PUEBLO, Colo. (August 26, 2015) – Entering its second season as a program, Colorado State University-Pueblo Men's Lacrosse has bolstered its roster for the 2016 campaign. Head Coach Sean Blair has announced the addition of 14 student-athletes for the 2015-16 academic year. The newcomers hail from seven different states, including five from Colorado, two each from California and Florida and one each from North Carolina, Oklahoma, Nevada and Kansas.
"I am very excited about the incoming class," commented Blair. "Between a few transfer students, a postgrad student and a new crop of freshman, I am confident that we are beginning to add to the core depth that we have returning from our inaugural season. Our main goal in recruiting this past cycle was to create additional depth in all positions and bring in guys who we felt could become ready to see the field sooner, rather than later. While these student-athletes are very young, I have been impressed with their gameplay running deep into their high school post seasons and into state playoffs and championship games. I firmly believe that this group of student-athletes will be the ones who help establish a strong lacrosse foundation at Colorado State University-Pueblo. With the staff additions we've made, new student-athletes coming in combined with our core returners, I know that our spring season will serve as the beginning of the foundation and culture creation we are aiming for in the Men's Lacrosse program. Having the guys on campus for a few days, you can feel a sense of urgency coming from them and a desire to get to work. They know what is expected of them and they've fully embraced the unique responsibility that comes with establishing the lacrosse foundation for years to come."
Weston Bartgis
Year: Freshman
Position: Attack
Height: 6-3
Weight: 170
Hometown: El Cajon, Calif.
Previous School: Granite Hills HS
High School: Competed for Head Coach Jeff McDade at Granite Hills High School … Tallied over 125 goals and 125 assists during his high school career … Named 2014 Grossmont First-Team All-Conference … Helped lead the Eagles to a conference title … Tabbed Offensive Player of the Year, team MVP and US Lacrosse All-Star … Recorded a 3.4 GPA … Played club lacrosse for the Lawdawgs and East County Rebels.
Personal: Son of Robert and Robin Bartgis … Has one sibling, Nico … Enjoys fitness, fishing, shooting and football … Intends to major in special education … Birthday is Feb. 25.
Dakota Cheek
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Hometown: Oldsmar, Fla.
Previous School: East Lake HS
Previous School: Played one season at Post University in Waterbury, Conn. … Competed in 11 games, tallying eight ground balls, causing two turnovers and assisting on one goal.
High School: Played at East Lake High School … Named Florida Gulf Coast League MVP in 2013 … During senior season, recorded 23 goals, 44 assists, 67 points, 78 shots on goal, 165 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers in 19 games played … Registered a 3.2 GPA.
Personal: Son of Randy and Eileen Cheek … Has two siblings, Noah and Nick … Brother, Nick, is a goalie for the ThunderWolves … Father, Randy, played football at Austin Peay State University … Enjoys snowboarding, surfing and wake boarding … Intends to major in business … Birthday is May 1.
Noah Cheek
Year: Freshman
Position: Goalie
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Hometown: Oldsmar, Fla.
Previous School: East Lake HS
High School: Played at East Lake High School for Head Coach Lars Letenoff … In three seasons between the pipes, he recorded 842 saves … Tallied a .708 save percentage as a freshman, .792 mark as a sophomore and .730 percentage as a senior … Surrendered just 38 goals for a 3.50 goals against average as a senior … Ranked No. 3 nationally in saves with 419 as a sophomore … Florida Gulf Coast Lacrosse League All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2014 … Named first-team all-conference and second-team all-league in 2015 … Played at the club level for the Tampa Bay Sand Sharks.
Personal: Son of Randy and Eileen Cheek … Has two siblings, Dakota and Nick … Brother, Dakota, plays midfield for the ThunderWolves … Father, Randy, played football at Austin Peay State University … Enjoys surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding and roller hockey … Intends to major in engineering … Birthday is Dec. 16.
Dylan Davis
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Hometown: Placentia, Calif.
Previous School: El Dorado HS
High School: Played at El Dorado High School … Won 77 percent of his faceoff attempts … Competed at the club level for Rip City and Head Coach Mike Ansel.
Personal: Enjoys lacrosse and fishing … Birthday is Sept. 4.
Taylor Davis
Year: Freshman
Position: Attack
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
Previous School: Dakota Ridge HS
High School: Played for Head Coach Mike Thumim at Dakota Ridge High School … Totaled 144 goals and 73 assists during his high school career … Named team MVP and garnered first-team all-conference and Denver Post All-State honors … Posted a 3.0 GPA.
Personal: Son of Dusty and Amy Davis … Has one sibling, Kayla … Enjoys playing sports, fishing, hiking and spending time with friends … Intends to major in psychology … Birthday is March 25.
Anthony Ferrie
Year: Freshman
Position: Defense
Height: 6-0
Weight: 235
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
Previous School: Arapahoe HS
High School: Attended Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. … Was a three-year starter … Also competed in football … Named South Metro First-Team All-Conference and team MVP … Served as team captain and led the squad in tackles … Posted a 3.77 GPA.
