Jonathan Alder and Marysville lacrosse players come together for summer club competitions

Several local athletes are taking advantage of being out of school to sharpen their lacrosse skills.

Members of Jonathan Alder’s and Marysville’s boys lacrosse programs competed in the 2024 Ohio Lacrosse Festival in early June. Several teams ranging at or below the high school level played a series of club games at Bevelhymer Park in New Albany Saturday and Sunday.

Jonathan Alder defenseman Eli Ricker (left) helps guard Marysville goalie Saxton Bond (red helmet) during a club matchup against the DY Colonels.

(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)

One club in particular saw a couple of Monarchs and Pioneers team up with one another for the weekend.

The Blackjack Elite Lacrosse club has several members from various schools in Central Ohio come together for summer competitions. The club based in Central Ohio holds members of Marysville and Jonathan Alder.

Despite the cross-town rivalry, members from both programs are finding ways to sharpen their skillset to get better for the next spring season.

“It is really fun to be playing with Marysville kids, I have gotten to know them, and they are nice people,” JA’s Eli Ricker said. “In the season we are rivals, but in the offseason it’s all love for them.”

That feeling is mutual.

“It’s fun,” Marysville’s Lincoln Engle shared about being on the same side. “I like seeing them in the regular season knowing we were summer teammates.”

Both played together in four games during the two-day tournament. The Blackjack Elite HS Black team went 0-4 losing three of those matchups Saturday and one the following day.

While the summer months bring people together, the mission for local athletes remains the same in the offseason; get better.

Between Ricker and Engle share eight years of club lacrosse experience with the Pioneer being the younger one to join Blackjack’s roster with two years. Both have only played for the Columbus based lacrosse club.

The chance to sharpen the tool drawer is always welcome especially amongst familiar faces.

“I think playing in the off-season improves stick skills and footwork and overall game performance,” Ricker said. “You meet new people and have a short time to get to know them before games.”

“Super beneficial and it’s great to keep a stick in your hand as much and long as possible,” Engle noted. “It’s always good to learn from different coaches and experience different practices.”

Unlike the high school sports season, games go back-to-back for club teams who have little time to rest.

“There are typically for us 3 summer tournaments and there are 3 pool play games and then playoffs the next day, so anywhere from 3-5 games a tournament,” Ricker explained.

The spring regular season cannot come soon enough with both of them expecting to be geared up to face one another in the regular season come 2025.

“I’ll be a junior this year, looking forward to the junior and senior class being leaders on and off the field and building a new winning culture,” Engle said. “We have the talent, now we just need to put in the work. With it being coach Alessi’s second year, he knows the pieces to the puzzle well now we have to fit together and play as team to make it into the post season.”

“I am looking forward to be back playing with my boys and winning some games,” Ricker said.