ESPN: OAKEY “A CATALYST” FOR DEERFIELD LACROSSE JUGGERNAUT

Six Deerfield Academy graduates have played in the Ponce, including Wes Battle, Chris Harrick, LT Thompson, Adam Sichol, Kirk Bedell and Henry Oakey.

While Henry is getting set for his 3rd Ponce in just 16 days, ESPN wrote a great piece about the 14 DA alums playing or coaching on the 16 teams that make up the field of this year’s NCAA Lacrosse tournament. Deerfield Coach Chip Davis credits Henry with igniting the tradition on the 1993 and 1994 DA squads, where he suited up with Thompson and Battle for the Big Green. Check it out….

ESPN: Deerfield Lax Continues Tradition of Excellance – May 11, 2013

The Beginning: Every elite program has a defining period when it makes its ascension to the top and remains there.

Davis attributes much of the start of Deerfield’s reign at the top to a midfielder out of Charlottesville, Va. named Henry Oakey. Oakey came to Deerfield in 1993 and would go on to star at the University of Virginia and graduate with a National Championship (1999).

“He was one of those kids who I would consider a catalyst,” Davis recalled. “I felt like ever since he got to Deerfield we have not had a losing season. We had three good years in the mid 1990’s where we only lost two games a year and since about 2000 we have been at the top of the league each year. “