Defensive MVP
Griffin Vehar
#11 Junior Defense

Special Teams MVP
Ryan Althausen
#40 Sophomore Midfield

Most Improved Player
Ryan Drought
#4 Junior Long Stick

Rookie of the Year
Ryan Althausen
#40 Sophomore Midfield

Hudson Lacrosse Pride
Chris Reardon
#36 Senior Defense

Spirit of the Game
Drew Larson
#13 Senior Attack

Coaches Award
Nick Kelleher
#28 Senior Midfield

Ray Hyser Award
Chris Reardon
#36 Senior Defense

Defensive MVP
Ryan Keyes
#9 Sophomore Goalie

Most Improved Player
Payton Danko
#59 Freshman Midfield

Billy will represent Ohio at the National Senior Showcase in Chicago, Illinois

*First Team All-Region players are eligible to be voted upon for All-Ohio awards by all Division 1 coaches. These will be posted after the state finals on June 7, 2008.

Second Team
Scott Krusinski, Midfield
Tyler Malson, Defense
Jake McHenry, Attack
Connor McMahon, Attack
Bobby Tyler, Midfield

Honorable Mention
Chris Reardon, Defense

Honorable Mention
Ryan Althausen, Face-off Specialist
Andrew Hoelzel, Goalie

The high scoring game was filled with excitement and drama throughout the evening. Each team put together scoring runs, made excellent offensive plays, and scored fantastic goals. In the end, the Wolves were able to use their speed and depth to pull away late in the 4th quarter.

Hudson was led by All-American Billy Paster’s 6 goals. Derek Fuenning subbed off the bench and scored 3 goals. Single tallies were registered by Bobby Tyler, Jake McHenry, and Griffin Vehar (coast to coast man-down goal). Assisting on goals were Connor McMahon with 4, Bobby Tyler with 2, while Scott Krusinski, Jordan Wood, and Spencer Kenney each added one a piece.

The face-off groups of Ryan Althausen, Evan Frankovits, and Spencer Kenney had a physical battle at the face-off X, but were able to draw even at 50%.

Defensively, the Explorers had their backs against the wall and had to survive several Kilbourne runs. Chris Reardon, Eli George, Tyler Malson, and Griffin Vehar did their best under intense pressure and left it all on the field. Andrew Hoelzel had to survive a barrage of Kilbourne shots, but was able to come up with 12 saves in the cage.

The 2008 season comes to an end with the varsity team having a record of 17-3. The team remained the "Champions of the North", undefeated at home, and went to the state semi-finals for the 4th year in a row. Combined with the JV team’s 20-3 record, the program had 37 victories to just 6 losses. That is an outstanding year!

Thank you to all the supporters of Hudson Explorer Lacrosse!

Mackessy enjoyed a stellar senior season as the table-setter and playmaker for the Denison offense. He nearly doubled his career numbers in goals and assists while finishing 10th in the NCAA in assists with 37. Mackessy led the team in points with 67 (29 goals - 37 assists) and leaves Denison with 62 career goals and 68 assists.

Billy Paster, senior attackman, was selected as one of the 4 All-Americans in the Northeast Ohio area.

Billy becomes the 7th All-American from Hudson

Matt Eizenberg, attack, 2000
Josh Wittenberg, midfield, 2002
Pat O'Toole, attack, 2003
Ricky Mackessy, midfield, 2004
Justin Hayes, attack, 2006
Matt Novosel, defense, 2007

Congratulations to Billy on this fantastic honor.

Other OHSLA Awards for Region 3 will be announced this week.

The "National All-Star Game" of boys' high school lacrosse features the top senior high school players in competition representing the North, South, East and West regions. The National Senior Showcase is set-up in a final four format, with two semifinal games, a third place game and a championship game. All of the teams are guaranteed practice and scrimmage time on Friday, June 20 and two games on Saturday, June 21. The competition concludes with an Awards Banquet featuring a special keynote speaker on Saturday evening.

Billy becomes the second player from Hudson High School (Patrick O'Toole in 2003) to attend the event. Congratulations should be extended to him, as this is a great accomplishment and recognition of his outstanding play.