| Mustang History |
July 2002: In the summer of 2002 Brian Maine, under the direction of the MHSAA, began a pilot program for lacrosse in the
greater Portage area encompassing both High School and Middle School boys. Young men from Kalamazoo Central, Loy Norrix,
Potage Central, Portage Northern and the associated middle schools participated in a two-week summer program to introduce
lacrosse to the area. Brian was successful in other areas within the state of Michigan, including Mattawan, which began club
lacrosse in the spring of 2002.
2003: In the spring of 2003, Portage and Kalamazoo area High Schools and Middle Schools created a lacrosse field at Ramona
Park. This combined program fielded a Varsity and JV club that consisted of 39 players in its first year. Under the direction of
Head Coach Frank Rogers, Portage posted a winning record of 9 and 8 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to West Ottawa.
2004: In year two of the Portage program the numbers began to grow amongst Portage participants. This allowed for two
independent varsity and junior varsity squads. Frank Rogers and Mike Mester led the Varsity, while Russ King and Joe Cascio
directed the Junior Varsity squad. Both the JV and Varsity teams finished with 7- 10 records. It was not to be a season of
celebration as the JV goal tender from Portage Northern HS, Matthew Thrasher - a walk on from the prior outdoor summer league,
was tragically killed in a boating accident. In later years, a tournament would be named in his honor.
2005: In the spring of 2005, numbers began to swell at both Northern and Central High Schools, as well as at the Middle School
level. Lacrosse was no longer an interest of just the men as Central Middle School began a girl’s team. Portage would field boy’s
Varsity and Junior Varsity teams at both Central and Northern High School as well as a combined Central and West Middle School
Team, the Muskies. Chris Sizemore joined Head Coach Frank Rogers as an assistant to the Varsity program while Dan Mills and
Jason Waterman joined the Junior Varsity program at Portage Central. 2005 was the beginning of real growth for all the young
program and necessitated the start a booster program. Operating budgets became essential in order to support the required
uniforms, buses, field maintenance and equipment for the programs. It was also the first year for the Matt Thrasher Memorial
game: A game to be played on McCamley field with proceeds to be directed to a Matt Thrasher Scholarship fund. Portage Central
won the first game 5 to 4 and has continued its winning streak to present day. Portage Central finished the 2005 season 4 and 13.
2006: Portage Central Athletic Director, Dr. Larry Edland elected to make a coaching change at the Varsity and Junior Varsity
levels in 2006; promoting Dan Mills to the Varsity squad, assisted by Joe Cascio, Chris Sizemore and Jason Waterman. Troy’e
White and Martin Miller led the Junior Varsity program, continuing to build necessary fundamentals. After two previous losing
seasons; Coach Mills returned the Mustangs to a winning program ending the year with a 10-8 record. It was the start of three
successful seasons in a row under Mills.
2007: Under direction of the three-legged stool; (Mills, Cascio & Sizemore), the Varsity Mustangs finished the season 15-2. The
Junior Varsity squad was led by a talented group - Matt Sofarelli, Bob Tieche and Martin Miller. The Portage Central lacrosse
program had now become a contender in the Southwest Michigan Lacrosse Conference (SWMLC), setting numerous team records
and going further in the playoffs than ever before. Their historic run ended in the Regional Semifinal Playoffs against Forest Hills
Central. Coach Dan Mills was honored as the 2007 Coach of the Year for the SWMLC. Al Carpenter (Midfield, ‘08) was honored
with a 2nd Team All-State selection while Barry Beranek (Attack ‘08), Trevor Wight (Attack ‘08) and Perrin VanderVeen (Defense
‘07) were honored with 3rd Team All-State Awards, 1st Team Conference Awards and All Region Awards. Anthony Boyle (Defense
‘07) was also honored with an All Region Award. Six other Portage Central Mustangs were honored with 2nd Team and Honorable
Mention Conference Awards.
2008: The Mustangs steamrolled the Southwest Michigan Lacrosse Conference (SWMLC) and finished the ‘08 season 13-7. The
Mustangs were back-to-back defending SWMLC champions, not losing a conference game in 2007 or 2008. Coach John
VanderVeen joined Sofarelli, Tieche and Miller at the Portage Central Junior Varsity level to assist during the ‘08 season. The
Mustangs returned to the Regional Semifinal but fell to Flint Powers. The Mustangs again garnered numerous State and National
awards for their efforts on and off the field. Portage Central attackman Andrew Busch won the Don Lutz Award for courage under
fire and goalie Charlie Bogren won the Gene Reilly Award for academic achievement. These annual awards are handed out by
the State of Michigan Coaches Association. Aaron Mills was honored with the Academic All-American Award. Eight Mustang men
were recognized on 2nd and 3rd Team All-State, 4 players achieved All-Region and 11 attained Conference Awards.
2009: The spring winds of 2009 brought another change to the Portage Central Mustang Lacrosse program as Dan Mills retired as
head coach. PC Athletic Director, Dr. Larry Edland promoted Chris Sizemore to the Varsity Head Coach position. Coach Joe
Cascio continued to assist the Varsity squad while Greg Chambers and Will Krueger were selected to lead the JV program.
