Carolina Miners · Class of 2033

A premier travel experience for 6th graders.

Middle-school foundation season. Learn the game correctly — stickwork, position play, and how to be a teammate. Full-Year program — Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer under one staff — or the Fall + Summer bundle for families who want the two core competitive seasons only. All in Huntersville.

Class of 2033 MS Travel Full-Year ~$3,300 Fall + Summer ~$2,700 42 practices · 7 tournaments
Our Standard

CONNECT Beyond Winning.

Winning games is great. It is not our highest aim. Our standard is whether we build players, teammates, and environments your family is proud to be part of. CONNECT is how we define that — daily, on every CLA sideline.

C
Compete DailyCompete with purpose every day — not just on game day.
O
Outwork YesterdayEffort must be visible and consistent. Improvement is a daily standard.
N
Non-NegotiablesAbove average in punctuality, attitude, and preparation.
N
No JerksTalent never excuses selfishness, disrespect, or poor behavior.
E
EnergyBring juice, enthusiasm, and positive presence to the field.
C
CourageCourage matters more than comfort. Try, fail, respond, grow.
T
TeammateEvery player is a great teammate first, an individual performer second.
Your Miners Year

Every season has a purpose.

Full-Year covers Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer under one staff, one team. Fall + Summer bundle keeps you on the same roster without the Winter and Spring commitment — same coaches either way.

Fall · Core

Build the Team

September – mid-November

Purpose: Install team systems, build chemistry, and get game reps at real regional tournaments.

Weekly Cadence
  • 2 team practices per week (Tue / Thu typical)
  • Occasional 3rd session on tournament-prep weeks
  • ~18 fall practices total
Fall Tournaments
  • 3 regional tournaments · Carolinas + Southeast
  • Tournament fees covered by tuition
  • Named schedule announced ahead of season
Core season · in Full-Year & Fall+Summer
Summer · Core

Compete

Late May – mid-July

Purpose: The big developmental push. Play the team you've built all year against the region's best.

Training
  • 3 practices per week
  • ~24 summer practices total
  • Same coaches. Same fields.
Summer Tournaments
  • 4 regional tournaments · Southeast circuit
  • Tournament fees covered by tuition
  • Named schedule announced ahead of season
Core season · in Full-Year & Fall+Summer
Winter · Included in Full-Year

Winter Training

December – February

Purpose: Positional development and speed work — before HS/MS spring season starts.

Format
  • ~12 training sessions at Huntersville-area venues
  • Position groups + speed work
  • Multi-sport athletes attend what fits around their winter sport
Included in Full-Year program
Spring · Included in Full-Year

Spring Training

February – April

Purpose: Skill work that runs around the HS and MS spring season. School ball comes first — we support it.

Format
  • ~6 sessions in Huntersville
  • Sharpens what he's already doing at school
  • Not doing spring lacrosse? Choose the Fall + Summer bundle instead
Included in Full-Year program

Full-Year covers all four seasons under one staff. Prefer just the two core competitive seasons? Choose the Fall + Summer bundle instead — same roster, same coaches, without the Winter and Spring commitment.

Fall 2026 Tournaments

Three tournaments. All within driving distance.

The confirmed fall slate for Miners 2033 Yellow. Regional competition, weekends together, home base in Huntersville.

Fall 2026

Fall Classic

Oct 24–25, 2026

Matthews, NC

Fall 2026

Lake Norman Classic

Nov 7–8, 2026

Huntersville, NC

Fall 2026

The Fall Carolina Show

Nov 21–22, 2026

Asheville, NC

Miners 2033 Yellow · Fall Schedule

Every practice. Every tournament.

Weekly cadence — first practice Wednesday, September 23 through the final tournament Sat/Sun November 21–22. Three practices per week. Wed & Thu at Huntersville Athletic Park. Sunday at R.C. Bradford Park.

