Mars' Scurci, Seipp commit to play college lax
ADAMS TWP — The opportunity to play lacrosse in college has become a reality for a number of Mars players in recent years.
You can add Wesley Scurci and Josh Seipp to that list.
The two senior Planet offensive stars have verbally committed to Lindenwood University and Bellarmine University, respectively, and will receive athletic scholarships.
Both helped Mars win a fifth straight WPIAL title and reach the state championship game for the first time last spring.
Scurci said playing at the collegiate level has been a goal of his ever since he began playing at the age of 8.
“The biggest jump in my ability probably came last year,” he said. “Even with COVID, I was able to play in three summer tournaments and I grew six inches.
“I knew I could do some damage at the next level.”
A number of other schools attempted to lure Scurci, including Rochester Institute of Technology, Gettysburg, Canisius and Buffalo.
His visit to Lindenwood, a Division II program located in St. Louis, in late July made his decision an easy one.
“The second I stepped on campus, I had a feeling about that place,” said Scurci, who will major in business. “I talked with Jim Lange (head coach) and Jeremy Frosch (assistant) and just felt more wanted there.”
Scurci turned in an incredible junior campaign at Mars that included 91 goals and 53 assists. The 144 points were the second-most of any high school player in Pennsylvania last spring.
He was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American for his efforts.
“Wes sees things on the field a couple of steps ahead of time,” Mars coach Bob Marcoux said. “He has a high lacrosse IQ and is a very unselfish player. He looks for the best shot, not necessarily the first shot. A lot of times, that means passing to a teammate.”
Scurci began starting at attack late in his freshman year, but will likely see time there as well as at midfielder this spring.
“I was told I'd probably be playing middie in college, though (at Lindenwood), they focus more on putting the best players on the field instead of thinking more about positions.”
Seipp scored 42 goals and added 18 assists as a junior despite missing much of the season with a sports hernia. He had surgery in June and has been fully cleared to get back to lacrosse.
He missed the team's entire state playoff run last spring.
“Watching the boys go out for the state championship game without me, it was tough ... one of the toughest things I've ever done,” said Seipp, a future finance major.
He chose Bellarmine, a Division I program in Louisville, Ky., over Hartford and two schools located in Philadelphia — St. Joseph's and Cabrini.
“It was unfortunate for Josh, dealing with injury last season,” said Marcoux, “but he's very versatile between attack and midfield and really works at his game.”
Spring of 2022 will get here soon enough. Scurci and Seipp are eager to add to the winning tradition they helped create.
“There's no doubt we have a chance to get back to West Chester (for the state title game),” Seipp said. “We have the talent and just need to make sure we are prepared fundamentally and mentally.”
