OUR MISSION
Sweetlax is an elite club lacrosse program that focuses on developing player skills and teamwork while stressing the importance of academic performance to reach the College level. Sweetlax complements the Town, Modified and High School lacrosse programs by providing additional coaching, competitive tournaments, and the needed networking to achieve College and University placement.
KEVIN MARTIN
Recruiting Director
SWEETLAX Recruiting Process
Kevin Martin, SWEETLAX Director of Recruiting thoroughly assesses players at practices and tournaments to find them the best possible fit at the College level. He works with players and parents to determine what is needed to ensure that they can have the most successful and enjoyable College experience. Coach Martin networks with Coaches from DI, DII and DIII schools ensuring every player finds a home that fits their criteria and playing abilities.
Learn from the best Coaches.
Sweetlax prides itself on its coaching staff, which is made up of Coaches from professional, college, and high school levels. Previous Sweetlax players, many of whom now play for college teams, work as Assistants for our elite club teams. Our clinics taught by professionals who provide 'up-coaching' with a focus on player development. Keeping the stick in the player’s hands as much as possible is critical to their success.
WHAT IS AN ELITE TEAM?
Sweetlax holds tryouts each Fall and Summer to insure that the caliber of play is always at the most competitive level. By having one team per graduation year it insures a very competitive environment with each player battling to receive the invitation to join Sweetlax for that particular season. Players who compete on Sweetlax Teams plan to advance to the Collegiate level. Sweetlax excels in getting our players placed at a school that allows them to continue to develop their skill and compete at a high level while also fitting their academic criteria. Our elite status insures participation in select tournaments which are attended by Division I, II and III Coaches. Our own Sweetlax Summer Invitational Tournament attracted over 120 college coaches in 2016.
Sweetlax participates in the most competitive National tournaments that attract attendance by leading College and University lacrosse programs. The summer tournament schedule is carefully put together by Sweetlax Director of Recruiting Kevin Martin to ensure the most competitive schedule per team while providing the greatest amount of College Coach's "looks".
Getting the Sweetlax players the proper exposure is a major focus and includes the Sweetlax Summer Invitational and the Sweetlax Summer Showcase which last year attracted over 120 College Coaches from DI, DII and DIII institutions. Schools from the ACC, Big Ten, Ivy League, Patriot, NESCAC, Big East, NE-10 and Empire 8 among many others converge in Upstate NY to watch players from California, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Colorado, Canada, Michigan, Oregon, Minnesota, NY, Pennsylvania and Florida.
THE SWEETLAX STORY
The recruiting process is one that continues to begin earlier each year; it isSweetlax's job to ensure that we are equipping our players and parents with the necessary information to make their decision and the process as informed as possible.
What is unique to Sweetlax is that Kevin Martin, Founder and Recruitment Director has not only assisted hundreds of families in the steps required but has also gone through the process himself while being the legal Guardian to Hakeem Lecky.
The story of Kevin and Hakeem led to the founding of Sweetlax and what we attribute much of our success to as one of the leading Lacrosse Clubs in the Country for College placement.
While coaching High School lacrosse Coach Martin introduced a then 13 year-old Hakeem Lecky to the game and soon after became his legal Guardian. Midway through Hakeem’s Sophomore season Kevin’s job took him to South of Boston and the two moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts. There they met and were mentored by Coach Chris Sweet, Head Coach of Duxbury High School. Kevin worked under the direction of Sweet as the Head Coach for the JV team (24-2 over two seasons) and as an Assistant on the Varsity, while Hakeem played for both Sweet and Martin. Together at Duxbury, Kevin and Hakeem enjoyed 2 State Championships with the Dragons and Coach Sweet.
As Hakeem continued to develop as a player and student, College Coaches began to call and Kevin was introduced first hand into the recruiting process. As they began to look at potential schools a few things remained consistent; a player's performance in the classroom is as important as their performance on the field and the decision comes down to finding the right fit for the individual.
Kevin saw the process from beginning to end with Hakeem’s career culminating in a two-time Captaincy at Syracuse as well as being recognized as an All-American. Most importantly was Hakeem receiving both a Degree in Economics and going on to receive his Masters from Syracuse University.
Five years later, Coach Martin has been associated with helping to guide hundreds of parents and players in placement at the DI, DII and DIII level. Kevin has followed in the footsteps of his mentor Coach Sweet in creating an environment that not only helps develop the next generation of great players but also helps to shape the next generation of great Coaches. One of Sweetlax’s proudest moments is having our alumni come back to coach and providing us additional opportunity to mentor them on their road to success (Hakeem is now a part of the Sweetlax Coaching staff and a successful Commercial Realtor in NYC).
