Welcome to Denver East Lacrosse
Established in 1965, is one of Colorado’s most successful programs with nine state championships and a tradition of developing strong men of character.
Our players have gone on to compete at top universities including Harvard, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, and Cornell.
Our teams compete at the highest level while emphasizing academic excellence and community leadership.
Our mission is simple: help each player have fun, improve as a lacrosse player, and compete at the highest level appropriate for his ability while becoming a positive influence in school and community.
History
The Early Years…
Denver East High School Lacrosse began in 1965, with the first African American player known as “Black Bart” joining the team in 1965/66. The program quickly gained recognition, and by 1968, the East High yearbook noted that the team had been “an active, competitive sport for the last four years,” taking 2nd place in the city championship.
Under coach William Cooper Jr. in 1970 and 1971, the program achieved remarkable success. In 1971, Denver East tied with Denver Country Day for the State Championship and had more All-State team selections than any other high school in Colorado. Notable players from this era include All-American goalie William “Bill” Smiley and All-State defenseman Kent Thomas Watson, who went on to play at Creighton University on a lacrosse scholarship.
The East-Manual Era In the early 1970s, Denver East and Manual high schools combined to form the East-Manual Lacrosse Club, enjoying strong community support from 1971–1978. Chris Romer, former State Senator and Denver mayoral candidate, served as Player-Coach in 1977 & 1978.
In 1979, Jon Barocas became Head Coach and transformed the program over his 33-year tenure, retiring in 2011. Under Barocas’ leadership, East-Manual accumulated nine Colorado State Championships (1985, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’93, ’96, ’98, and 2000) and had five undefeated seasons.
Beginning in 1985, the team traveled nationally, competing in California, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and Florida.
The program gained national recognition in 1988 when East-Manual won the Daniel Hand Tournament in Connecticut. In 1999, with official Colorado sanctioning of boys lacrosse, the team returned to being known as Denver East Lacrosse, winning the CHSAA State Championship in 2000.
The Current Era…
Today, Denver East competes in the highly competitive CHSAA 5A #4 Conference. The program has consistently produced All-Conference, All-State, and All-American selections, with Angels alumni representing top collegiate programs and contributing to eight NCAA Championships at their respective universities.
State Championships
| Year | Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Denver East | Arapahoe | 9 – 8 OT |
| 1998 | East-Manual | Eaglecrest | 15 – 10 |
| 1996 | East-Manual | Eaglecrest | 17 – 11 |
| 1993 | East-Manual | Kent-Denver | 12 – 5 |
| 1990 | East-Manual | South | 15 – 5 |
| 1989 | East-Manual | Kent-Denver | 10 – 5 |
| 1988 | East-Manual | Thomas Jefferson | 15 – 10 |
| 1987 | East-Manual | Kent-Denver | 12 – 6 |
| 1985 | East-Manual | Kent-Denver | 8 – 7 |
All Americans, All Academics
* Academic All Americans
| Grad. Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 2021 | *Alec Biermann |
| 2019 | *August “Mustang” Sally |
| 2019 | Cole Finley-Ponds |
| 2018 | *Daniel Rahe |
| 2017 | *Daniel Shelanski |
| 2017 | *Dillon Hunter |
| 2015 | *Aubrey Vial |
| 2015 | *Connor Lewis |
| 2009 | *Brendan Lamarre |
| 2007 | *Gabe Mann |
| 2006 | Dillon Roy |
| 2006 | Zach Tedeschi |
| 2005 | Mark Hild |
| 2004 | Hunter Combs |
| 2003 | *Carle Stenmark |
| 2002 | Jason Anderson |
| 2001 | Kip Malo |
| 2000 | Kip Malo |
| 2000 | Spencer Stenmark |
| 1999 | Ben Winston |
| 1998 | Wadeh Constance |
| 1998 | Alex Mitzner |
| 1998 | *Graham Brock |
| 1995 | Zack Hergott |
| 1994 | Christian Cook |
