DETROIT (1/4/2017) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team added some talent from all around the Midwest, and even out to the West Coast and the fertile grounds of Maryland, as the Titans officially announced their 2016 early-signing period recruiting class.
Joining the Titans will be
Zenzo Beresford (Portland, Ore./Lincoln), Matt Blevins (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), Brett Erskine (St. Catharines, Ont./Western Reserve Acad.), Ryan Figueiras (Sunderland, Md./ St. Mary's Ryken), Brennan Kamish (Wixom, Mich./Catholic Central), Paul Manuszak (Sterling Heights, Mich./De La Salle), Ollie Nigh (Anoka, Minn./Anoka), Brenton Reddrick (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and
Steven Warren (Pickerington Central, Ohio/Pickerington Central).
"We feel that this is one of the strongest recruiting classes we have had here at Detroit Mercy," said head coach Chris Kolon. "We have a lot of talented and skilled players who will be joining the program at all of our positions, and they are all blue collar athletes who have a tremendous work ethic."Â
Zenzo Beresford * D/LSM * 5'9 * 170-LB * Portland,Ore./Lincoln
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa… A two-year letter winner in lacrosse and the first Titan from the state of Oregon… Had a stellar junior season and was tabbed First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State…  One of just three players that were not seniors on the All-State team… Guided his team to a league championship and a state quarterfinals appearance… Played club with 3D Lacrosse Oregon and Nation United and was named to the 3D Pacific Team for best west coast players… A Riptide at Oceanside all-star in 2015 and a FLG in 3D all-star in 2016… His teams were the Riptide and Invasion of Valhalla champions this past summer…Â
Matt Blevins * MF * 5-8 * 145-LB * Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson
Has earned letters in lacrosse, football and wrestling… Named a team captain for his senior season… Selected First Team All-Ohio Capital Conference and Second Team All-Region as a junior as a face-off midfielder… Played club with Resolute Lacrosse…Â
Brett Erskine * A/MF * 5-11 * 155-LB * St. Catharines, Ont./Western Reserve Academy
Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, and attended prep school at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio… Earned varsity letters in lacrosse, hockey and cross country… Is a captain for both lacrosse and hockey… Tabbed MVP for both lacrosse and hockey in 2016… First Team All-Midwest in 2015 and 2016, leading his team in scoring both years… Played junior lacrosse with Junior A Athletics St. Catharines in 2016 and Junior B Spartans in 2015 and has been playing box lacrosse since 2004… Played club with 3D Lacrosse in 2012, 2013 and 2014… In hockey, he was selected All-Conference GCHSL in -2015 and 2016 and was awarded the Norm Mussat Heart and Desire for all of St. Catharines Minor Hockey players in 2014… Served as a Chief Ambassador of Western Reserve Academy…Â
Ryan Figueiras * A * 5-8 * 165-LB * Sunderland, Md. * St. Mary's Ryken
A three-year letter winner in men's lacrosse who will serve as a team captain as a senior… Earned a bevy of honors as a junior including Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention, WCAC First Team All-Conference, St. Mary's County First Team, St. Mary's County Athlete of Year and the Wave Lax Top 22 team… In 2016, he posted 63 goals, 14 assists and 60 ground balls, while tying the school record with eight goals in a game against Virginia Episcopal… He was a 2015 Team Washington DC Brine All-American after notching 20 goals and 14 assists… As a freshman, he was the junior varsity team MVP and a Team Maryland Brine All-American…Played club with the Cannons Select and Annapolis Hawks, and was a member of the NSCLA Select Showcase…   Â
Brennan Kamish * MF * 6-0 * 190-LB * Wixom, Mich./Catholic Central
A three-year varsity letter winner in lacrosse… A top 100 recruit by Inside Lacrosse… Selected First Team in 2016 after tallying 44 goals and 18 assists… A Second Team All-State honoree in 2015 after registering 21 goals and 17 assists and playing a portion of the season with an ankle injury... Helped the Shamrocks reach the state finals for three-straight years… Â
Paul Manuszak * LSM/D * 6-1 * 165-LB * Sterling Heights, Mich./De La Salle
Earned varsity letters in lacrosse and tennis… Will be a two-year captain as a senior… Selected All-Catholic and All-County twice and was a First Team All-State honoree as a junior and second team as a sophomore… MVP of the Kyle Rymiszewski Cup in 2016 for the annual De La Salle-Orchard Lake St. Mary's contest… Recorded seven goals from his LSM position in 2016 and scooped up a career-high 15 ground balls in a game as a sophomore… Played club with 1763 and Powerplay Lansing and was an Under Armour Shootout and Great Lax Bay All-Star, while helping his team to a Cherry Bomb title… Also named All-Catholic and First Team All-County at first doubles in tennis as a senior… A member of the National Honor Society…                      Â
Ollie Nigh * MF * 5-7 * 175-LB * Anoka, Minn./Anoka
A three-year letter winner in lacrosse and football… A two-time All-Conference and All-Section honoree… Tabbed All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman… Has scored 85 goals as a prep, including 27 goals and 12 assists in 2016… Helped his team to its first-ever state championship appearance… Played club with Minnesota Select Loons… In football, he was the conference Player of the Year as a senior and a two-time All-Conference performer who totaled over 2,800 career yards and 19 touchdowns… High school teammate of current Titan redshirt freshman
Jared Shultz…Â
Brenton Reddrick * MF * 5-8 * 150-LB * Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata
A three- year letter winner in lacrosse as well as a two-year letter winner in football… Was a junior varsity MVP as a freshman in 2014 after notching 25 goals, seven assists and 70 ground balls… Earned All-Conference Honorable Mention as a junior this past year… Helped his team to a sectional championship and a third-place finish in the conference… Played club with Team Minnesota as well as the Georgia Thunder before moving to Minnesota…Â
Steven Warren * G * 6-0 * 205-LB * Pickerington Central, Ohio/Pickerington Central
Has earned three varsity letters entering his senior season… A two-year captain and a starter since his freshman season… Selected First Team All-OCC as a junior as well as an Honorable Mention All-American after tallying 196 saves and a 58.0 save percentage... Posted a 50.2 save percentage as a freshman and a 54.0 mark as a sophomore… Played club with Resolute Lacrosse and the Haymakers… Helped Resolute to a 2013 Hogan Revolution and a 2016 OSU Midwest Shootout championship and the Haymakers to a 2014 OSU Midwest Shootout title… A member of the National Honor Society…Â
The Titans will begin the 2017 season on the road at Ohio State on Feb. 11. The first home game is set for Feb. 15 indoors against Michigan at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.Â
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