By Hastings Lacrosse

For this senior class that did not get a junior season, they really have had a lot of success as a lacrosse team.

At every level, this team has competed and won championships. Even when they were 12 and they were separated into two different teams, they both made a run for a state title. Over the years teams lead by this bunch of seniors won the Black and Blue, Valley Cup and SotaLax tournaments. They competed against club teams in the Blue Ox invitational as a community team, a Hastings Raider team, finishing third one year.

Many of them have been together for a long time. They have lost a couple of good, good players over the years that would have really helped this year. But the core has been here since they were little: Alex Thompson, Ben Borndale, Ayden Larimer, Pip Schaffer, Kale Hinderscheid, Ethan Hagen, Garrett Putnam, Jaxon Schiller, and Ryan Lester have been around forever. You can look at their senior booklet and see how long they have been together.

They Added Ben McKinney for their championship run that ended with a Minnesota State Prep championship their freshman year. A year that saw all of them choosing to stay together (instead of playing Varsity or Junior Varsity) for the undefeated run to that championship. And finally adding Ben Siebenaler at the beginning of this year, throwing him to the wolves his first game. Literally the wolves Ben stepped in against the Wolf Pack for the Raiders first win of the 2021 season.

We wish all of them the best in and would like to thank them for the memories that they have given us over the last 10 years.

RAIDERS HAVE SIX SELECTED TO METRO EAST ALL CONFERENCE Alex Thompson ends his Raiders Lacrosse career not only as Hastings Leading points scorer with a school record of 50 regular season goals. But also, a first team all-conference attack. Alex finished his season with 53 goals and 17 assists, putting him fifth in state for goals. Alex finished his high school career with 72 goals and 25 assists, Alex only had two seasons playing on varsity with the COVID cancellation of his junior year and the decision of his class to play and win the Minnesota State Prep Lacrosse Championship.

John Chorlton was also named to the first team Metro East all-conference team. John like Alex also has only had two seasons as he was also on the Raiders Prep championship team. John played every position for the Raiders except for goalie. John had ended the season with 16 goals and 27 assists putting him third on the team for total points. He did also have a team high ground ball and forced turnover numbers. Ranking him number three in the state for ground balls and number one in the state for forced turnovers.

Luke Chorlton rounded out the first team Metro East selections for Hastings. Luke like Alex Thomson also ended the season breaking a Hastings Lacrosse school record for total points in a season. Luke ended the regular season with 70 points. He had 39 goals and 31 assists adding a goal and three assists in the loss to Eagan. His assist numbers put him at nine in the state and his goals put him in the top 20.

Garrett Putnam playing close defense full time for the first time had an outstanding year. Garrett won Honorable Mention as a long pole on the defensive end. Garrett has run middie for the Raiders over the years and was asked this year to step in and play defense full time. Garrett had a great year playing a new position and playing it very well. Garrett was also a member of the championship Prep team his freshman year. But then he played short stick middie.

Jackson Sweeney was the goalie on the State Championship Prep team and has been protecting the goal full time for this senior class sense 2014. Jackson was put a little behind the eight ball this year. Being put on COVID lockdown because of contract tracing at school. Jackson got one practice with the team the first day they were allowed after spring break. The next morning Jackson was put on COVID contact tracing protocol for 14 days. The next time he got to be with his team was game day. Jackson was selected Honorable Mention Metro East. If Jackson would have had a full season there is no question, he would be a first team. Jacksons .638 save percentage is the best Hastings goalies have posted. But Jackson’s ability to throw darts really make a difference when clearing the ball.

Brady Nickel the other freshman to start and play every game also was selected Honorable Mention Metro East. Brady had a great year from his defense long pole position breaking John Chorlton’s freshman ground balls record from two years ago breaking it by seven ground balls. Brady also added two goals and two assist with his six foot pole. Brady play on the defensive end was impressive for not only a freshman but is considered to be one of the better defensive players in the conference. He is a long, tall player with a great reach. Making it really hard to beat with speed.

This year there were a lot of good players in the conference and a lot of parody between teams. The Raiders played well in the conference and could have won most all of them.

The Raiders Lacrosse Seniors, left to right: Kale Hinderscheid, Jackson Schiller, Ben McKinney, Pip Schaffer, Alex Thompson, Ayden Larimer, Ethan Hagen, Garrett Putnam, Ryan Lester, Ben Borndale, Ben Siebenaler. Photo courtesy of Sarah Wasvick

The Raiders had six selected to the Metro East All Conference Team. Left to Right: Luke Chorlton, John Chorlton, Alex Thompson, Jackson Sweeney, Garrett Putnam andnn Brady Nickel