NLL’s Jennings loves the field, too

June 18th, 2008 by Bob Chavez

Let us here at NLLInsider.com send big props to Joel Van Der Wal. Van Der Who?

Never heard of the kid? Well, he is just 16 but if his progress is any indication, you’ll all be hearing more of him down the road. The sophomore at North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, N.J., which is about 65 miles west of The Big Apple, was recently named The Express-Times Player of the Year after piling up 101 points (49 goals, 52 assists) to lead his crew to a 17-3 record. Those are some pretty solid numbers, but why is this news here on NLLInsider? Check out one of the first people to receive thanks from the youngster. “My dad’s friend, Jim Jennings, came to my dad about starting up a program,” he told The Express-Times. “It’s a lot more high-paced action than baseball. The contact also adds a lot to it.”

Yeah, it’s THAT Jim Jennings. The big boss of the National Lacrosse League grew up in Blairstown, which never had a high school lacrosse team. Jennings got the ball rolling about 5 years ago and now there’s more than just a team, there are some legit DI players coming outta the area. Van Der Wal first picked up a stick in fourth grade at the behest of Mr. Jennings and as is the case at a lot of schools around this great land, baseball’s loss is lacrosse’s gain.

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Chavez is an avid lacrosse player in Rochester and a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle as well as a longtime Inside Lacrosse contributor. Email him at bob.chavez@nllinsider.com or go to RochesterSports.com.

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