Mustang Alumni, Barry Beranek also assisted at all three levels of the Portage Lacrosse program during his injury recovery, which
has delayed his college lacrosse career. Forty-eight young men participated as members of the Portage Central Mustang
Lacrosse team of 2009.
greater Portage area encompassing both High School and Middle School boys. Young men from Kalamazoo Central, Loy Norrix,
Potage Central, Portage Northern and the associated middle schools participated in a two-week summer program to introduce
lacrosse to the area. Brian was successful in other areas within the state of Michigan, including Mattawan, which began club
lacrosse in the spring of 2002.
2003: In the spring of 2003, Portage and Kalamazoo area High Schools and Middle Schools created a lacrosse field at Ramona
Park. This combined program fielded a Varsity and JV club that consisted of 39 players in its first year. Under the direction of
Head Coach Frank Rogers, Portage posted a winning record of 9 and 8 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to West Ottawa.
2004: In year two of the Portage program the numbers began to grow amongst Portage participants. This allowed for two
independent varsity and junior varsity squads. Frank Rogers and Mike Mester led the Varsity, while Russ King and Joe Cascio
directed the Junior Varsity squad. Both the JV and Varsity teams finished with 7- 10 records. It was not to be a season of
celebration as the JV goal tender from Portage Northern HS, Matthew Thrasher - a walk on from the prior outdoor summer league,
was tragically killed in a boating accident. In later years, a tournament would be named in his honor.
2005: In the spring of 2005, numbers began to swell at both Northern and Central High Schools, as well as at the Middle School
level. Lacrosse was no longer an interest of just the men as Central Middle School began a girl’s team. Portage would field boy’s
Varsity and Junior Varsity teams at both Central and Northern High School as well as a combined Central and West Middle School
Team, the Muskies. Chris Sizemore joined Head Coach Frank Rogers as an assistant to the Varsity program while Dan Mills and
Jason Waterman joined the Junior Varsity program at Portage Central. 2005 was the beginning of real growth for all the young
program and necessitated the start a booster program. Operating budgets became essential in order to support the required
uniforms, buses, field maintenance and equipment for the programs. It was also the first year for the Matt Thrasher Memorial
game: A game to be played on McCamley field with proceeds to be directed to a Matt Thrasher Scholarship fund. Portage Central
won the first game 5 to 4 and has continued its winning streak to present day. Portage Central finished the 2005 season 4 and 13.
2006: Portage Central Athletic Director, Dr. Larry Edland elected to make a coaching change at the Varsity and Junior Varsity
levels in 2006; promoting Dan Mills to the Varsity squad, assisted by Joe Cascio, Chris Sizemore and Jason Waterman. Troy’e
White and Martin Miller led the Junior Varsity program, continuing to build necessary fundamentals. After two previous losing
seasons; Coach Mills returned the Mustangs to a winning program ending the year with a 10-8 record. It was the start of three
successful seasons in a row under Mills.
2007: Under direction of the three-legged stool; (Mills, Cascio & Sizemore), the Varsity Mustangs finished the season 15-2. The
Junior Varsity squad was led by a talented group - Matt Sofarelli, Bob Tieche and Martin Miller. The Portage Central lacrosse
program had now become a contender in the Southwest Michigan Lacrosse Conference (SWMLC), setting numerous team records
and going further in the playoffs than ever before. Their historic run ended in the Regional Semifinal Playoffs against Forest Hills
Central. Coach Dan Mills was honored as the 2007 Coach of the Year for the SWMLC. Al Carpenter (Midfield, ‘08) was honored
with a 2nd Team All-State selection while Barry Beranek (Attack ‘08), Trevor Wight (Attack ‘08) and Perrin VanderVeen (Defense
‘07) were honored with 3rd Team All-State Awards, 1st Team Conference Awards and All Region Awards. Anthony Boyle (Defense
‘07) was also honored with an All Region Award. Six other Portage Central Mustangs were honored with 2nd Team and Honorable
Mention Conference Awards.
2008: The Mustangs steamrolled the Southwest Michigan Lacrosse Conference (SWMLC) and finished the ‘08 season 13-7. The
Mustangs were back-to-back defending SWMLC champions, not losing a conference game in 2007 or 2008. Coach John
VanderVeen joined Sofarelli, Tieche and Miller at the Portage Central Junior Varsity level to assist during the ‘08 season. The
Mustangs returned to the Regional Semifinal but fell to Flint Powers. The Mustangs again garnered numerous State and National
awards for their efforts on and off the field. Portage Central attackman Andrew Busch won the Don Lutz Award for courage under
fire and goalie Charlie Bogren won the Gene Reilly Award for academic achievement. These annual awards are handed out by
the State of Michigan Coaches Association. Aaron Mills was honored with the Academic All-American Award. Eight Mustang men
were recognized on 2nd and 3rd Team All-State, 4 players achieved All-Region and 11 attained Conference Awards.
2009: The spring winds of 2009 brought another change to the Portage Central Mustang Lacrosse program as Dan Mills retired as
head coach. PC Athletic Director, Dr. Larry Edland promoted Chris Sizemore to the Varsity Head Coach position. Coach Joe
Cascio continued to assist the Varsity squad while Greg Chambers and Will Krueger were selected to lead the JV program.
Mustang Alumni, Barry Beranek also assisted at all three levels of the Portage Lacrosse program during his injury recovery, which
has delayed his college lacrosse career. Forty-eight young men participated as members of the Portage Central Mustang
Lacrosse team of 2009.
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| PORTAGE CENTRAL MUSTANGS LACROSSE |
| MUSTANG PRIDE |
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