As lacrosse continues to flourish in the Lowcountry, the nation has taken notice of the hotbed of talent developing on South Carolina’s coast.

Seven players from the East Cooper area have been awarded U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors this year, while another four received All-Academic national recognition.

Sam Weis, Gavin Howley and Thomas Gribben were selected as All-Americans from the Wando boys state championship team, along with Connor Malark of Bishop England. John Krall and Ashton Baca of Greenville, and Fort Mill’s Gage Pulliam filled out the South Carolina contention.

Weis finished sixth in the state in scoring, while Howley and Gribben led a defense that surrendered just 5.1 goals per game. Malark was state midfielder of the year scoring 44 goals with 28 assists and 46 groundballs.

Ellie Petyak and Emma Pizzo were named All-American from Bishop England’s girls state championship team, along with Academic Magnet goalkeeper Erica Hoskins. Riverside’s Autumn Shea, Chapin’s Lindsay Hoos, and Rachel Denney and Samantha McNeil of Nation Ford joined the East Cooper trio on the All-American team.

Pizzo led the state in goals and assists, while Petyak locked down the defense with 37 groundballs and 34 takeaways. Hoskins posted a state-best 0.6 save percentage in goal for Magnet this season.

Petyak was also named All-Academic along with teammates Rachel Banton and Beatrice Navarro, Academic Magnet’s Grace Rieflin and Wando’s Maddie Walsh.

Players were nominated by local coaches and selected by the area chair and subcommittee. All-Americans “exhibit superior skills and techniques, possess exceptional game sense and knowledge and embody good sportsmanship,” according to U.S. Lacrosse. All-Academic selections must be either juniors or seniors, with a 3.7 GPA or higher on 4.0 scale and show “exemplary lacrosse skills, good sportsmanship on the field and represent a high standard of academic achievement in the class room.”

The East Cooper area produced more All-Americans, both boys and girls, than last year. Ten South Carolina boys were named All-American in 2015, three from East Cooper. Six girls were selected from South Carolina last year, two from East Cooper.