Corning East makes mark on college lacrosse

- Twenty-three of the school's graduates have moved on to next level - 15 at Division I schools.

By JOHN ZICK
Star-Gazette
sports@stargazette.com

John Elway's rocket arm. Mark McGwire's towering home runs. Michael Jordan's unblockable fade-away. Casey Powell's knack for the goal.



File photo Greg Raymond, right, shown here during his Corning East days, is a team captain at Johns Hopkins.

Wait, Casey Powell? No one fantasizes about being the former Syracuse All-American lacrosse player, do they?

According to another lacrosse star, no, they don't.

Former Corning East standout and current Johns Hopkins captain Greg Raymond said kids growing up in the Corning area dream about being football or basketball stars like most other American youths.

"I moved to Corning in fifth grade," Raymond, a redshirt junior, said. "I played football, basketball and soccer. To tell you the truth, lacrosse wasn't big where I came from."

But something happens in Corning during childhood that opens up the possibility of becoming the next Casey Powell. His name is Bob Streeten.

Streeten has coached lacrosse at Corning East for 23 years. He's been to the state finals eight times since 1989, winning the Class B title in 1990.

His success is unmatched in the Twin Tiers. With all the high school winning aside, it is his reputation for sending his players to premier universities that sets him apart.

This year, 23 East graduates will play college lacrosse, 15 of them at Division I schools. Rarely do athletes get to compete at the Division I level, and that's what makes the number so staggering.

"I think the number one reason (so many East players play in college) is the level of commitment and dedication," Streeten said. "During the summer of his junior and senior years, Greg (Raymond) was playing four nights a week in two different box-lacrosse leagues. Admittedly, it probably wasn't as much fun as he might have wanted it to be."

And Streeten doesn't just get his players to Division I colleges; he gets them to top-notch schools.

Elite Division I programs

Many of Streeten's players go on to don the colors of the top college lacrosse teams in the country.

Raymond's Johns Hopkins team is ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls, trailing reigning national champion Virginia by one point and two first-place votes. Virginia beat Johns Hopkins 9-7 in last year's title game.

Syracuse is the third-ranked team in the country, according to www.laxpower.com, the country's premier lacrosse Web site, and is captained by East product Steve Vallone, a good friend of Raymond's.

"We're side-by-side when we come home for holidays and vacations," said Raymond, whose team downed the Orangeman in a 2003 national semifinal game.

Vallone, however, did not play in the game because he was sidelined with a broken jaw. Now recovered, and a senior, he is a third-team preseason All-America selection.

That's just the beginning of former Trojans stepping on the field for national title contenders.

Greg Havalchak, a sophomore at Rutgers (No. 14 in the preseason poll), graduated from East in 2002. He was a good player for Streeten, but at times he admittedly underachieved. That's not the case anymore.

Havalchak was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Goalie of the Year in 2003, as well as the conference's defensive player of the year and freshman of the year.

"I like challenges," Havalchak said. "When we were dominating everyone (in high school) it was sometimes tough to get going. But playing Division I is so intense. I play my best when I'm on the edge."

Streeten said Havalchak was a good player in high school and wasn't surprised at his early success. "The only people that weren't surprised, I'm sure, were Greg, his parents and me," the coach said.

Some other East players playing at top-25 schools:

- Matt Dupuis, class of 2001, playing at No. 13 Loyola College.

- Jon Miller, class of 2000, playing at No. 17 Ohio State.

- Jared Bosanko, class of 2000, playing at No. 18 Navy.

- Luke Reilly and Corey Warner, class of 2001, playing at No. 19 University of Maryland Baltimore County.

And that list doesn't include star players such as Adam Zuder-Havens and T.J. Lando, who play for Herkimer Community College, the 2003 junior college national champs.

Corning Youth Leagues

The former East players are quick to point out that the Corning youth programs are important to the development of their skills.

"I think it's all the youth leagues," Havalchak said. "They get all the players playing together when they are young, and they keep playing together through high school."

Streeten, who plays a major role in the success of the youth programs, said he is on the phone all summer making sure he gets kids out to his camps and youth leagues.

"I'll probably make 75 to 100 phone calls the three days before lacrosse camp starts," he said.

Raymond said Streeten is relentless in his attempts to get youngsters to play. Streeten echoes Raymond's sentiment.

"It's OK to tell me you don't want to play lacrosse, but until you do I'm going to keep calling to make sure you are out playing," he said. And if you play, and you have talent, he'll spot you.

"When I come across a Steve Vallone, Greg Raymond or Greg Havalchak, I put an asterisk next to their name in my mind," Streeten said. "Those are the players I'll keep on because I know they will be able to play."

Success will continue

All indications are that the East program will continue to thrive. The Trojans remain one of the best programs in the state and hope to contend for a title this season.

The 2004 edition of the East lacrosse team features Mike Hatton, Graydon Locey and Felix Forbes, all three of whom have committed to Division I colleges.

Hatton has signed with Syracuse and will play for the Orangemen in 2005. Locey will play for Johns Hopkins next year, despite tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in November during the football season. Forbes will suit up for St. John's next spring.

From East to the college ranks

Corning East lacrosse players who are playing, or will play, for college teams:

- Class of 1999 -- Dan Hatton, Mt. Saint Mary's (D1)*.

- Class of 2000 -- Jared Bosanko, Navy (D1); Rocky Locey, Rochester Institute of Technology (D3); Jon Miller, Ohio State (D1); Greg Raymond, Johns Hopkins (D1); Steve Vallone, Syracuse (D1); Dan Wilcox, Lycoming (D3); Mark Williamson, Hobart (D1); Ernie Spaulding, Albany (D1).

- Class of 2001 -- Matt Dupuis, Loyola College (Md.; D1); Luke Reilly, University of Maryland Baltimore County (D1); Josh Scouten, Messiah (D3); Corey Warner, University of Maryland Baltimore County (D1).

- Class of 2002 -- Taylor Bloor, Delaware (D1); Greg Havalchak, Rutgers (D1); Brian Mucino, Alfred State (JC); Matt Warner, Mt. Saint Mary's (D1); Adam Zuder-Havens, Herkimer Community College (JC).

- Class of 2003 -- Todd Lehman, Cayuga Community College (JC); James Powell, Alfred University (D3); T.J. Lando, Herkimer Community College (D3); David Streeten, Binghamton (D1); Wes Buth, RIT (D3).

- Class of 2004 -- Graydon Locey, Johns Hopkins (D1); Mike Hatton, Syracuse (D1); Felix Forbes, St. John's (D1).

* D1 refers to Division I schools, D2 refers to Division II schools and JC refers to junior colleges.