Upper Arlington's celebrated defenseman Max Schmidt, the Ohio High School Lacrosse Association's Player of the Year, was selected for the U.S. Lacrosse U-19 team that will play for the World Championship
next summer. Schmidt and Golden Bear teammate Scott Lathrop were among 120 players invited to tryout for the team July 12-15th at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

"It's definitely the highest honor I've had in the game," said Schmidt. "To play for your country is an indescribable feeling. I'm kind of in awe right now. Hopefully I can represent UA and the U.S. well, which
is odd to say but true."

UA Head Coach Ted Wolford was proud of both players. "Both of them competed very well. I"m proud of both of them for trying," said Wolford. "Scotty played well also. People knew who these guys were. It's another step for our program. The first ever for us and I believe the second from the state of Ohio to make this team."
Schmidt said he played eight games over the four days of tryouts. "The competition was great. Everyone
showed up and played their 'A' game. The committee was looking for those guys who could step up when they were tired."

Wolford said he was surprised the roster includes only six defenseman which makes Schmidt's performance
all the more impressive. "Max's athletic ability and stick skills will take him a long way."

The 23-man roster was announced by U.S. Lacrosse via the internet and Schmidt said he got a text message from a future Maryland teammmate as he was getting off the plane Sunday night at Port Columbus.

The added benefit of Schmidt and Lathrop's participation was the continued promotion of Upper Arlington Men's lacrosse. "It was great to get the UA name and Ohio lacrosse out there," said Schmidt. "People would ask where we were from and we would tell them Upper Arlington and they would say I've heard of
them."

Rising collegiate sophomore midfielder James Green, who scored 10 goals for Ohio State last season, was
also selected for the U-19 team with Schmidt and will soon be teammates with Lathrop at OSU. "It was a real honor to be among the top 120 players in the country," said Lathrop. "It was a great experience, a ton of
fun. I'm very happy for Max."

Lathrop said his own confidence grew during the camp. "I also learned that I'm able to play and hold my own with some of the best players." Lathrop and Green were two of the six players with connections to OSU lacrosse. "It was a good thing to be able to get a preview of the college game," added Lathrop. Rising high school senior Colby Wilson of Western Reserve Academy also tried out.

The U.S. team includes 16 recent high school graduates, five rising high school seniors and two current collegians. The 23 players hail from seven states. Those not selected are considered alternates for the team. The ILF U-19 World Championship is set for July 3-12, 2008, in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Former Golden Bear star Steve Dusseau played in the Elite Division of the World Championships in 2004 in
Perth, Australia after finishing his career at Georgetown.