WEDNESDAY 12

CORNING EAST MIKE HATTON SIGNED A DIVISION I LACROSSE SCHOLARSHIP WITH SYRACUSE!

Mike has been a three-year starter at midfield for the Trojans and a two time Empire State Games player (only 5 Trojan have ever done been there twice). He has been on the all league team and one of the top scorers for East each year. Because he is the most experienced offensive player he will be called upon to replace All American TJ Lando and move to attack for the spring of 2004. He is the 67^th Trojan player to move on to the Division I ranks over the last 23 seasons! Also Mike becomes the 6^th Trojan to sign with the Orangemen since 1990: Casey Donegan-1990, Brad Lebaron-1992, Tank Thomas-1995, Devin Darcangelo-1996 and Steve Vallone-2000.

BY BOB BENZ of the Corning Leader | Mike Hatton's just happy the dinner-time interruptions are out of the way and he can enjoy the rest of his senior year with the peace of mind of being settled on his college choice. Hatton didn't have that luxury while helping the Corning East football team to the best season in the program's history and a trip to the Class A state championship game earlier in the fall. Aside from homework and football practices, Hatton's spare time was being bombarded with phone calls from chatty college lacrosse coaches. Those annoyances are over now, though, as Hatton will sign a letter of intent today to attend Syracuse University next fall and play for the NCAA Division I powerhouse lacrosse program there. Hatton will go to Syracuse on an athletic scholarship that will cover half of his tuition. He is undecided on what he will major in at Syracuse. "I found it really distracting, especially when I was playing football and I had all this stuff going on," Hatton said of the numerous college coaches who contacted him during the fall. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound midfielder chose Syracuse over Rutgers, Loyola and Massachusetts. "Most of the coaches I talked to were really nice guys and sent me stuff after I committed congratulating me. It was nice to hear from the coaches in the beginning for my self-confidence, but after a while I just got sick of it and it was kind of annoying. “In October, Hatton visited Syracuse and stayed with Corning East grad and Syracuse senior co-captain Steve Vallone. The visit sold him on playing college lacrosse with the Orangemen, the 2002 national champions. "I just had a real good time up there," Hatton said. "It's such a good program. They go to the national championship and the playoffs. I just want to be at the top of the fleet with all those other players. I just want to see what I've got. "In the spring, Hatton will enter his third year as a starter at midfield for the Trojans and is one of only five East players to make the Empire State Games Western Region squad twice. During his junior season, Hatton scored 25 goals and dished out seven assists. "I think Mike will fit in extremely well (at Syracuse)," East head coach Bob Streeten said. "I think he's very similar in terms of what he brings to the Syracuse program to Steve Vallone. He's a big, strong athlete and he has a hard outside shot. He's gifted with outstanding physical attributes, as well as being able to go right and left handed."

East's Mike Hatton signs with Syracuse Star-Gazette

CORNING -- Corning East midfielder Mike Hatton signed a letter of intent Wednesday to attend Syracuse University on a Division I lacrosse scholarship. Hatton has been a three-year starter with the Trojans, and he is one of five players in Corning East history to play in two Empire State Games. He is expected to move up and play attack for East this season. Last spring, he helped the Trojans to their 19th straight sectional title, scoring five goals in East's 11-9 win over Corning West in the Section 4 Class B championship.