| 1993 | Andrew Todd |
| 1993 | *Jon Meyer |
| 1991 | James Gaensbauer |
| 1991 | Mike Todd |
| 1990 | Nick VanRemortel |
| 1989 | John Gaensbauer |
| 1988 | Sean Waters |
| 1988 | Jon Gottesfeld |
| 1986 | Eric Peterson |
| 1985 | Tom Wenzel |
| 1985 | Robert Hollister |
| 1971 | William Smiley |
All Conference
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Andrew Tan | First Team Attack |
| 2021 | Kevin Pickford | First Team Midfield |
| 2021 | Niko Huang-Malin | Second Team Defense |
| 2021 | Wade Jahnke | Second Team Defense |
| 2019 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2019 | Cole Finley-Ponds | First Team Defense/LSM |
| 2019 | Harrison Mead | First Team Defense |
| 2019 | Clayton Finley-Ponds | Second Team Midfield |
| 2019 | Elijah Bruggeman | Second Team Midfield |
| 2019 | Jackie Freeman | Second Team Attack |
| 2019 | William Grawemeyer | Second Team F/O Midfield |
| 2019 | Duncan Lewis | Second Team Attack |
| 2019 | Sam Perez | Second Team Goalie |
| 2019 | Noah Miller | Honorable Mention |
| 2019 | Andrew Tan | Honorable Mention |
| 2018 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2018 | Cole Finley-Ponds | First Team LSM |
| 2018 | Luke Sawyer | First Team Defense |
| 2018 | Carter Haskel | Second Team Defense |
| 2018 | Cole Emmanuel | Second Team F/O Midfield |
| 2018 | Clayton Finley-Ponds | Second Team Midfield |
| 2018 | Daniel Rahe | Second Team Attack |
| 2018 | Andrew Tan | Second Team Attack |
| 2018 | Ben LeClaire | Honorable Mention Goalie |
| 2018 | Wyatt Johnson | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2017 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2017 | Daniel Shelanski | First Team F/O Midfield |
| 2017 | Luke Sawyer | Second Team Defense |
| 2017 | Robert Roseberry | Second Team Midfield |
| 2017 | Brian Stromberg | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2017 | Ciaran Peck | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2017 | Cole Finley-Ponds | Honorable Mention LSM |
| 2017 | Daniel Heher | Honorable Mention Defense |
| 2017 | Landon Hovey | Honorable Mention Attack |
| 2016 | Andrew Oullette | Second Team Attack |
| 2016 | August “Mustang” Sally | Second Team Attack |
| 2016 | Luke Sawyer | Second Team Defense |
| 2016 | Daniel Shelanski | Second Team F/O Midfield |
| 2016 | Max Bragdon | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2016 | Mike Brewer | Honorable Mention Goalie |
| 2016 | Ryan Self | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2016 | Tommy Topper | Honorable Mention LSM |
| 2015 | Sam Biermann | First Team F/O Midfield |
| 2015 | Connor Lewis | First Team Defense |
| 2015 | Henry Parker | First Team Attack |
| 2015 | Max Bragdon | Second Team Defense |
| 2015 | Kyle Nalen | Second Team LSM |
| 2015 | Daniel Shelanski | Second Team F/O Midfield |
| 2015 | Andrew Oullette | Honorable Mention Attack |
| 2015 | BC Wells | Honorable Mention Goalie |
| 2015 | Matt Spiessbach | Honorable Mention Attack |
| 2014 | Griffin Heller | First Team Attack |
| 2014 | Jake Sawyer | First Team Defense |
| 2014 | Sam Biermann | First Team F/O Midfield |
| 2014 | Billy Betts | Honorable Mention Midfield |
| 2014 | Conner Lewis | Honorable Mention Defense |
| 2014 | Henry Parker | Honorable Mention Attack/Midfield |
| 2013 | Zach McCabe | First Team Midfield |
| 2013 | Jake Sawyer | First Team Defense |
| 2013 | Joey Cowperthwaite | Second Team Goalie |
All State
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Andrew Tan | Second Team Attack |
| 2021 | Kevin Pickford | Honorable Mention |
| 2019 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2019 | Cole Finley-Ponds | First Team Defense/LSM |
| 2018 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2018 | Cole Finley-Ponds | First Team LSM |
| 2018 | Luke Sawyer | First Team Defense |
| 2017 | August “Mustang” Sally | First Team Attack |
| 2017 | Daniel Shelanski | Second Team F/O Midfield |
| 2014 | Jake Sawyer | First Team Defense |
