Before he heads to college, Jack Beall will spend some time this week in Florida. The trip to Lake Buena Vista is a reward for the recent Camas High School graduate. But this is not a relaxing junket.
Beall is one of 96 lacrosse players, and one of only three from the Northwest, who will participate in the Champion All-American Showcase.
“It should be a really cool way to cap off my high school sports career,” Beall said.
Selected as a high school all-American, Beall played four seasons of high school lacrosse for the King’s Way Lacrosse Club. The first varsity lacrosse program in Clark County, King’s Way plays in the top division of the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association.
Players from around the nation will be placed on one of four teams. Beall is on Team Liberty. Each team will play once on Wednesday and twice on Thursday. The two best teams will play in the championship match, which will be televised live on ESPNU at 4 p.m. Friday.
Beall expects he will play his usual midfield position. Players meet their coaches and teammates today, hours before the first match.
With 33 goals and 30 assists, Beall was fourth in scoring in the state during the 2013 season. He and King’s Way teammate Clayton Frank, a Columbia River High student, were all-state and all-American selections for Washington.
More than the personal satisfaction of representing the state of Washington at this prestigious event, Beall said he is particularly excited to let people know that lacrosse exists in this corner of the country.
Lacrosse is well established on the East Coast. Beall, Jacob Knostman from Bainbridge Island and goalie Jarrin Wallace of Boise are the only players from the Northwest in this showcase.
“It’s going to be cool to represent the Northwest,” he said. “I’m just really excited to get this sport noticed in the Northwest.”
Beall said he is in shape. Participating in the recent Freedom Bowl Classic all-star football game helped with his conditioning.
As excited as he is for this opportunity, it is even more excited to start his next chapter. Next month, Jack Beall will join older brother Brock at Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif.
The Champion All-American Showcase is “a good transition to college lacrosse because the caliber of play is going to be so much better than what I’ve been used to,” Beall said.
