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Midland trio competes in youth lacrosse World Series

By Dan Chalk (Midland Daily News), 07/29/17, 1:15AM EDT

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Competing with some of the best young lacrosse players from North America and beyond, Midland's Evan Chronowski, Ryan Stadelmaier and Cal Stearns spent a thrilling Fourth of July week at the Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver, Colo.

The third annual event brought together 400 players in the 13-and-under age group -- on 21 teams from the United States, two from Canada and one from Israel -- culminating in a championship game on July 4 at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

"I thought it was really cool opportunity to play with some of the best players in the world," Chronowski said. "I couldn't believe that I got chosen for it."

The World Series was founded by Jake Steinfeld, the founder of Major League Lacrosse, with the goal of providing youth players with the ultimate lacrosse experience, according to the World Series website.

"It meant a lot (to me) because we got to represent Michigan and got to represent the Midwest in the World Series," Stadelmaier said.

Stearns said the tournament was the best experience he has had in a sport that he, Chronowski and Stadelmaier have all played for at least five years.

"Just to be invited to play with this team was a dream come true for me," Stearns explained. "It was definitely the best competition I've seen at the 13U level, and probably that I'll ever see."

The three Midlanders, who are all 13 and going into eighth grade, were selected to the Michigan Warriors team, which consisted mostly of Detroit-area players.

They are the first three players from the Midland area to be selected for the World Series.

"It spreads the word for Midland lacrosse. It gets our name out there," Chronowski said of having three players represent Midland on the Michigan team and at the World Series.

The Midland players were notified early in the spring of their selection, and traveled several times to Detroit to practice with the Michigan team in preparation for the World Series.

In Denver, they played six games against various teams, including the Israeli team and one of the Canadian teams. While Michigan didn't win any games, three of them were close and, of course, the experience willonly help these young players in the future.

"It was a lot different than the teams we play here in Michigan, because most of the (players at the World Series) are very good with their stick skills and can catch and throw easily," Stadelmaier said. "I think it helped me a lot because it let me know where I stood in my age group."

Along with the team competition, some skill events were also held, and Stadelmaier, who is a midfielder, teamed with another player to take second place in the "Braveheart" competition, which he described as a two-on-two, sudden-death event.

Stadelmaier also took fourth in the Fastest Shot competition. His shot was clocked at 85 miles per hour, while the winning shot was 102 mph.

"So I've got a lot to go," he said.

Outside of competition, the players also had the chance to make friends with players from other states and other countries. They exchanged pins that represented their home states.

"Along with the hard competition came lots of friendship between the teams," Stearns said. "That part was really cool. ... After a game, you would shake hands and get pins from your bag. I have pins from Israel, California, Texas, Florida, Canada, all over. It wasawesome."

And at the closing ceremony at Mile High Stadium, all the teams came onto the field in their jerseys. They also got to watch a Major LeagueLacrosse game following the World Series championship game, and a banquet was held for the players and their families.

All three of the players came back to Midland filled with great memories.

"It's cool to play against the best talent in the world and fun to say that I was playing at the World Series of Youth Lacrosse," Chronowski said.