| 2013 | Jake Sawyer | Honorable Mention Defense |
| 2008 | Josh Russell | Honorable Mention Attack |
| 2006 | Ryan Burt | Defense |
| 2006 | Piet Dudley | Goalie |
| 2006 | Dillon Roy | Defense |
| 2006 | Kjael Skaalerud | Attack |
| 2006 (Player of the year) | Zach Tedeschi | Midfield |
| 2006 | Ben Allison | Honorable Mention |
| 2006 | Russell Clark | Honorable Mention |
| 2006 | Bailey Connor | Honorable Mention |
| 2006 | Josh Russell | Honorable Mention Attack |
| 2006 | Alex Vinton | Honorable Mention |
| 2005 | Zach Tedeschi | Midfield |
| 2004 | Dillon Roy | Defense |
| 2004 | Hunter Combs | Midfield |
| 2000 | Spencer Stenmark | Defense |
| 2000 | Kip Malo | Midfield |
| 2000 | Rob Jorgenson | Defense |
| 1998 | Alex Mitzner | First Team Attack |
| 1998 | Constance Wadeh | First Team Midfield |
| 1998 | Lewis Ortiz | First Team Midfield |
| 1998 | Gabe Duncan-Roitman | First Team Defense |
| 1998 | Casey Grosscope | Second Team Attack |
| 1998 | Colby Reeves | Second Team Midfield |
| 1998 | Kip Malo | Second Team Midfield |
| 1998 | Ben Winston | Second Defense |
Collegiate Athletes
Angel Pride, Far & Wide
Denver East Lacrosse players have gone on to play at the next level including at Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Hofstra, Hobart, Middlebury, Drexel, Colby, Colorado College, Boston College, Georgetown, Bucknell, the University of Delaware, and the University of Denver, among others. Denver East players contributed to winning a combined eight NCAA Championships with their respective teams, including at Princeton and Johns Hopkins.
| Name | Year Graduated (HS) | College/University Attended | Division | Position Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Jahnke | 2024 | Yale | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Tyler Pearson | 2021 | Averett University | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Andrew Tan | 2021 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Elijah Bruggeman | 2020 | Chapman University | MCLA SLC DIV I | Midfield |
| Luke Johnson | 2020 | Auburn University | MCLA SELC DIV I | Defense |
| Wyatt Johnson | 2020 | St. John’s University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Harrison Mead | 2020 | University of Colorado | MCLA RMLC DIV I | LSM/Defense |
| Ahjante Birch | 2019 | Morehouse College | Midfield | |
| Cole Emmanuel | 2019 | Marquette University | NCAA DI | Face Off Specialist |
| Noah Miller | 2019 | Colorado State University | MCLA RMLC DIV I | Defense |
| Robert Roseberry | 2019 | Ottawa University | NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | Midfield |
| August “Mustang” Sally | 2019 | University of Richmond | NCAA DI | Attack |
| Carter Haskel | 2018 | Ohio Wesleyan | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Max Bragdon | 2016 | Whittier College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| AJ Harper | 2015 | Huntingdon College | NCAA DIII | Midfield |
| Jake Sawyer | 2014 | Hobart College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Austin Neureiter | 2013 | Carleton College | GLLL | Defense |
| Daniel Fulton | 2012 | Augustana College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Luke Boardman | 2012 | Whittier College | NCAA DIII | Midfield |
| Joe Jaster | 2012 | Carthage College | NCAA DIII | Midfield |
| Danny Prevedel | 2011 | Whittier College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Chris Herrmann | 2011 | Chapman University | MCLA SLC DIV I | Midfield |
| Esteban Pacheco | 2011 | Carnegie Mellon | NCLL Keystone Three Rivers Div II | Midfield |
| Grant Beczkalo | 2010 | Bellarmine University | NCAA DII | Midfield |
| Brendan Lemarre | 2009 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Josh Russell | 2008 | Colorado Mesa University | NCAA DII | Midfield |
| Ryan Burt | 2007 | University of Colorado – Boulder | MCLA RMLC DIV I | Defense |