Team Practice Tournament Weekend
Week of Sep 21Sep 21 – Sep 27
WED · SEP 23Team PracticeHAP
THU · SEP 24Team PracticeHAP
SUN · SEP 27Team PracticeBradford
Week of Sep 28Sep 28 – Oct 4
WED · SEP 30Team PracticeHAP
THU · OCT 1Team PracticeHAP
SUN · OCT 4Team PracticeBradford
Week of Oct 5Oct 5 – Oct 11
WED · OCT 7Team PracticeHAP
THU · OCT 8Team PracticeHAP
SUN · OCT 11Team PracticeBradford
Week of Oct 12Oct 12 – Oct 18
WED · OCT 14Team PracticeHAP
THU · OCT 15Team PracticeHAP
SUN · OCT 18Team PracticeBradford
Week of Oct 19Oct 19 – Oct 25 · Tournament
WED · OCT 21Team PracticeHAP
THU · OCT 22Team PracticeHAP
SAT/SUN · OCT 24/25Fall ClassicMatthews · Tournament weekend
Week of Oct 26Oct 26 – Nov 1
WED · OCT 28Team PracticeHAP
THU · OCT 29Team PracticeHAP
SUN · NOV 1Team PracticeBradford
Week of Nov 2Nov 2 – Nov 8 · Tournament
WED · NOV 4Team PracticeHAP
THU · NOV 5Team PracticeHAP
SAT/SUN · NOV 7/8Lake Norman ClassicHuntersville · Tournament weekend
Week of Nov 9Nov 9 – Nov 15
WED · NOV 11Team PracticeHAP
THU · NOV 12Team PracticeHAP
SUN · NOV 15Team PracticeBradford
Week of Nov 16Nov 16 – Nov 22 · Tournament
WED · NOV 18Team PracticeHAP
THU · NOV 19Team PracticeHAP
SAT/SUN · NOV 21/22The Fall Carolina ShowAsheville · Tournament weekend

On tournament weeks: no Sunday practice (playing tournament). Practices are 1.5 hours. Field assignments (HAP vs Bradford) posted the week before.

Your Miners Year

Here's what your player receives.

Development

  • ~42 practices · Fall + Summer
  • ~63 hours of coached training
  • Position group work in every session
  • Winter and Spring training included in Full-Year
  • CLA recruiting support for HS families

Competition

  • 7 regional tournaments across the year
  • Tournament fees covered by tuition
  • Fall + Summer schedule announced before each season

Experience

  • Same staff Fall, Summer, Winter, Spring
  • TeamSnap communication
  • Parent Meeting + Media Day
  • Team & individual photos
  • Player evaluations mid-season
Leadership

The people running Miners.

Director, Carolina Miners

Andrew Zito

Director of Carolina Miners. Runs the Lake Norman program end-to-end — from tryouts to tournaments to family communication.

CLA College Recruiting

Connor Doyle

Director of College Recruiting across the Carolina Lacrosse Association. Team Carolina HS families work directly with Connor on the college pathway — the same pathway Miners graduates step into.

CLA General Manager

Ricky Reyes

CLA General Manager and Miners program lead. Sets the coaching standard across Carolina Miners and Team Carolina.

Coaching Staff

Miners 2033 Yellow coaches

Your team's assigned coaches for Fall 2026. Every Miners coach is drawn from the Lake Norman-area high school and middle school staff pool below.

Head Coach

Casey Grandelli

Assistant Coach

Bobby Bennett

Full Miners Staff Pool

Head and assistant coaches across Carolina Miners and Team Carolina. Additional coverage on tournament weekends and skill sessions is pulled from this group.

Head Coach · North Lincoln HS

Matt Lewin

Head Coach · Community School of Davidson

John Bellissimo

Head Coach · Mooresville HS

Bobby Bennett

Head Coach · Christ the King

Connor Doyle

MS Head Coach · Lake Norman Charter

Matt Hale

Coach · Running Rebels MS

Mark Walgren

Assistant · Mooresville HS

Casey Grandelli

Assistant · Chambers HS

Noah Steiner

Important Dates

Put this on the calendar now.

TBA · September
Mandatory Parent Meeting & Media Day
R.C. Bradford Park · Huntersville

Every Miners family sends one representative. Players receive:

  • · Team photos
  • · Individual photos
  • · Team introductions
  • · Season overview + tournament calendar
  • · Code of Conduct review
Uniform

One look. One program.

Same jersey, same reversible, same standard every time we take a Miners sideline.

