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Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse, Daytona Beach, FL (2026)

09/04/2026

BEARS RESPECT SERVICE & SACRIFICE 🇺🇸: On the night of 4 September 2008, Coast Guard MH-65C helicopter 6505 was conducting an over-water training mission south of Honolulu, Hawaii. While delivering a rescue basket to a Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Lifeboat something went terribly wrong and the aircraft descended to the water with two pilots, a flight mechanic and a rescue swimmer onboard. On this fateful night the following men lost their lives:

Pilot: CAPT Thomas G. Nelson
Co-Pilot: LCDR Andrew Wischmeier
Rescue Swimmer: AST1 David Skimin
Flight Mechanic: AMT2 Joshua Nichols

We honor all the Guardians lost in this fatal crash, but most especially friend and teammate Captain Thomas G. Nelson, CGA '88 (Defense/Ronkonkama, NY/Newfield) who was a COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE player - he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., April 17, 2009.

Each spring, the team honors Captain Nelson (and LT John M. Senyard ’83) as part of the annual Goal Flag Ceremony conducted at the first NEWMAC home game. A navy blue flag with 61 white stars commemorates Captain Nelson as the 61st name on the WALL OF REMEMBRANCE which honors Academy graduates who have perished while carrying out operational missions. The program also wore "all-orange" 6505 tribute uniforms from 2012-2014 (see photos). This was a great looking "kit" (probably my favorite in the history of our program)...designed with a great cause in mind - to honor our friend and teammate CAPT Tom Nelson and all the Guardians lost in the mishap. In 2025, the team honored the 6505 aircrew with orange porthole mesh jerseys adorned with “CG-6505” on the back (see photos).

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
-- Robert Laurence Binyon

09/04/2026

BEARS HIT THE MARK: just got these great photos featuring COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN’S LACROSSE players Cadet 2/c Sam Fritz (Defense/Wallingford , PA/Strath Haven), Cadet 2/c Greg Lempin (Defense/Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) and Cadet 2/c Andrew McDowell (Goalie/Crestwood, KY/South Oldham) after a session at the range during their Cadet Summer Training Program. Sam, Greg and Andrew shot the standard issue Service pistol for the U.S. Coast Guard - the G***k 19 GEN5 MOS chambered in 9 mm.

Range training during the summer focuses on core weapons, handling, safety, and tactical qualifications.

During 2/c summer at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, cadets transition from followers to front-line leaders through an intense series of training blocks and professional milestones. The summer is highlighted by Cadre Duty, where cadets lead incoming freshmen during Swab Summer, and Coastal Sail Training, a two-week navigation cruise aboard sailing craft along the New England coast. They also spend a week exploring specialized career paths like aviation or marine safety, alongside completing tactical requirements such as weapons qualifications and the critical Rules of the Road navigation exam. This pivotal summer also marks their 100th-week milestone, where cadets officially commit to their military service obligations before concluding the block with three weeks of well-deserved leave.

Awesome stuff fellas. Thank you for the photos. Who else has Cadet Summer Training Program photos? Please SEND 'EM! - GO BEARS!!!

09/03/2026

BEAR AT 'THE CAPE' (CATP - CAPE COD): just got these great photos featuring COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE player Cadet 2/c Owen Pray (Defense/Keeseville, NY/AuSable Valley) in the cabin of both an HC-144B Ocean Sentry aircraft and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter during familiarization flights at Air Station Cape Cod, MA as a part of his Cadet Aviation Training Program or CATP.

CATP is a one week introduction to the Aviation Community at various air stations around the country (we had a few guys going to Air Station Elizabeth, NC too). Cape Cod operates 3 HC-144Bs and 3 MH-60T helicopters. These guys get to do some sweet flying from the US/Canadian border south to New York City and all points in between including the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. In addition, there are two large fishing fleets that work out of Gloucester and New Bedford. Winter weather conditions are typically very challenging.

Looking good Owen - thank you for sending these photos - awesome! Who else has Cadet Summer Training Program photos? Please SEND 'EM! - GO BEARS!!!

09/02/2026

BEARS ARE SMART: just got this great photo featuring COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE program 'Old Bear' LT Logan Tobias, CGA '22 (Midfield/Commack, NY/Commack) on his first day of school at Yale Law School (yes, you know - Yale Law School - ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the vast majority of the decade). Logan was selected for the AY25 Law Juris Doctor (Coast Guard Legal Program) - a fully funded Coast Guard graduate school program that started in the Fall of 2026. Logan was just relieved as the Commanding Officer of USCGC RAZORBILL - an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in New London, CT.