| Gabe Mann | 2007 | Amherst College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Andrew Lay | 2007 | University of Denver | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Zach Tedeschi | 2006 | Johns Hopkins | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Dillon Roy | 2006 | University of Denver | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Kjael Skaalerud | 2006 | Gettysburg College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Adam Swarsen | 2006 | Hofstra University | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Ben Brown | 2005 | Whittier College | NCAA DIII | Goalie |
| Mark Hild | 2005 | Franklin & Marshall College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Hunter Combs | 2004 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Midfield |
| Carle Stenmark | 2003 | Harvard University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Jason Anderson | 2002 | University of Colorado – Boulder | MCLA RMLC DIV I | Attack |
| Mark Streno | 2002 | University of Colorado – Boulder | MCLA RMLC DIV I | Defense |
| Mark Tapy | 2002 | University of Colorado – Boulder | MCLA RMLC DIV I | Defense |
| Ian Wright | 2002 | University of Delaware | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Kip Malo | 2001 | Johns Hopkins | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| David Barocas | 2001 | Hofstra University | NCAA DI | Attack |
| Alex Gschwend | 2000 | Boston College | NCAA DI | Attack |
| Spencer Stenmark | 2000 | Harvard University | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Ben Winston | 1999 | Colby College | NCAA DIII | Defense/LSM |
| Alex Mitzner | 1998 | Georgetown University | NCAA DI | Attack |
| Wadeh Constance | 1998 | Georgetown University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Gabe Duncan-Roitman | 1998 | Colby College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Christian Cook | 1994 | Princeton University | NCAA DI | Defense |
| James Gaensbauer | 1991 | Brown University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Andrew Todd | 1991 | Williams College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| John Gaensbauer | 1989 | Cornell University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Ryan Howsam | 1989 | Vanderbilt University | MCLA SELC DIV I | |
| Jim Todd | 1989 | Princeton University | NCAA DI | Midfield |
| Dave Lubchenco | 1988 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Midfield |
| Luke Beatty | 1988 | Connecticut College | NCAA DIII | Goalie |
| Jon Gottesfeld | 1988 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Defense |
| Pat Hatcher | 1987 | Bucknell University | NCAA DI | |
| Chris McHugh | 1986 | Princeton University | NCAA DI | Attack |
| Eric Peterson | 1986 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Brian Brophy | 1986 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Greg Vamos | 1985 | University of North Carolina | NCAA DI | Defense |
| Jerrel Armstrong | 1985 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
| Robert Hollister | 1985 | Dartmouth College | NCAA DI | Goalie |
| Terry Claassen | 1980 | Colorado College | NCAA DIII | Attack |
And some Denver East Angels Lacrosse alumni transferred their lacrosse skills to other sports in college.
| Name | Year Graduated from Denver East | College/University Attended | College Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Chavkin | 2013 | Santa Clara University, then the Glendale Merlins | Rugby |
| Aaron Howard | 2012 | University of Colorado – Boulder | Football |
Coaching Staff
Tyler Russell
Head Coach
About Tyler
Originally from upstate New York, where he attended Livonia High School and played both hockey and lacrosse through his time there; Tyler went on to play college lacrosse at the Rochester Institute of Technology. At RIT, he won three league championships, made it to the NCAA Division 3 semifinals in 2011, was named an All-American twice, set the RIT goals record for a season, and was the offensive player of the year in the Liberty League in 2012.
