June 1, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy All-Americans Billy Looney (Silver Spring, Md.) and Ian Dingman (Deferiet, N.Y.) were among the 50 players selected in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft held Thursday evening at Stony Brook University. Looney became Navy's highest player selected in the history of the draft when the Chicago Machine snatched him up in the first round as the fifth overall pick. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Barrage drafted Dingman as the 30th pick and the final selection in the third round.

Looney and Dingman join eight other former Navy lacrosse players who currently appear on MLL rosters. The L.A. Riptide have six former Midshipmen on their roster, including four players who led Navy to the 2004 NCAA national championship game. Sean Donnelly represents the Class of '92, while two-time Kelly Award winner Mickey Jarboe out of the Class of '00 is coming off an impressive performance over Memorial Day weekend in which he was named the game's most valuable player. Finally, Graham Gill ( Class of '05), Mitch Hendler (Class of '05), Chris Pieczonka (Class of '06) and Matt Russell (Class of '06) round out what has been nicknamed the U.S.S. Riptide.

Two-time All-American middie Adam Borcz (Class of '01) is playing with the Long Island Lizards, while three-time All-American midfielder Steve Looney, who graduated a year ago, is a member of the San Francisco Dragons.

A three-time All-American, Looney enjoyed a storybook career at Navy that was concluded by being named a First-Team All-American this spring and earning his way onto the ballot for the MacLaughlin Award, the nation's top midfielder named in honor of former Navy great Don MacLaughlin. He is the fourth different Midshipman to claim first-team recognition in the last four seasons, joining Matt Russell (2004), Graham Gill (2005) and Mitch Hendler (2005).

Looney was a four-year starter who garnered First-Team All-Patriot League kudos three times after being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2004. Twice he was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, including this spring where he made the initial cut to 17 players. He ended his career by leading the Mids to their fourth-straight Patriot League title, as well as their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Along the way, Looney turned in his first 30-point season, posting 34 points on 20 goals and 14 assists in `07. He became the 28th different player in school history to score 100 points when he punched in three goals and an assist in the final game of his career on May 13 against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

Dingman, a three-time First-Team All-Patriot League attackman and Second-Team All-America selection in 2004, finished the spring campaign as Navy's top goal-scorer, punching in 33 goals, including a team-best nine extra-man goals. He added nine assists to post 42 points, the second most on the team. Dingman closed out his career as one of the premier players in program history, ranking among the top 11 in career points, goals and assists. His 188 points are the fourth most in program history and the most since four-time All-American Mike Herger recorded 197 points between 1987-90. Meanwhile, he finished his career with 125 goals, just 18 shy of tying James Chambers' record set nearly 60 years ago. Dingman's 63 assists in four seasons are the 11th most by a Navy player, just five outside of the top 10. Additionally, Dingman is only the third player in school history to score 100 points and register 50 assists, joining Turnbull Award winner Mike Buzzell and Herger.

Both Looney and Dingman were selected and played in the 2007 North-South All-Star Game last Friday at Calvert Hall High School in Baltimore.

Round 1
1) Chicago - Pat Heim (M) Penn State
2) Boston (from Washington) - Kip Turner (G) Virginia
3) Rochester - Alex Smith (FO/M) Delaware
4) Denver (from Long Island) - Drew Westervelt (A) UMBC
5) Chicago (from New Jersey from Philadelphia from New Jersey) - Billy Looney (M) Navy
6) Los Angeles - Greg Downing (M) Fairfield
7) Rochester (from San Francisco) - Greg Rommel (M) Syracuse
8) Boston - David Mitchell (A) Cornell
9) Boston (from Denver) - Ray Megill (D) Maryland
10) Long Island (from Denver from Philadelphia) - Matt McMonagle (G) Cornell

Round 2
11) Chicago - Jordan Hall (M) Delaware
12) Los Angeles (from Washington) - Mitch Belisle (D) Cornell
13) Rochester - Andrew Spack (M) Loyola
14) Denver (from Long Island) - Zachary Jungers (D) Princeton
15) Chicago (from New Jersey) - Steve Whittenberg (D) Maryland
16) San Francisco (from Los Angeles) - Colin Hulme (D) Colgate
17) Los Angeles (from San Francisco) - Alex Buckley (M) Brown
18) San Francisco (from Boston) - Jake Byrne (A) Johns Hopkins
19) Rochester (from Denver) - Matt Dasinger (M) Salisbury
20) Chicago (from Philadelphia) - Dan Kallaugher (FO/M) Loyola

Round 3
21) Boston (from Washington from Chicago) - Drew Thompson (M) Virginia
22) Washington - Frank Resetarits (A) Albany
23) Rochester - Brian Clayton (M) Cornell
24) Chicago (from Long Island) - Steve Panarelli (D) Syracuse
25) New Jersey (from Chicago from New Jersey) - Chris Colliniates (FO/M) Villanova
26) Washington (from Los Angeles) - Ricky Smith (D) Virginia
27) Philadelphia (from San Francisco) - Peter Trombino (A) Princeton
28) Chicago (from Boston) - Dan Deckelbaum (M) Delaware
29) Denver - Scott Sowanick (M) Princeton
30) Philadelphia - Ian Dingman (A) Navy

Round 4
31) Long Island (from Chicago) - Adam Crystal (D) Drexel
32) Washington - John Henry Flood (FO/M) Harvard
33) Rochester - Joseph Thon (D) Mercyhurst
34) Long Island - Nick Bonacci (A) Dartmouth
35) New Jersey - Ryan Hotaling (A) Nazareth
36) Los Angeles - Julian Watts (M) Hofstra
37) San Francisco - Chris Heier (D) Salisbury
38) Boston - Brett Garber (M) UMass
39) Denver - Jesse Schwartzman (G) Johns Hopkins
40) Philadelphia - Mike Graham (D) Loyola

Round 5
41) Long Island (from Chicago) - Brian Hubschmann (A) Notre Dame
42) Washington - Luis Gonzalez (M) Salisbury
43) Rochester - Chad Amidon (M) Nazareth
44) Washington (from Long Island) - Eric Pittard (A) Cornell
45) Chicago (from New Jersey) - Harry Alford (G) Maryland
46) Los Angeles - Jim Borell (M) Maryland
47) San Francisco - Andrew Recchione (M) UMass
48) Boston - Dan Whipple (D) UMass
49) Denver - Peter Hein (M) Vermont
50) Philadelphia - Mike Fillipone (M) Drexel