Logan sends:
"First day of Yale Law School - in the photo with me is LT Ryan Berry, CGA '22 classmate (YLS ‘27). One of my best buddies."

Logan anticipates graduation in spring 2029. The Coast Guard Legal Program supports the workforce at all levels and in all mission areas by providing advice across the full spectrum of operations and mission support. Coast Guard Legal is central to the administration of military justice by advising leaders on disciplinary matters, as well as serving as prosecutors, defense counsel, and special victims’ counsel in courts martial. In addition, cyber law, intelligence law, and international law are growing and important areas of practice.

Coast Guard-sponsored graduate school is a pretty great deal - the Coast Guard pays your tuition and your salary while you attend school - they do this in return for additional obligated service. As you have seen - our guys are attending pretty prestigious institutions of higher learning.

Congratulations to Logan! Looking good! - GO BEARS!!!

09/01/2026

BEARS KNOW PEOPLE THAT KNOW PEOPLE: so I got a strange text message from fellow aviator RDML Chris Hulser, Commander, Operational Logistics Command (LOGCOM) it said:

"This guy claims you're his father..." (I still don't know exactly what that means?)

A few minutes later I got this photo of RDML Hulser and COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE program 'Old Bear' LT Charlie McAllister, CGA '20 (Goalie/Pleasantville, NY/Iona Prep) at Base Charleston, SC.

RDML Hulser sends:
"Hey brother. Charlie was the project officer for my visit to Base Charleston. He did a super job."

That's high praise from the one-star...BZ Charlie!

Charlie just arrived at Base Charleston where he is working in Facilities Engineering. Let's see I hope I get this right...Charlie spent his first tour aboard USCGC JOSEPH GERCZAK^^^ - a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter homeported in Honolulu, HI. He then spent some time before grad school aboard USCGC EAGLE - America's Tall Ship - helping out Coach Powers. Then he attended Georgia Tech University to study Civil Engineering***. His payback tour was at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore - where he was also involved in Facilities Engineering.

*** = Coast Guard-sponsored graduate school is a pretty great deal - the Coast Guard pays your tuition and your salary while you attend school - they do this in return for additional obligated service. As you have seen - our guys are attending pretty prestigious institutions of higher learning.

Awesome stuff Charlie - thank you for taking great care of RDML Hulser - he's a good man! - GO BEARS!!!

^^^ = *** = SN3 Joseph Gerczak posthumously earned a Silver Star on 26 December 1943 while manning an anti-aircraft gun protecting LST 66 from Japanese dive bombers during the battle of New Britain - CITATION below.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Signalman Third Class Joseph Gerczak, United States Coast Guard (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving on board the U.S.S. LST 66 during the initial assault against the enemy Japanese-held Borgen Bay Area of New Britain on 26 December 1943. When seven Japanese dive bombers suddenly attacked while his ship was in the bay awaiting the formation of the task unit then on the beach unloading cargo, Signalman Third Class Gerczak immediately manned his battle station and was the first to open fire. When the planes came in and struck from starboard, he poured his drums of ammunition into the attackers with unrelenting fury, blasting two from the sky and into the sea near his vessel. With his ship struck by bomb fragments, each bursting successively closer, he dauntlessly continued delivering a steady stream of bullets against the enemy until he was fatally struck down when a violent blast silenced his weapon and forced shrapnel into his gun shield. By his expert marksmanship, unwavering perseverance and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Signalman Third Class Gerczak contributed materially to the success of this as well as previous assault and reinforcement landings in the New Guinea Campaign, and his constant devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

08/31/2026

TODAY IN COAST GUARD MEN’S LACROSSE PROGRAM HISTORY - 31 AUGUST 2017: one of my all-time favorite photos (non-Paul Duddy of course) - eventually ended up on the InsideLacrosse web page.