After graduating, he quickly got back into coaching at the high school level, then moving into the club lacrosse world in New Jersey, and coaching at the Division 1 level along the way. Tyler has been around the lacrosse world for 12+ years at this point and takes a lot of pride in building relationships with his players, teaching them the game and ultimately watching them go on to have successful careers both on and off the field.
In his first year at Denver East during the 2024/2025 season, the Angels went 11-6 and had their first 10 win season since 2008 and he guided the team to the State Quarterfinals. The team had two 1st Team All Conference selections, five 2nd Team All COnference selections and three Honormal Mentions. On top of that the Angels had one All State selection.
Tyler lives here in the city of Denver with his wife Carolyn and their dog Bailey and enjoys getting out and running on the trails, skiing, golfing and staying active.
Tom Wenzel
Varsity Coach
About Tom
Coach Tom Wenzel is a Denver native who attended East High School, where he served as captain of the lacrosse team that won the program’s first state championship in 1985. He continued his lacrosse career at Denison University, playing for four years at the collegiate level.
Coach Wenzel has extensive coaching experience at both the high school and club levels, working with players across various programs over several years. His deep knowledge of the game and leadership experience as a former captain bring valuable perspective to the coaching staff.
Returning to East as a coach is a dream come true for Coach Wenzel, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to give back to the game that shaped him. He is passionate about helping develop these young athletes into great young men, drawing from his own experience as an Angel to guide the next generation of players in the program’s rich tradition.
Dom Martinelli
Varsity Coach
About Dom
Dom Martinelli, originally from Upstate New York, attended Niskayuna High School before continuing his education and athletic career at Endicott College in Massachusetts. There, he was a three-year starter as a defensive midfielder earning All-Conference honors in both his junior and senior years.
Since graduating from Endicott in 2016, Dom has been dedicated to coaching, starting at St. Mary’s High School in Massachusetts. He then returned to his alma mater, Endicott College, where he served as the Defensive Coordinator for three years.
In 2021, Dom relocated to Colorado, where he spent the past three years as the Head JV Coach at Colorado Academy. In his first season, he helped the team to an undefeated record. Now, as he embarks on his first season with East High, Dom is thrilled to join the East Lacrosse family and have the opportunity to coach in the same community where he lives.
Ryan Hsin
Varsity Coach
About Ryan
Coach Ryan was born in Taipei, Taiwan then grew up in Fort Collins. Ryan attended Fossil Ridge High School, where he earned All Conference accolades and 1st team All-State Honors in 2016 for the Face Off position as a member of the Fort Collins Vipers, playing alongside Coach Alex Winkler in goal.
Ryan continued to play at the collegiate level for Grand Canyon University. He started as a freshman and helped his team win the MCLA National Championship in 2017 after finishing the season 16-1.
After graduation, Ryan’s passion for lacrosse took him abroad, where he helped grow the game in Taiwan from 2020 to 2022. After moving back to Denver, he joined the staff at Denver East while he continues to compete with the Chinese Taipei Men’s National Team, most recently at the World Lacrosse Box Championships in 2024.
Alex Winkler
Varsity Coach
About Alex
Coach Alex Winkler is a Fort Collins, Colorado native who has been immersed in lacrosse since the 3rd grade and continues to play today. He was a three-year varsity player in high school, serving as captain his senior year, before playing Division III lacrosse for four years at Nazareth College.
Coach Winkler began his coaching career from 2018 to 2020 with the Flyers lacrosse club in Rochester, working with youth players to develop their skills and love for the game. In 2021, he served as a varsity assistant coach for the PSD Stars before joining the Denver East coaching staff, where he is now in his third year.
