryland.
Soon, Lange, now a junior at Southington, will be following him to the D-I level.
The lefty defenseman has verbally committed to attend Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, located about 50 miles southwest of Southington.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Lange is a strong defender both on ball and off ball who excels in transition. He is a wide receiver/defensive back for the Blue Knights.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Mike on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
The excellent academics that the school offers, (Sacred Heart) Head Coach (Tom) Mariano, the location of the school, and the recruiting classes of 2013 and 2014. I believe these classes are going to be very successful during their time at the school.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Bryant, High Point and Quinnipiac.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My on-ball skills. I like to harass my attackmen until they give up the ball and then I like to push the ball hard into transition. I’ve been known to throw a very hard and accurate poke check consistently.
What areas of your game have you been working to improve on?
My junior year, I was really having a hard time with my offhand clearing. This summer, I worked with my coaches and by myself to really improve my offhand. During the summer, it certainly improved, along with my clearing game in general.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on you during your development as a player?
I would definitely say that Coach (Darryl) Delia of Progression Lacrosse has helped me build my game a tremendous amount over the last year. All of my high school coaches as well: (Head) Coach (Ron) Chase and (Assistant) Coach (Matt) Ramsay.
But one player that really influenced me was my senior captain, Zack Wholley, during my freshman year. He is currently playing lacrosse at Maryland. During my freshman year, we used to talk a lot about the college process and he had a huge impact on me.
What travel team did you play on and what were some of the big showcase events you participated in last summer?
I played for the Connecticut Seminoles of Progression Lacrosse. We participated at the King of the Hill, where I was an all-star selection. We then participated at the Gait cup where I was also an all-star pick. The last tournament we competed in was the (Yale) Bulldog Bash. We won this tournament and got invited to Florida. I then participated in the Showcase Super Sophs. I would say I had a breakout summer that really got me a lot of recognition with numerous schools.
* For more info on Mike, check out his player profile by clicking here.
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Posted In: CCIAC, Recruiting Rundown
Yeh Mikey. Good job man.