Glacier Peak’s Jake Berg, who plays for the Snohomish lacrosse club team in the spring, recently signed a national letter of intent to play lacrosse at Missouri Valley College next season, according to a press release.
Berg helped lead Snohomish to a state championship in 2012.
“I am very excited about Jake joining the program and what he has to offer,” said MVC lacrosse head coach Kevin Totaro. “With this being a new program, I’m looking for guys like Jake to come in and help jump start things.”
Here’s a press release courtesy Mike McQuaid and WashingtonHSLax.com:
Glacier Peak senior Jake Berg to play NAIA lacrosse at Missouri Valley College
SNOHOMISH, Wash. – Glacier Peak High School senior Jake Berg has signed a Letter of Intent to play NAIA lacrosse at Missouri Valley College.
Berg is the sixth North Sound high school student-athlete this year to commit to play NCAA or NAIA lacrosse following graduation.
“It’s an honor to play for Missouri Valley College. We’ll be building traditions there,” said the 5-8, 175-pound two-sport prep standout who played a key role in the combined Snohomish-Glacier Peak High School lacrosse squad’s first Division I season in 2013 after winning the Washington state Division II title the previous year.
A midfielder and faceoff specialist, Berg will join a Missouri Valley College squad that begins its first year of NAIA play in 2013-14. Familiar ground for the lacrosse and football standout who thrives on pioneering roles – specifically the one that he’ll be part on the Marshall, Missouri campus located midway between Kansas City and St. Louis.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” said Berg who is a three-year lacrosse starter that netted six points (3g, 3a), handled faceoffs and grabbed 21 ground balls on the Snohomish-Glacier Peak squad last spring. “We’ll be breaking new records every day.”
And for the Grizzlies football squad this fall, Berg who was a part of the school’s first season as a seventh-grade ball boy in 2009, excelled on both sides of the ball.
Earning All-Wesco honorable mention honors at defensive back while returning kicks and playing slot receiver, Berg pulled down 12 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown to help the Grizzlies finish on top of the competitive Wesco 3A South with an 8-3 record and advance to a matchup with eventual state champion Bellevue High School in the WIAA 3A state football tournament.
But it’s his no nonsense, blue-collar work ethic that impresses Snohomish-Glacier Peak boys lacrosse coach Chris Cote. And ultimately got the attention of Vikings coach Kevin Totaro who is already off to a blistering start with the upstart program wrapping up its first fall-ball exhibition schedule with a 7-1 record.
“Jake is a solid two-way team player with a nitty-gritty work ethic that wins face offs and gets ground balls,” said Cote who expects Berg to step into leadership roles as a high school senior and in his collegiate career. “He’ll be the fire and the intensity of the (Snohomish-Glacier Peak) team this year.”
When he joins Missouri Valley in 2014, Berg will be one of two Washington state products on a Vikings roster that includes defender Andrew Legg, a 2013 graduate of Vancouver’s Columbia River High School.
Berg, who plans to study business and communications, is the sixth North Sound high school student this year to commit to play lacrosse at the NCAA or NAIA level.
At the NCAA Division I level, Davyd Powell (Snohomish, Wash. / Snohomish HS) has signed with Canisius College in New York and Hanna Dalrymple (Snohomish, Wash. / Glacier Peak High School) has signed with St. Mary’s College in California.
While at the Division II level, Cedar Park Christian senior Gabe Girgus, who plays for the Snohomish-Glacier Peak team, and Meadowdale High School seniors Niko May and Jordan Tindall, have committed to play for Mount Olive College in North Carolina.
During the 2013-14 academic year, 22 student-athletes from Washington state high schools have committed to play NCAA lacrosse. For a complete list visit 2013-14 NCAA Lacrosse Commitments from Washington state.
Last spring, a record 53 graduates from Washington state high schools went on to play NCAA or NAIA lacrosse. For the 2013 list please visit NCAA, NAIA lacrosse programs sign record 53 Washington state prep grads.
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