College Sports recruiting, with a focus on “Lacrosse 101” is the subject of a Panel Discussion sponsored by Competitive Edge College Advisors of New Canaan in partnership with Infinity Athletics of Darien and New Canaan on Thursday, November 6th.

Competitive Edge College Advisors Doug Richardson, Lee Jones and Kevin Rusch.

High School students and their parents are invited to the free event from 7 to 8:30 p.m at the New Canaan headquarters of Infinity Fitness at 70 Pine Street. The information on college sports recruiting in general will also be of interest to students hoping to play other sports at college, with emphasis on how students can best prepare themselves and their bodies for college level sports.

Volunteer guest panelists include Chip Buzzeo, the current Head Boys Lacrosse Coach at New Canaan High School, Zach Dehm, Program Director and Head Coach of Infinity Athletics, and Mary Cuoco, president of the New Canaan Lacrosse Association, the first female president in its 35 year history. The panel will be moderated by Lee Jones, a partner in Competitive Edge College Advisors.

New Canaan head coach Chip Buzzeo.

In 2013, Chip Buzzeo helped the Rams win their 9th FCIAC Championship, with several players honored as All-Americans, All-FCIAC teams or All-State Teams. Chip played lacrosse at Princeton where his teams, won two National Championships. At New Canaan High School he was captain of the l996 state championship lacrosse team and a top scoring member of the Varsity Ice Hockey team which won two FCIAC Championships. He also volunteers as a coach for the New Canaan Youth Lacrosse Association.

Zach Dehm has been working with student athletes in Fairfield County since 2006. He played hockey, lacrosse and soccer at a varsity level during his high school years and Division 1 hockey in college. He has a BA in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and has worked with youth ranging from collegiate All-Americans to developing athletes as young as six years.

Mary Via Cuoco, a lifelong lacrosse fanatic has been a youth coach since 2005, became a member of the NCLA Board in 2006 and has served as Girls Coaching Coordinator since 2011. She has represented the northeast region as a member of the US Lacrosse Women’s Recognition Committee. Captain of her Sweet Briar college team, she has navigated the lacrosse recruiting process with her daughter Annie.

Dave Peterson, founder of Infinity Fitness says that the panel will address some commonly asked questions such as, “What type of training should I be doing along with my sport if I am a single sport athlete? What physical or athletic abilities do coaches look at most? What physical levels do I need to attain to play at a college level? Topics will include significant changes in the recruiting landscape today, how lacrosse recruiting is different for male versus female student athletes and the relative importance of the High School season versus the Club season.

Competitive Edge College Advisors was founded to help students find and leverage their “special competitive edge, talent or passion” – whether it is sports or other extra-curricular activities or interests that distinguish them in the college admissions process. As space is limited at the November 6th event, reservations are requested. Call 203-984-9398 or email doug@thececa.com