Whipsnakes LC
Key Additions
- A Will Manny (FA, Archers)
- A Tucker Dordevic (Draft, Georgetown)
- FO Petey LaSalla (Draft, Virginia)
- M Garrett Leadmon (Draft, Duke)
- D Elijah Gash (Draft, Albany)
- A Max Waldbaum (Player Pool, Jacksonville)
- A Sean Goldsmith (Player Pool, UNC)
Key Departures
- A Jay Carlson (Retired)
- M Justin Guterding (FA, Atlas)
- A Bryan Cole (FA)
When it comes to the Whipsnakes, the rich always seem to get richer. Jay Carlson was one of my favorite players to watch, and we wish him happiness in retirement, but he wasn’t getting all of the attack reps alongside Matt Rambo and Zed Williams last year. That third spot will now likely be occupied by savvy lefty vet, Will Manny. With creators like Rambo, Williams, Brad Smith, and first round pick Tucker Dordevic on the field, all Manny needs to do is find space off-ball and let it rip – a perfect fit.
Whipsnakes LC nailed the draft:
- Tucker Dordevic – elite athleticism and offensive skill. He would have shined anywhere he was drafted.
- Petey LaSalla – NCAA record holder for faceoff attempts, and UVA career & single season record holder for faceoffs won and groundballs. There is no prospect more prepared to attempt to fill Joe Nardella’s shoes while he is out with injury.
- Garrett Leadmon – a 6’4”, 225lb middie who has played both offense and defense at Duke: a PLL prototype.
- Elijah Gash – Paul Carcaterra said Gash could be the best athlete in the draft and named him as his #1 under-the-radar prospect. We’re talking about a pole with tremendous potential learning from the league’s best defense.
The Whipsnakes’ #1 concern is Joe Nardella beginning the season on the PUP list. In 2022, Nardella won 66% of his draws, only second behind league MVP, Trevor Baptiste. Part of the Whips “hit singles” offense is so effective due to the possession advantage. You know LaSalla will compete at the PLL level, but it would be hard to imagine creating the same possession advantage as a rookie.
Despite this concern, the Whips are still tied for the highest win total this year in the sportsbooks (6.5), with some of them listing the Whips as Championship favorites. This team is a well-oiled machine, and this offseason has shown no reason to dispute their Championship aspirations.
