by (Released by Amber Hill)
Ohsweken, Ont., Canada – The U19 Haudenosaunee team that will be competing in the World Cup in Scotland this July is excited to announce the captains that will lead this team. Alie Jimerson, Dana Isaacs, McKenzie Harris, and Cheyenne Burnam have all been selected to lead this team.
The coaching staff are immensely satisfied with the group that has been chosen – “This group of players gives us an extremely strong leadership core that understands the commitment and level of play that we are going to need to compete at the 2015 World Cup” said Head Coach Regy Thorpe.
Coach Thorpe emanated about the new leaders of his team. “Alie has been doing great at Division 1 Albany and playing at a high level that is going to be crucial to us this summer. We are proud of what she’s doing and excited for her experience that she will be bringing to our team.” Jimerson, of the Cayuga Nation, recently played alongside her mother, Claudia Jimerson – who was also a captain for the Haudenosaunee team, in the 2013 FIL World Cup that was held in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. As one of the oldest players of the U-19 team, Jimerson is hoping to medal in this World Cup. “We have a talented young team who has the potential to be able to take on the big teams at the games. We have great coaches who are able to take us that extra mile and make all of us, as a team, that much better.”
Another player that also brings a significant amount of experience, as well as has participated in the last Senior World Cup that took place in 2013 in Oshawa is Dana Isaacs of the Onondaga Nation. Isaacs also participated with Jimerson on the 2011 U-19 Haudenosaunee World Cup team that travelled to Germany. “I am expecting more for this team than the 2011 [Haudenosaunee team that travelled to Germany] because I feel that we have more potential and talent on this team…we have so much potential and I can see this team doing well [in this upcoming World Cup].” Coach Thorpe is excited to have two players with previous World Cup experience. “Dana brings us experience of a previous World Cup which is going to be huge for our team. She is a tough kid that will do whatever it takes to win and will help us all over the field.”
Then, there are the newcomers to the program that have shined through at the weekend training camps.
McKenzie Harris is from the Seneca Nation and is a first time contributor to the Haudenosaunee team. She has verbally committed to the Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse program, and already holds many records and titles for only being a sophomore at Brighton High School. “McKenzie is a player that does hesitate under pressure and her experience of playing with and against older players at the highest club and high school level will give us a ton of experience down at attack. Her creative stick skills and finishing abilities will certainly make us exciting to watch this World Cup” enthused Coach Thorpe. McKenzie is excited to be apart of the Haudenosaunee Nation – “The Game has been a part of my life ever since I was a little girl. Due to my family and my culture, it has been a game that we have fully embraced. My family, my heritage, and my love for this game makes me extremely excited and humbly proud to be chosen as a captain to help lead this team [in the World Cup].”
And the fourth named captain is Cheyenne Burnam, from the Mohawk Nation. “Cheyenne is currently a power house at Onondaga Community College, and is a big part of their team and success. She comes from a long line of relatives that have played in numerous World Cup events, including her dad Mark “Red Man” Burnam. She understands the importance as she will carry the torch of tradition as she leads our team” states Coach Thorpe. Cheyenne is honored to be apart of the Haudenosaunee Team. “I am truly honored to be apart of this representing our people, nothing in the world beats playing for this team because this game is so special to [our Haudenosaunee people]. To be chosen as one of the captains as a new comer makers me want to push myself to my highest ability, along with my team because there is no doubt our team can do it. These girls are my family. Playing for the Creator and having the chance to play is a gift, this is our game.”
Coach Thorpe and his coaching staff are counting the days until they get to showcase all of the aforementioned talent on the world stage.
The Haudenosaunee Nation will compete in the 2015 Federation of International Lacrosse U-19 World Cup held July 23rd – August 1st in Edinburgh, Scotland.
