A true pioneer

A true pioneer
Kotch will help guide college's new lacrosse team

BUTLER TWP — How much has Tyler Kotch enjoyed helping to build the Butler High boys lacrosse program?
So much so that he's willing to do it again in college.
Kotch, a senior midfielder, accepted a scholarship to play lacrosse at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Division II school in Hickory, N.C.
Lenoir-Rhyne is starting men's and women's lacrosse programs next school year.
"I know how it is to start a program out," Kotch said. "I'm going in there as part of a good recruiting class.
"I know I can play there right away," he added. "I'm hoping to be one of the leaders of the team and be in contention for a championship by my senior year."
That's the blueprint he's followed at Butler.
Kotch began playing lacrosse in sixth grade, when the sport had been in Butler for only two years. He and current Tornado goalkeeper Alex Hill recruited players for the team.
"We started recruiting football players, basketball players, baseball players. ... Lacrosse is all about athletes," Kotch said. "You have to be in condition to run the field and handle the physicality.
"Lacrosse is every sport rolled into one. I used to play baseball. Now I can't get enough of lacrosse."
Kotch was recruited to lacrosse by good friend Domenic Farmer, now a junior on the varsity team.
"He decided to go out for the (sixth grade) team and told me they needed more kids on the team. I tried it and loved it," Kotch said.
Kotch is believed to be the first Butler boys lacrosse player to receive a scholarship in the sport. Butler graduate Zach Riser went on to play for a club team at Mercyhurst-North East.
Kotch enters his senior season with 126 goals, including 42 last year.
"He's been our leading scorer and most productive player," Butler coach Ed Swierczyk said. "I've been coaching this sport for more than 10 years and he's one of the best players I've seen."
Greg Paradine, a former all-American and former coach at North Carolina and Ohio State, is starting the Lenoir-Rhyne lacrosse program.
Paradine is coaching the men's and women's teams.
"The growth of the game has exploded at the high school level throughout the United States," Paradine said on the university's website. "I have seen players from Canada to Florida, from North Carolina to Oregon, and about anywhere in between.
"I want our program to be excellent in three areas: in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the community."
Kotch also was also recruited by Catawba (N.C.), Seton Hill, C.W. Post, Lake Erie (Ohio) College and Florida Southern before choosing Lenoir-Rhyne.
"(Coach Paradine) is an awesome guy," Kotch said. "When they recruited me, they welcomed me right to the place."
Before he starts a new endvor, Kotch has one more job here: helping the Golden Tornado to a victorious spring.
"We're stacked across the board," Kotch said. "We're no longer individual football, basketball and baseball guys playing lacrosse. We've melded into a lacrosse team that's ready to win."