Utah Lacrosse Adds 10 Newcomers During Early Signing Period

SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah head coach Andrew McMinn announced the addition of 10 newcomers to the lacrosse program during the early signing period, giving the Utes added depth across the board.

The newcomers will be coming to Salt LAX City from all over the country and Canada (2), including Illinois (2), Utah (2), Colorado (1), Virginia (1), Wisconsin (1) and Texas (1). The class includes five players on attack, two on defense, one midfield, one on midfield/faceoffs and a goalkeeper.

They are set to join a squad that is fresh of the most successful season in program history after the Utes went 10-4 overall in 2022, winning the regular season ASUN title in their first year in the conference. The Utes broke 42 school records last season while sweeping each major conference award in Coach of the Year (Andrew McMinn), Offensive Player of the Year (Tyler Bradbury) and Defensive Player of the Year (Samuel Cambere).  

Utah Lacrosse Signing Class

Mikey Crane
Defense
Evergreen, Colo.
Evergreen Senior HS

High School: Played lacrosse and football at Evergreen Senior HS.

• Named All-State and Team MVP in 2022.
• Earned All-Conference in 2021.
• Had 49 ground balls as a sophomore.
• Team Captain.
• Recorded 24 catches for 384 yards (5 TDs) his senior year.

Personal: Comes from an athletic team with his sister being on the swim team at Iowa, his mother being a member of the Stanford Sailing team, his uncle being a rower at Georgetown and his cousin rowing at Dartmouth and eventually being a part of the USA Ski Mountaineering team.

Why Utah: "I picked Utah because it was perfect from being raised in Colorado. It has all of the outdoor activities I have been raised around my whole life. The school's academics have tons of opportunities and the student-athlete support is second-to-none."

Matthew Dineen
Goalkeeper
Ashburn, Va.
St. Paul VI HS

High School: Plays lacrosse for St. Paul VI High School and for the Virginia Lacrosse Club.

• Has lettered in lacrosse for three seasons heading into his senior year this spring.
• Recorded 112 saves (64%) his junior year of high school.
• Helped his team to back-to-back state championship runner-up finishes.
• Also a varsity wrestler for St. Paul VI.

Personal: Has one sibling, Courtney … his parents played in the first official lacrosse season in the state of Virginia

Why Utah: "For my whole life, I have lived in Virginia, so I want to go out and meet new people who have a whole new culture. I love how the University of Utah has a modern campus. When I was walking around campus on my visit, I felt like it was a comfortable environment."

Cade Faulkner
Attack
Cary, Illinois
Saint Viator HS

High School: Played lacrosse at Saint Viator High School.

• Earned US Lacrosse All-America after finishing the 2022 season with 114 points.
• Recorded 69 goals and 45 assists in 2021-22 (114 pts), also notching 26 ground balls.
• First-team All-State selection.
• Showcase Lacrosse MVP.
• Had 13 goals and eight assists (21 pts) in 2020-21.
• Three-time high honor roll student.
• Also played lacrosse for Team Illinois.

Personal: Has two brothers … father played tennis at the University of Toledo.

Why Utah: "Utah has outstanding athletic and academic excellence, is in a premier location with great athletic facilities and coaches, and is an up-and-coming program."

Blake Franckowiak
Attack
Draper, Utah
Corner Canyons HS

High School: Three-year starter in lacrosse at Corner Canyon HS.

• First-team All-State and All-Region in 2022.
• Led his team to a state title in 2022.
• Has 74 goals, 77 assists and 111 ground balls in his high school career.

Personal: Father played football at BYU, grandfather played football at Utah … brother, Zack, was a three-time All-Big Ten selection for Rutgers Lacrosse ... brother, Max, plays lacrosse at Utah Valley.

Why Utah: "I have always wanted to go to Utah. Seeing the program and how successful they have been, has made me want to play and be a part of that winning program. The campus is beautiful and seeing how great the education is, I knew Utah was for me."

Gavin Howard
Midfield
St. Catharines, Ontario
Culver Military Academy

High School: Played lacrosse at Culver Military Academy, also being a hitter for their volleyball team.

• Also plays lacrosse for Edge Lacrosse, True National Atlantic and Mad Dog National.

Personal: Son of … sister, Aliyah, plays college lacrosse at the University of Guelph … enjoys surfing.

Why Utah: "I chose Utah because of the opportunity it offers for me. The lacrosse program is growing greatly and that gives me an opportunity to be a part of a program that is going to be very good."

Spencer Krueger
Faceoffs
Hudson, Wis.
Hudson HS

High School: Played three years of varsity lacrosse at Hudson High School.

• Earned first-team All-Conference.
• Scored 52 points with an 84.6-percent faceoff win percentage during his high school career.
• Had 32 goals and eight assists his senior year, winning 86.6-percent of his faceoffs.
• Earned high honors, Dean's List and Honors Society.

Personal: Has one sibling, Max, who plays lacrosse at Carthage College.

Why Utah: "I fell in love with the beauty of the campus."

Sean Leahy
Attack
Elmhurst, Ill.
Culver Military Academy

High School: Lettered all four years at Culver Military Academy.

• Helped his team to a MCLA Championship in 2022 and a No. 3 national ranking.
• Earned a spot on the UA 2023 Midwest Team, winning MVP of the tournament for most goals.
• Also played lacrosse for True Premier and True National Black.

Personal: Has two siblings … enjoys spending time with family, skiing, reading and drawing … had a 4.0 GPA through his junior and senior years.

Why Utah: "I chose Utah because I am looking to take advantage of a new and unfamiliar opportunity. I believe that with the academic opportunity that Utah offers, along with its breathtaking views, it is going to be an amazing place to attend college."Sean

Jacob Osborn
Attack
Draper, Utah
Corner Canyon HS

High School: Varsity starter in lacrosse at Corner Canyon after transferring from Waterford School.

• Led his team to a state championship his junior year.
• Earned first-team all-state as a junior at Corner Canyon.
• Named first-team all-region as a sophomore at Waterford School after scoring 83 points.
• Also played basketball his freshman and sophomore years.

Personal: Father, Peter, played waterpolo at Stanford … has three siblings … brother, Michael, plays lacrosse at Stanford.

Why Utah: "I picked Utah because I will love staying home and being around my family and friends, and second, I plan on serving an LDS Mission for my church, and the coaches were extremely supportive in this decision."

Luca Pivetta
Defense
Victoria, B.C.
Claremont Secondary School

High School: Played lacrosse, rugby and basketball at Claremont Secondary School.

• Two-time Space Needle Champion.
• Also led his team to two British Columbia Provincial Championships.
• Invited to two British Columbia Best Showcase All-Star games.
• Played in the Canada Games All-Star game, earning a gold medal in box lacrosse.

Personal: Cousin, Nick, plays baseball for the Boston Red Sox.

Why Utah: "I picked Utah because it is close to home, and all of the academics and sports facilities were amazing. It is also a good community of people. I also really like Utah's playing style, because it is how I like to play."

Luke Sganga
Attack
Southlake, Texas
Southlake Carroll Senior HS

High School: Four-year letter winner in lacrosse at Southlake Carroll Senior HS.

• Has 205 career points heading into his senior year.
• Earned All-District honors as a junior.
• Offensive Player of the Year his junior year.
• Team Captain.

Personal: Brother, Matthew, plays lacrosse at Southwestern University … grandfather, David, played football and basketball at Rolla University.

Why Utah: "I chose Utah because of the coaching staff and the business school."