DETROIT (8/15/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team is set to return a bevy of talent in 2020, but the Titans added to that with the signing of eight student-athletes for the upcoming year. All eight are true freshmen and will have four years of eligibility.

"We feel that these eight student-athletes will fit in well with our culture and team mentality," said head coach Chris Kolon '09 (MBA). "All are very talented and are extremely hard workers and that is what we look for to help continue our team culture and success."

Ryan Birney * M * 5-11 * 180 * Plymouth, Mich. * Catholic Central

• A three-year varsity letter winner as a prep and team captain as a senior
• Selected a US Lacrosse All American, All-State First Team and All-Catholic in 2019
• All-State Second Team and All-League as a junior
• Helped his team to a state title in 2018 and the state finals in 2019
• Played club with Team Total
• His older brothers, Mike and Sean, and older sister, Kylie, all played lacrosse at Detroit Mercy

Owen Bruinius * D * 6-3 * 185 * Grand Rapids, Mich. * Forest Hills Northern

• Earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and football
• Tabbed a US Lacrosse All-American as a senior
• Three-time All-State selection as a sophomore, junior and senior
• Played club with True Michigan

Ryan Lamb * A * 5-11 * 175 * Battle Creek, Mich. * Lakeview

• A four-year varsity letter winner and two-time team captain
• All-State honorable mention and All-Conference First Team  as a senior
• Tabbed All-Conference First Team as a sophomore and junior
• Guided his team to its first-ever conference championship in 2018 posting 94 points on 72 goals and 22 assists
• Played club with the Kalamazoo Bandits

Kyle Loken * MF * 6-0 * 175 * Lake Orion, Mich. * Lake Orion

• Earned varsity letters in lacrosse, basketball and football
• Tabbed All-State Second Team as a senior after recording 50 goals, 13 assists and 47 ground balls
• Guided his team to a regional championship as a senior as he posted a career-high seven goals in the title game
• His team was also a state semifinalist in 2019 
• Played club with 1763 and Invictus

Asher Mendell * A * 5-10 * 170 * Carmel, Ind. * Carmel

• A four-year starter in lacrosse
• Named All-State Second Team as a senior 
• His team was state runner-up in 2018 and 2019 and made it to the quarterfinals in 2016 and 2017
• Finished his career as the 10th highest point scorer in Carmel lacrosse history with 143 points on 95 goals and 48 assists
• Played club with True Indiana and True National
• His brother is Titan senior Seth Mendell

Justin Petouhoff * LSM/D * 6-1 * 190 * Livonia, Mich. * Catholic Central

• A three-year varsity letter-winner and a captain as a senior
• Selected All-State as a junior and senior as well as All-Catholic in 2019
• Helped his team to a state championship in 2018 and the state semifinals in 2017 and 2019

Jake Petro * A/M * 5-11 * 180 * Plymouth, Mich. * Catholic Central

• A three-year varsity letter-winner
• Tabbed All-Region as a senior
• Helped his team to a regional title in 2018
• Played club with the Shamrocks, Team Total, Juiced Cherries and True Michigan

Ivan Progar * MF * 6-2 * 174 * Brighton, Mich. * Brighton

• A three-year varsity letter-winner
• Earned All-State as a junior and senior
• Named the team's Offensive MVP as a senior after finishing second with 60 points on 40 goals and 20 assists
• Led his squad in scoring with 65 points on 45 goals and 20 assists as a sophomore
• Helped his team to a regional championship in 2017 and 2019
• Tallied 194 points as a prep on 142 goals and 52 assists 
• Played club with True Michigan