LAX Academy Charter
"Lacrosse - the thinking player's game. Lacrosse knowledge through instruction, competition, sportsmanship, and fun."
Faculty Staff - Academy Professors:
Mark "Duke" Whelan: A founding father of the Raleigh Area Lacrosse League for Youth held every fall since 2003. His peers voted Duke as the 2005 North Carolina Lacrosse Man of the Year. He has served on US Lacrosse Youth Council for the past 8 years. More recently Duke pioneered the Capital Area Lacrosse League (CALL) in 2004, a youth lacrosse program that is run in conjunction with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation. Duke grew up in Syracuse, NY where he played alongside several notable lacrosse figures; among them is Stan Cockerton a longtime points leader of NCAA Division I lacrosse, another notable is John Desko, the Syracuse University Head Coach. Duke attended North Carolina State University, where he was a 4 year starter, a captain for 3 years, and voted All Academic ACC for 3 years. Duke led his team a NCAA ranking of 9 th in the country, just missing the NCAA playoffs. Duke played on club teams in Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, and North Carolina. He also taught at East Carolina University and coached the club lacrosse program in the 1980's. Duke continues to play club lacrosse at tournaments as well as actively involved in the lacrosse community in Wake County.
John "JD" Downey: A founding father of the Raleigh Area Lacrosse League for Youth held every fall since 2003. In 2001 JD started the Athens Drive High School Lacrosse Program and this year the team's senior class recognized him with an award of appreciation for his dedication to continuing the Athens Drive Lacrosse Program, sometimes called the “Godfather of Athens Lacrosse”. JD began his playing days in the days of wooden sticks made of sinew and leather at Seaford High School on Long Island, NY. He played Long Island Club Lacrosse for 6 years and began coaching on Long Island. In 1991 he began coaching at Wantaugh-Seaford Youth Lacrosse Program. JD moved to North Carolina and began the Wake County Spring Triangle Area Lacrosse League (TALL) in 1998. John served on the TALL board for 3 years. From time to time JD still shakes the rust off the creaky bones and plays club lacrosse using his old stick.
Michael "Spike" McLaughlin: A founding father of the Raleigh Area Lacrosse League for Youth held every fall since 2003. Spike began his playing days at Shove Park in Camillus, NY. Spike went on to play at West Genesee High School and earned a NY State Championship in 1985. He played college lacrosse at Potsdam State where he earned All League Honors and was voted Most Valuable Team Player. He captained Potsdam State for 2 years and led them to a ranking of 14 th in NCAA Division 3. His senior year culminated at the ECAC Championship Game versus Nazareth College. He finished his career ranked 5 th at Potsdam College in points scored and tied the single game goal scoring record by scoring 8 goals versus Hartwick College in the ECAC Semi-Final game. Spike went on to play on club lacrosse teams for Graph-Tex, Reebok, Key Bank and Great Atlantic. He also played on an USA Team in the Australian Championship Games. His college coaching career began as an assistant at LeMoyne College and his last position was an assistant at Cortland State. Spike has been a High School Official for 7 years and an NCAA Lacrosse official for 5 years. He earned the honor of officiating the North Carolina High School Championship games the past 3 years. Once in a while Spike will play in a pick up lacrosse game but recognizes he's much slower.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
NC Lax Academy
PO Box 1242
Apex, NC 27502
Please send all mail correspondence to this address.
Phone: 919-303-6068
Please click here to request more information via email.
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