UPDATE 6 - OLD BEARS ARE BUSY: but never too busy for an 'Old Bear' photo - was so pumped to receive this photo today because I know these guys have been turning and burning at both ends - long days...flying under tough conditions - I appreciate them taking the time to make it happen. What a great picture - featuring several (but, not all) our COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE program 'Old Bears' deployed to Air Station Houston, TX for Hurricane HARVEY response operations:

LT Brian Muldoon, CGA ’12 (Defense/Solomons, MD/Patuxent) - MH-65D pilot at Air Station Houston, TX

LT Nick Zablotny, CGA '12 (Midfield/Annapolis, MD/Broadway) - MH-60T pilot at Air Station Clearwater, FL

LT Andrew Cinque, CGA ’10 (Midfield/ Cross River, NY/ John Jay) - MH-65D pilot at Air Station Savannah, GA

LTJG Treston Thomas Taylor, CGA '14 (Midfield/Fort Worth, TX/ L. D. Bell) - MH-60T pilot at Sector San Diego, CA

LT Andrew Breen, CGA ’12 (Defense/Falls Church, VA/George Mason) - MH-65D pilot at Air Station New Orleans, LA

These guys and all our COAST GUARD men and women are doing great work down in Texas and MAKING A DIFFERENCE. That's what we do. - GO BEARS!!!

08/31/2026

'OLD BEAR' MENTOR PROGRAM WRAP: it was another great summer for our 'OLD BEAR' MENTOR PROGRAM supporting our COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE players throughout their 2026 Cadet Summer Training experience. The 'Old Bear' Mentor Program is all about linking current players with 'Old Bears' to build relationships, broaden the brotherhood and add value to the Cadet Summer Training experience. A little fun, camaraderie, networking and professional development.

Here is a collage of photos highlighting a few of the "Old Bear" encounters along with experiences facilitated by 'Old Bears'...

As far as stats, I believe this summer we had 25+ 'Old Bear' encounters that impacted 35+ cadets...

Thank you to our (34) 'Old Bear' Mentor Program volunteers that stepped up and went out of their way to invest in our Cadet-Athletes, expose them to new Coast Guard stuff and add value to their summer experiences:

- LT J. Logan Morin, CGA '20 (Attack/Norwich, CT/Norwich Free Academy)

- LT Paul Mamay, CGA '22 (Defense/Merrick, NY/Calhoun)

- CAPT Wayne O’Donnell, CGA ’04 (Midfield/ Catonsville, MD/ Mount Saint Joseph)

- ENS Carson Throne, CGA '25 (Midfield-FOGO/Woodstock, GA/Sequoyah)

- ENS Trent Lewis, CGA '25 (Defense/Linthicum Heights, MD/North County)

- ENS Nick Butler, CGA '25 (Defense/Northport, NY/Northport)

- ENS Oliver Bolton, CGA '25 (Defense/Darien, CT/Darien)

- ENS Luke Nemsick, CGA '25 (Defense/Shrewsbury, MA/Salisbury School)

- ENS Nate Johnson, CGA '26 (Goalie/Ardmore, PA/Harriton)

- LTJG Ryan Flynn, CGA '23 (Midfield/Sterling, VA/Dominion)

- LCDR Paul Junghans, CGA ‘11 (Defense/Damascus, MD/The Heights School)

- LT Trent Moon, CGA '16 (Attack/Yorktown, VA/Tabb)

- LTJG Will Price, CGA '22 (Midfield/San Diego, CA/Point Loma)

- LT Ian Logan, CGA '19 (Attack/Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes)

- LT Sam Monaco, CGA '21 (Midfield/Severna Park, MD/Mount St. Joseph’s)

- LTJG Josh France, CGA '24 (Midfield/Apex, NC/Middle Creek)

- LTJG Gaige Kruger, CGA '23 (Attack/Coronado, CA/Coronado)

- LTJG Ian Feely, CGA '24 (Midfield/Spring Branch, TX/Smithson Valley)

- LTJG John Leaming, CGA '22 (Midfield/Annandale, VA/W.T. Woodson)

- LCDR Nick Zablotny, CGA '12 (Midfield/Annapolis, MD/Broadneck)

- LT Benner Geurtsen, CGA '19 (Attack/Rodman, NY/South Jefferson Central)

- LTJG Tommy Uhl, CGA ‘21 (Defense/River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley)

- LCDR Steven Danseglio, CGA '13 (Midfield/Islip Terrace, NY/ East Islip)

- LTJG Daniel Lucas, CGA '23 (Goalie/Weston, CT/Weston)

- CDR Tim Wyderko, CGA '13 (Defense/Detroit, MI/Orchard Lake St. Mary's)

- LTJG Ryan McNary, CGA '21 (Midfield/Chesapeake City, MD/Caravel Academy)

- LT Cole Hudson, CGA '19 (Attack/Sparks, MD/Friends School)

