Tyler Krampf experienced a remarkable day on May 5 when he collected the 100th point and 100th assist — and thus the 200th point of his career — all in the same game.
But the Hopewell Valley Central High School senior will always point to May 14, 2015 as a more significant date in his career. That’s when the Bulldogs beat Princeton Day School to win the Mercer County Tournament championship.
“I’d much rather win the championship then get the individual stuff,” he said. But the individual achievement, he added with a laugh, is “not something I’m complaining about.”
Krampf joined former teammate Brady Moore in the 100-100-200 club in the 19-2 win over Nottingham High School.
“Brady had that milestone and it was kind of passed down from a Hopewell alumnus as something I wanted to achieve,” Krampf said. “It was a pretty cool experience. I wasn’t going into the game expecting it. I was just kind of playing. It was really cool to get it all in the same game.”
Coach Rob Siris praised Krampf’s vision and patience on the field, as well as his humility and ability to stay calm under pressure. And he’s effective against all kind of competition, Siris said.
“Some kids you’ll see around the state who, against some teams, they’ll have nine points, and against other really tough kids, they’ll have zero,” Siris said. “When he’s in close to the goal he’s a very accurate shooter and keeps his composure. He has great stick skills.”
Krampf started lacrosse in sixth grade, which he considers late since he knows a lot of players who started in first and second grade. He tried out for the Timberlane team and made it by a hair, he said.
He took an instant liking to it, and signed up for True North Lacrosse club team. He was coached there by the late Chris Sanderson, a former Team Canada goalie who moved to Hopewell and introduced numerous area youths to lacrosse. Sanderson passed away at age 38 from a brain tumor in 2012.
“He really taught me the game. That’s when I really started loving it,” Krampf said.
Krampf started taking the sport more seriously after his seventh grade season and got more frequent playing time beginning in eighth. He started his freshman year on the CHS JV team, but was called up when injuries hit varsity.
Krampf felt that was the season when he improved most.
“Once I got moved up, that’s when it all turned around. You kind of learned from the seniors there. That’s why it’s crazy when you become a senior, because you’re doing the same thing for the freshmen,” he said.
Krampf had 12 goals and 5 assists in ninth grade, but exploded for 47 goals and 34 assists as a sophomore, followed by 29-31 as a junior. This year, heading into the May 25 NJSIAA South Jersey Group II semifinals against Manasquan, Krampf had 22 goals and 40 assists and was still even for his career with 110 of each.
Krampf, who has played attack most of his career, says he is mostly a crease player who utilizes backdoor cuts to get feeds from teammates. But he has the ability to dodge and go one-on-one to score as well.
“Some people are assist guys, some just score goals but he can do everything,” Siris said. “Not just that stuff. He’ll pick up ground balls, he can defend. It’s nothing really flashy, but he’s just so consistent. From his freshman year to now you know he’s going to make three or four great plays every game and he’s going to do the job.”
Krampf’s next stop is Ithaca College, which was ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III this year for the first time in program history. His other choices were Roanoke and Division II Tampa. He opted for the cold of upstate New York to the warmth of Florida.
“My sister went to Ithaca, I always visited there,” he said. “I’d seen their lacrosse team play and got interested. They started contacting me through my summer team, saw me a couple times. I went up and visited and fell in love with the school and the program.”
His coach thinks the Ithaca program is gaining a great player.
“In my 15 years of coaching, I’m not sure I ever had a kid who listens so well,” he said. “He’s very receptive to new ideas and to being coached. Sometimes as a student and as a player it’s a case of just accepting knowledge from coaches and other players. He had some great leaders before him, he listened to them and that lends to the fact that he’s so well balanced.”
,
