Bernstein among Dominican University of California lacrosse recruiting class

Lake Washington High School standout boys lacrosse player Cody Bernstein is among nine student-athletes that will play for Dominican University of California Men’s Lacrosse team next year.

Lake Washington High School standout boys lacrosse player Cody Bernstein is among nine student-athletes that will play for Dominican University of California Men’s Lacrosse team next year.

Head Coach Ned Webster announced the Penguins’ 2012-13 recruiting class, bolstering a team which recorded the first winning season in the program’s history last year.

Bernstein, a first team all-state player and team captain in 2011 and 2012, will be reunited with his older brother, Jake Bernstein, at Dominican. Cody followed a 32 goal junior year for the Kangaroos and was named a USILA All-American as a senior. He is one of only six high school lacrosse players in the state of Washington to earn All-American status this year. He also was named Adrenaline Lacrosse All-American this year. Cody competed in basketball for the Kangs and was voted its best defensive player the past two seasons.

“Cody is a tenacious athlete who is equally skilled as a dodger, a finisher, a shooter and a feeder,” Webster said. “He possesses excellent speed and a quick change of direction that help him gain separation from his defender. He’s the type of player who could have one goal and five assists once game, then five goals and one assist the next. He’s smart enough to take what’s given to him.”

The Penguins tied for first in the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and 11 of their players, including five freshmen from last year’s recruiting class, were named to the All-WILA team.

“This is a rock solid group of student-athletes,” Webster said. “What distinguishes this class is its high collective lacrosse IQ. Most of them were captains of their high school teams and many of them contributed heavily to championship programs, so they have the big-game experience and a keen understanding of what it takes to win. It should be fun watching them compete this fall, meshing with our returners, and helping take Penguins lacrosse to another level on and off the field.”