Coaching at Denver East means giving back to the game and community Coach Winkler loves so much. Being able to work with such a great group of kids year after year has only furthered his love for lacrosse and this program, allowing him to share his passion while helping develop the next generation of Angels.
Andy Luhmann
Varsity Coach
About Andy
Coach Andy Luhmann is from Ashburn, Virginia, where he discovered lacrosse in 7th grade after realizing baseball wasn’t his sport. He immediately fell in love with the speed of the game and knew he wanted to play at the next level, enrolling at Frostburg State University in 2011.
Coach Luhmann was part of a special group of 40 players who launched Frostburg’s inaugural lacrosse program, helping to establish the foundation and legacy of the new team. He played all four years at FSU and loved every minute of his collegiate experience, contributing to building something from the ground up.
After graduating, Coach Luhmann returned to his roots to give back, coaching at his alma mater Brian Woods High School in Ashburn for several years. Upon moving to Denver, he was introduced to the Denver East program and joined the coaching staff last fall.
Coaching at East has always been about the players and the connections that are made for Coach Luhmann. He feels extremely grateful for the opportunity to help the next generation and is ready to help these young men take the next step in their lacrosse journey and personal development.
Luke Beaty
JV Coach
About Luke
Coach Luke Beatty is a Denver native who played midfield for East Manual Lacrosse at Manual High School before continuing his lacrosse career at Fountain Valley School and later at Connecticut College, where he also played midfield. He earned his undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and went on to complete his graduate degree at Harvard University.
Coach Beatty began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Harvard University before serving as Head Coach at New Hampton, a prep school in New Hampshire. He has extensive experience coaching Denver youth lacrosse with both the Redbirds and Denver Lacrosse Club (DLC) programs before joining the East High School coaching staff.
Coaching the Angels gives Coach Beatty the opportunity to share the long-standing traditions of the program with central Denver’s youth. He is passionate about working with kids to help them understand what it means to be part of a team and represent yourself and your school while developing personal attributes that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Sean Whalen
JV Coach
About Sean
Coach Whalen was a three-year Varsity player at Rondout Valley High School in upstate New York. In 2014, his senior year, he captained the team to its first Section 9 Title and earned section 9 All-Division honors as a midfielder. After graduation, he played both soccer and lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University as part of the club sports programs, serving as captain for both teams in 2018. In 2019, Sean returned to his hometown and served as a Varsity Assistant Coach at Rondout Valley High School, while also coaching the Ridge Lacrosse U16 team.
Currently, Coach Whalen is excited to continue his coaching journey at Denver East, where he has been coaching for going on his third season. He is passionate about developing athletes and building a strong team culture at Denver East, and he looks forward to helping players grow both on and off the field.
Angus Wolfe
JV Coach
About Angus
Wolfe, a tri-sport athlete at Rondout Valley High School in New York, played football, basketball, and lacrosse. As a lacrosse standout, he earned several honors: 2013 All-Division Face-Off Specialist, 2014 All-Division Midfield, and All-Section Face-Off Specialist. In his senior year (2015), he served as team captain, continuing to earn All-Division, All-Section, and All Mid-Hudson Athletic League Face-Off Specialist honors. Additionally, he was named Outstanding Academic Varsity Athlete for basketball.
Wolfe continued his lacrosse career at St. Lawrence University, but a career-ending injury during his sophomore season sidelined him. Despite this setback, he remained involved with the program, taking on roles in Sports Information and as an announcer for the Saints’ live stream during his junior and senior years.
Now, Wolfe cherishes every moment coaching at Denver East, believing in the importance of giving back to the game that provided him with so many opportunities.