Personal: Son of Patrick and Janella Ferrie … Has on sibling, Ethan … Enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and fantasy football … Intends to major in engineering … Birthday is April 2.
Blake Foerster
Year: Sophomore
Position: Attack
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Centennial, Colo.
Previous School: Rockhurst University (Smoky Hill HS)
Previous School: Played his freshman season at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. … Saw action in all 12 games, including eight starts … Ranked fourth on the team in goals with 13 and third in assists with 12 … Tallied 44 shots (21 on goal) and 11 ground balls.
High School: Attended Smoky Hill High School where he competed under Head Coach Preston Davis … In three seasons, scored 115 goals and tallied 57 assists … Named First-Team All-Centennial League and first-team all-state in 2014 … Played at the club level for FCA Lacrosse.
Personal: Son of Rick and Kari Foerster … Has four siblings, Kaitlynne, Tyler, Natalie and Maria … Enjoys golfing, playing basketball, hiking and jet skiing … Intends to major in business … Birthday is Nov. 12.
Cody Kraus
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-1
Weight: 230
Hometown: Pueblo, Colo.
Previous School: Pueblo South HS
High School: Attended Pueblo South High School … Recorded a 4.0 GPA.
Personal: Son of Daniel and Sheila Kraus … Has one sibling, Chloe … Majoring in civil engineering … Birthday is May 25.
Joe McDonough
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Hometown: Jacksonville, N.C.
Previous School: The Gunnery School
High School: Attended The Gunnery School in Washington, Conn. … Played under Head Coach Mark Conklin … Named All-New England Honorable Mention in 2015 … As a senior, recorded 23 goals, 30 shots on goal and 14 ground balls … Competed at the club level for the Mean Machine.
Personal: Son of John and Ruth McDonough … Has three siblings, MacEllen, Murphy and Maddie … Mother played hockey at Northeastern University, while father played football at Northeastern … Sister, MacEllen, plays women's lacrosse at Jacksonville University … Intends to major in recreation leadership … Birthday is Feb. 28.
Tyler Millican
Year: Freshman
Position: Defense
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
Hometown: La Mesa, Calif.
Previous School: Grossmont HS
High School: Played for Head Coach JJ Mramontes at Grossmont High School in San Diego, Calif. … Garnered Grossmont Hills League Conference Player of the Year accolades in 2015 … Named to San Diego CIF Second-Team in 2015 … Registered a 3.5 high school GPA … Competed at the club level for the Lax Dawgs.
Personal: Intends to major in business … Enjoys fishing … Birthday is March 22.
Taze Mueller
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Hometown: Tulsa, Okla.
Previous School: Jenks HS
High School: Played at Jenks High School under Head Coach JP Hewitt … As a senior, recorded 95 ground balls, 77 shots and 24 goals … Recorded a 3.2 GPA … Competed for the OKC Knights at the club level.
Personal: Son of John and Sally Mueller … Has one sibling, Annabel … Enjoys skiing and playing disc golf … Intends to major in business … Birthday is April 9.
Colton Parazak
Year: Freshman
Position: LSM
Height: 6-0
Weight: 155
Hometown: Morrison, Colo.
Previous School: Dakota Ridge HS
High School: Competed for Head Coach Mike Thumim at Dakota Ridge High School … Played with current CSU-Pueblo teammate Taylor Davis … Performed well in the classroom, recording a 3.4 GPA.
Personal: Son of Marissa Parazak … Aunt played volleyball at Rhodes College … Uncle Christopher Parazak played hockey at MSU Denver … Intends to major in political science … Birthday is Oct. 9.
Devin Thrower
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
Previous School: Bishop Gorman HS
High School: Attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev. where he played under head coach Ian Devlin … Helped lead the Gaels to back-to-back regional and state championships in 2014 and 2015 … Named team MVP and garnered first-team all-star accolades two seasons … Played club lacrosse for the Vegas Statz and Head Coach Gary Campo.
Personal: Son of Theodis and Kirstie Thrower … Has three siblings, Jordan, Cameron and Kailyn … Father Theodis played football at Benedictine College … Intends to major in civil engineering … Birthday is July 18.
Ethan Wall
Year: Freshman
Position: Attack
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
Previous School: Olathe Northwest HS
High School: Was a four-year varsity letterwinner under Head Coach Logan Gleissner at Olathe Northwest High School … Helped lead the Ravens to a state title as a senior with 83 points on 42 goals and 41 assists … Named 2014 Under Armour All-American … Tabbed first-team all-state and offensive MVP as a senior … Garnered honorable mention all-state accolades as a sophomore and junior … Performed well in the classroom, posting a 3.95 GPA … Competed at the club level for True Lacrosse Kansas City and Great Plains Lacrosse.
Personal: Son of Patrick and Janet Wall … Has one sibling, Collin … Birthday is May 10.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
