Sports

Birmingham United's Adam Susalla Up for Lacrosse Player of Year

The Seaholm High School senior is focused on the end of the regular season, playing at the collegiate level.

Birmingham's Adam Susalla started the lacrosse season without putting much thought toward individual goals, other than to improve every game. Now that attitude — and his strong all-around play — has the Birmingham United captain among a handful of candidates for player of the year.

State Champs Sports Network recently named the Seaholm High School senior among 10 area players in the running for the Warrior Sports High School Player of the Year contest. Fan voting for the award is currently under way online, and anyone familiar with Birmingham-area lacrosse should know a few names on that list.

Also nominated are Cranbrook Kingswood Junior Matthew Giampetroni, and Brother Rice High School's Jason Alessi, JP Forester and Sergio Perkovic.

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As of Sunday, Susalla was fourth in the voting, trailing the top-two vote getters Perkovic and Forrester respectively.

"It's really amazing and I am honored having my name next to some of the kids on that list," Susalla said. "When the season started, I wasn't really that focused on any player of the year nominations, I was more focused on what I could do to improve each game."

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Capping a Career

An All-State honorable mention and a First Team All-Conference selection in 2012 for scoring 45 goals and 32 assist, Susalla hasn't disappointed in his final season. The captain had 31 goals and 21 assists as of April 25, according to State Champs.

Birmingham United's 7-8 record includes close losses against Detroit Country Day and a top-10 Michigan team in U of D Jesuit. The team also traveled to Ohio twice to play regional competition, including the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (MSLCA) in Columbus over the weekend where the team went 1-1, and Susalla received second team honors.

Three regular-season games remain on the schedule and all are against Oakland Activities Association division foes in Troy Athens, Clarkston and Troy High. Single elimination playoffs will follow.

A hockey enthusiast since he was a young boy, Susalla said he's a fan of the fast pace and physicality of the sport, but also the strategy involved.

"I grew up playing hockey and feel that hockey established a lot of the basic skills needed for lacrosse," he said.

Both he and his brother, former Birmingham United player Alex Susalla — who graduated in 2010, picked up lacrosse quickly and never left it.

"As you would expect, having a big brother to show you the ropes, developed Adam's skills and confidence as he learned the game," their father, Mike Susalla said.

"Both boys started playing hockey at a young age and with the games being so  similar it is a natural crossover sport. The hand eye aspect, physical play and pace of lacrosse makes it fun to watch."

Regardless of his success on the field, Susalla said he is also having fun with his teammates. The highlight of the season, so far, was the spring break trip the entire team took to Hilton Head, SC for the second straight year.

"It was special because the team bonded so well," he said. "As a result, I believe our team chemistry will really help us win some games down the road and into the playoffs."

After graduation, Susalla said he'll start prepping for the fall, when he'll attend University of Detroit Mercy to study engineering, and play lacrosse, of course.

Voting remains open on the State Champs website, and towards the end of the contest, organizers will pick a Final Four that will automatically include the highest vote receiver in the online/fan balloting. From there, analysts will use a criteria that includes performance throughout Season, level of competition, big game performance, team success, and recruiting status.

 



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