25/26 Board Members
Sarah Yenzer – President
Jeremy Allen – Vice President
Lori Kingsbury – Treasurer
Colleen Eager – Secretary
Don Sawyer – Operations
Tyler Russell – Coach Liason
Friends of East Manual Lacrosse Board
The Friends of East-Manual Lacrosse (FOEML) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit booster club that operates independently of Denver East High School and Denver Public Schools. Our volunteer-driven board supports the development and advancement of Denver East Boys Lacrosse players both on and off the field.
We are committed to assisting the program, increasing school spirit and awareness, and promoting high academic standards and good sportsmanship. The board relies on the amazing support of dozens of volunteers each season and encourages all families, alumni, and supporters to become active participants in Denver East Lacrosse.
For questions or to get involved, contact us at FOEMLacrosse@gmail.com.
FAQs
What conference does East play in?
The East Angels compete in the 5A #4 conference, which includes the following teams:
- Arapahoe
- Cherokee Trail
- Cherry Creek
- Colorado Academy
- Denver South
- Grandview
- Kent Denver
The Angels also compete against teams in other conferences each season.
Who are East's coaches?
Learn more about our East Lacrosse Coaches here!
When does the season get underway?
Our program runs (mostly) year-round with various summer practices and camps to develop skills and build team chemistry. The Denver Lacrosse Club’s fall ball league begins in early September and runs through mid-October, providing competitive play during the off-season. Our official fall kickoff meeting happens in late October and is extremely important for both players and parents to attend, as we cover policies, volunteer opportunities, equipment ordering, winter training, and fees. Formal practices with coaches typically begin in late February, with captain-led practices often occurring from August through January depending on indoor field availability. Make sure to sign up for Email Alerts here!
When do practices begin?
Formal practices with coaches typically begin in late February. However, dependent on availability of indoor field space, there will generally be multiple captains practices from August through January.
Practices during Spring season are held daily on the Denver East turf field and/or City Park. Off season conditioning and training may be held at other venues one to four times per week.
Please check the website and social media platforms for details and look for details in the community and player email communications.
Do you have a fall ball season?
Yes. Denver East Lacrosse participates in the Denver Lacrosse Club’s fall ball league which runs from early September through mid-October.
How are Denver East Lacrosse activities communicated?
We communicate all Denver East Lacrosse activities through emails sent to our current and incoming athlete email list—sign up to stay informed.
Real-time communications, chats, scheduling and additional communication is conducted via Team Snap.
Follow us on Instagram for updates and highlights, and once registered, players and families will gain access to our internal team communication app, TeamSnap, for detailed scheduling and team information.
You can also find current information in our parent portal—contact us for the current password.
Are families required to volunteer?
While we do not “require” families to volunteer, we do ask that they volunteer for at least (one) volunteer shift during the season. There are many opportunities available including field set up/tear down, announcing, score keeping, penalty timer, concessions, photography, year end banquet, senior night, etc. Please contact us using the Contact page on the website if you’d like to volunteer or if you’d like guidance on how you can help!
How much does it cost to play?
Fees vary each year based on participation levels and fundraising efforts. The East Lacrosse board offers financial assistance to families that may not otherwise be able to afford it, ensuring every athlete who wishes to play is able to participate regardless of financial circumstances. Apply for Financial Assitance here.
Incoming Athletes
Whether you’re new to lacrosse or transferring from another program, Denver East Angels Lacrosse welcomes players of all skill levels who are committed to excellence on and off the field. We offer various summer practices and camps, plus participate in the Denver Lacrosse Club’s fall ball league starting in early September to keep players engaged year-round. Our fall kickoff meeting in late October is essential for all prospective players and parents, covering policies, equipment, training schedules, and program expectations for joining a program with a rich tradition of developing strong men of character.
Game Schedules
For the most current game schedules, subscribe to our email list and follow us on Max Preps.
Are you a player or parent looking for practice schedules? Access the Portal here!
Contact East Lacrosse
Have a question? Want to get involved? Feel free to fill out the form below or email us directly at: foemlacrosse@gmail.com