New Players

Player Kit

  • Black/Gold Miners Game Jersey
  • Black/Gold Practice Reversible
  • 2 × Black Shorts
  • 2 × Gold Shooting Shirts

Ordered through the program. One window, one delivery.

Returning Players

Player Kit

Reuse
  • Miners Game Jersey
Purchase as needed
  • Practice Reversible
  • Shorts & Shooting Shirts

Additional apparel available in the Team Store.

Player Kit is purchased separately at registration and runs a two-year cycle — Fall 2026 through Summer 2027. Returning players reuse their Miners jersey.

Family travel is not covered by the club. Hotels, gas, and meals for out-of-area tournaments are the family's responsibility. Tournament hotel blocks shared when available.

USA Lacrosse Membership is required for every Miner — provides tournament eligibility and secondary insurance during sanctioned play. Registered directly at usalacrosse.com; not billed through Miners tuition.

Expectations

What we ask of players and families.

Players are expected at everything — practices, training, and tournaments. Multi-sport is the exception — tell us early and we'll work with your calendar.

Players

On the field and off.

  • Attend everything — multi-sport is the exception.
  • Be early.
  • Compete.
  • Be coachable.
  • Represent Miners with class.
  • Support teammates.
Parents

From the sideline.

  • Support every Miner — not just yours.
  • Trust the coaches.
  • Communicate respectfully.
  • Let coaches coach.
  • Help us build a positive Lake Norman culture.
2026–27 Program Investment

Two paths. One program.

Same team, same coaches, same standard. Full-Year is the program; Fall + Summer covers the two core competitive seasons only. Final tuition confirmed in writing before your son accepts a roster spot.

Alternative · Fall + Summer
Miners 2033 Yellow Fall + Summer — ~$2,700

The two core competitive seasons — same roster, same staff. Winter and Spring training are not included. Best fit for multi-sport families or players who already train elsewhere in the off-seasons.

  • Fall + Summer — 42 travel practices · 7 tournaments
  • Winter Training not included
  • Spring Training not included
  • 6-month payment plan only
Pay in Full · One-Time Payment
~$2,700
One payment at acceptance. Locks in your roster spot immediately. No monthly billing to manage.
No convenience fee — the program covers processing.
6-Month Plan
~$467 / mo × 6
Auto-pay via LeagueApps, monthly, starting the month after registration. Approx. total: ~$2,800 — includes a flat $100 convenience fee.
A 12-month plan is only offered on Full-Year (it aligns to the full program length).
A note on payment plans. Payment plans finance the full program over the year — they are not a month-to-month subscription. Selecting a plan is a commitment to the full program; scheduled payments continue regardless of participation. Program tuition is non-refundable, including on payment plans. Convenience fees on installment plans are flat and cover payment administration — no interest, no per-installment charges.

Injuries are credited toward a future Miners season — no questions asked.

Included in Full-Year

  • Coaching — Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
  • Tournament entry fees
  • ~42 travel practices & ~63 hours of training
  • ~12 Winter Training sessions
  • ~6 Spring Training sessions
  • TeamSnap communication
  • Media Day + team photos
  • Mid-season player evaluations

Not Included

  • Player Kit (2-year cycle, purchased separately)
  • USA Lacrosse Membership (registered directly)
  • Hotels & family travel
  • Optional Team Store purchases
  • Winter + Spring training if you choose the Fall + Summer bundle
What Success Looks Like

We don't measure success in trophies.

We measure it in the season your family remembers. This is what a Miners year looks like when we do our job:

That's what CONNECT looks like in practice.

Request an Evaluation

Want a Miners coach to know your son before tryouts?

Send the basics — we'll respond within 48 hours with next steps, film requests, or a chance to skate through a practice.

We respond within 48 hours.
Questions?

Here's who handles what.

Program

Andrew Zito

Director, Carolina Miners

College Recruiting

Connor Doyle

CLA College Recruiting · HS families

Operations

Ricky Reyes

CLA General Manager

Next Step

Be on the field with Miners 2033 Yellow.

Tryouts are open. Wed · Jul 15 · 6:30–8:00 PM at R.C. Bradford Park. Pre-register on CLA and lock in your evaluation slot.