Wingate, N.C.----Coaches love freshmen…because they have four years to mold them. Coaches love sophomores…because they are no longer freshmen…coaches love juniors and seniors…for the leadership and the other intangibles they provide. When Wingate men’s lacrosse head coach Sonny Ziegler reads his roster, he sees 18 juniors and seniors and 15 freshmen and sophomores…the right mix.
 
Bulldog fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2012 team Friday, Feb. 17, when Wingate hosts the University of Tampa for a Deep South Conference contest. The first face-off at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.
 
“We’ve taken our lumps the last two years,” Ziegler says. “(On the flip side), we’ve gained much experience. We wouldn’t have necessarily ordered it this way…but we (now) have tremendous leadership at every position.”
 
Ziegler is happy to report the leadership starts at the top. “We have a tremendous senior class,” Ziegler says. “Behind the senior class…we have much additional talent. The coaching staff feels we are in a good place.”
 
Wingate senior goalkeeper Danny Dlugozima and senior midfield Bryan Bayliss are returning All-DSC performers and team captains. “Danny and Bryan have done an outstanding job accepting their leadership roles,” Ziegler says.

Coach Ziegler sat down with the Wingate sports information department and gave a glimpse into the Bulldogs’ position-by-position outlook.
 
Goalkeeper
 
“Danny Dlugozima is rock solid for us. His (2011) summer with the U.S. Army has helped him develop his leadership skills. Redshirt sophomore Patrick Cooney had shoulder surgery in the spring of 2011. We are excited to have him back. As a left-hander, freshman Travis Price gives us a great change of pace in practice. He is doing a good job adjusting to the speed of college shooters.”
           
Defense
 
“Junior Stuart Lockhart brings much experience to the table. He knows our defensive schemes inside-and-out. Stuart allows us to take chances (on defense)…because he helps us make up for our mistakes. We can take chances.”
 
“Sophomore Logan Brawley has made a big change (in roles) from his freshman to his sophomore year. He provides very good coverage due to his understanding of our team defensive philosophies.”
 
“Junior Wesley Thomas is a very vocal leader. He makes good defensive calls (for us). His game is getting better and better…as he gets more experience, we believe the sky is the limit (for Wesley). He is very committed to our team.”
 
“Freshman Ryan Foltz joins the Bulldog family from a very good high school program. He understands the game beyond his years. Senior Justin Harward had back surgery in the fall…he is returning to team activities this spring. As his conditioning improves, Justin will provide great leadership for us.”
 
“Sophomore Andrew Feranec will see time with the man-down unit. Junior Davis Collins and freshman Scott Cullum will each make important contributions to our team…before they conclude their Bulldog careers.”
 
Long-stick midfield
 
“Junior Michael Acosta has a year under his belt…he is much more confident on the field. Michael has the athleticism and ability to hang with the best midfields in the nation. Senior Michael McDaniel will play important minutes for us, while sophomore Sam Thompson provides us another option at the long-stick position.”
 
Midfield
 
“Senior Bryan Bayliss does well (for us) both offensively and defensively. We like to call him an old-school, two-way player. Bryan brings tremendous leadership skills to the table. Junior Garrett Kendall has much experience…he has stepped up for us in big games. Sophomore Troy Press has outstanding skills on the offensive end (of the field). He is a great creator and distributor.”
 
“Junior Jackson Bunn has great quickness…he is a strong offensive player who also has much experience. Sophomore James Wells is a smart player and a tremendous athlete who sees the field well. Junior Tom Padden is a converted attack who has handled the changes (to the midfield position) very well.
 
Seniors Chase Clifton and Bryant Lilley will both go the extra mile for our team. Their contributions to our successes…are not easily measured. Chase and Bryant are without a doubt…the consummate teammates.”
 
“Junior Brandon Lowstetter and sophomore Jarrett Cook know our expectations…we believe they are ready to take the next step. Freshman Chase Watts has an outstanding blood line…we know he will do everything it takes to help our team achieve its goals and dreams.”
 
Face-off
 
“Sophomore Bryce Sneed won 60 percent of his face-offs as a freshman. We are counting on him to continue to make improvements (to his game). Sophomore Alex Despo and freshman Zak Goings will have opportunities to make contributions to our face-off efforts.”
           
Attack
 
“Senior David Lee was our leading scorer last year (32 goals). He has outstanding stick skills…he is a good finisher and (a good) leader for us. Junior Derek Watts earned first team All-DSC honors last year after a 29-goal, 24-assist sophomore season. Derek has excellent skills with both hands…he directs our offense well. Senior Travis Barrett works well inside on the crease. He is very smart…and very skilled at finding the open spaces.”
 
“Junior Taylor Womble gives us much flexibility…with his ability to play inside and outside. Freshman Cory Schumacher is learning the college game…and looking for ways to help us be successful.”
 
Schedule
 
Coach Ziegler and assistant coaches David Olliver and Matt Ramsey will get an opportunity to see the Bulldogs against some of the best competition in the nation. “The Deep South Conference is always tough,” Ziegler says. “We want to be battle-tested (for league games) by playing the best non-conference schedule in the country.”
 
Wingate plays four teams ranked in the USILA NCAA Division II top 12 pre-season poll: defending national champion and number one Mercyhurst (Feb. 25), 2011 national semi-finalist and number three Limestone (March 14), number 10 Pfeiffer (March 21) and number 12 DSC mate Catawba (April 7).
 
Bulldog fans will see Mercyhurst up-close and personal at Belk Stadium and Martin Field; Wingate’s game with the MC Lakers is the third of four home games to start the 2012 season. The Catawba contest will serve as Senior Day for Wingate’s eight-member class. The Limestone and Pfeiffer games are road encounters.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 42 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 51 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.