- LTJG Gunnar Brodfuehrer, CGA '23 (Midfield/Lexington, MD/St. Mary's Ryken)

- CDR Joshua Wofford

- retired CAPT Sean Cross, CGA '94 (Midfield/Belmont, CA/Woodside Priory)

- retired CAPT Mark Vlaun

- retired CDR John Walters

- retired CAPT Steve White

- Mr. Steele Johnson, CGA '13 (Defense/Roswell, NM/New Mexico Military Institute)

[Please advise if I forgot anyone - not intentional]

HISTORY - Don't know if anyone was listening closely during the 2022 NCAA D1 Final Maryland-Cornell Broadcast - but, they started talking about "Cornell Culture" and it was music to my ears because it's very similar to OUR vision for the COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE program and the "Old Bear" Mentor Program. I know I am a nag on this front, but - it's because I know it's important.

ESPN's Paul Carcaterra said:
"But I will say from the outside looking in - no program tradition-wise breaks the barrier of generational gaps...guys in the 60s and 70s (OK - our first season was 1984) know players in the 90s and 2000s - that's unheard of - and they know each other well and they help each other and they believe in one another and that's why this program is different"

That's what we want. We want to be different - and we want our Alumni Network to be a differentiator...most especially during the Cadet Summer Training Program - but, all the time. This is NOT a heavy lift, but it's important to our "program" - easy stuff like...meet your cadet(s) at the airport, buy them lunch, invite them to social events, check on them at their units, facilitate other professional opportunities for them (leadership lunch, guest speaker, flight, etc.), tell them/show them what you do, have them over for a BBQ.

This is important because it builds relationships and Cadet-LT relationships turn into LT-CDR relationships and so on and so on. This process MAKES A DIFFERENCE- it helps our Cadets get better, it helps our Alumni get better...moreover, it strengthens our program & our Service in the long run. This program ignites connections that can facilitate career advice, leadership opportunities, guidance and assistance with professional development.

For 2027, please start thinking - Do you have Cadets training near you? Have you contacted them? History shows that this works better when the 'Old Bear' makes the first move - cadets are hesitant - it's just how it is. What's stopping you? Reach out - make it so! Oh and send photographs WITH your cadet-athlete!

Tell us HOW we can make this program better? - GO BEARS!!!

08/30/2026

"Are we willing to sacrifice, what kind of commitments are you willing to make, what are you willing to give up for the greater good? When we have kids that are willing to do those kind of things then usually we're on our way to a special season" (Coach Dom Starsia)...GO BEARS!!!

08/30/2026

BEARS COMMIT: all Class of 2028 2/c cadets signed their affirmation last Friday, 21 August 2026, reaffirming their commitment to the Coast Guard, their fellow cadets and the values they carry forward as future leaders.

I got these two photos featuring COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE players Cadet 2/c Dustin Shatten (Defense/Manassas, VA/Paul VI) and Cadet 2/c Andrew McDowell (Goalie/Crestwood, KY/South Oldham) signing their paperwork during the event.

They didn't do this when I was in New London - but here is what I know:

The First Two Years: Under federal service academy rules, the first two years at the academy generally carry no active-duty service obligation if a cadet chooses to leave.

The Point of No Return: Signing the affirmation during this commitment ceremony binds the cadet to finish their remaining time at the academy and fulfill a subsequent five-year active-duty service commitment. Leaving after this point typically incurs either active enlisted service payback or financial restitution.

The Commitment/Affirmation Ceremony was created across all U.S. service academies to formalize long-standing federal law regarding service obligations and to mark a psychological shift in a cadet's career. No recent or sudden policy change prompted its creation; rather, it was driven by a need to turn a cold, legalistic requirement into a meaningful milestone of military culture.

Federal law under Title 14 of the U.S. Code mandates that service academy cadets must sign an agreement incurring an active duty obligation if they continue past the start of their junior year. Before these ceremonies existed, cadets simply signed standard, dry paperwork in administrative offices. The ceremony was developed to bring gravity to the exact moment those legal and financial penalties become binding.

Historically, the government faced a challenge with "free riders"—students who would take three or nearly four years of a tax-funded education valued at over $500,000 and then drop out right before graduation to avoid military service. By implementing a hard deadline accompanied by a highly public, formal ceremony, the academies forced cadets to make a definitive "in or out" decision before their junior year began.

Looking good fellas. - GO BEARS!!!

Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse

09/04/2026

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