A week after the 2018 NLL Entry Draft, the Georgia Swarm has reached deals with three more of its draft selections. Brendan Bomberry (1st Round – No. 7 overall), John Sexton (4th Round – No. 47 overall), and Nolan Apers (5th Round – No. 61 overall) have all agreed to two-year contracts.
With the three signings, Georgia has locked up seven of its 10 draftees. Adam Wiedemann, Steven Orleman, LeRoy Halftown, and Tanner Poole signed two-year contracts immediately on Sept. 26 (full story here).
Georgia made a splash in the draft before selecting any players by making a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Roughnecks, swapping Jesse King and the No. 23 overall pick for Holden Cattoni and the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NLL Entry Draft.
With possession of the No. 7 overall selection, the Swarm proceeded to use it to select defenseman/transition player Brendan Bomberry out of Syracuse University.
A midfielder during his collegiate career, Bomberry led the Orange during his senior season in goals. As its team captain, Bomberry finished with 36 points (28G, 8A), 17 ground balls, and four caused turnovers. The Osweken, Ontario native played for Team Iroquois in the 2018 FIL World Championship in Israel, earning the bronze medal with teammates, the Thompson Brothers and Randy Staats, familiar faces to Bomberry throughout his lacrosse career.
“I have a lot of familiarity with those guys, played with them a lot throughout the years,” Bomberry said after the draft. “To be playing with them again is going to be awesome. Just to have that familiarity will help me with my comfort level, and I hope that pays off in the end.”
“Bomberry played out the back door with Six Nations this summer and did a great job,” Swarm Owner and General Manager John Arlotta said after the draft. “He’s another guy that can run up the floor and score.”
In the fourth round, Georgia selected University of Notre Dame graduate Sexton No. 47 overall. A Sudbury, Mass. native, Sexton primarily played defense for the Fighting Irish. During his senior season, Sexton posted seven points (4G, 3A), a team-high 60 ground balls, and a team-high 19 forced turnovers in 14 games played.
The Swarm drafted Apers from Lehigh University No. 61 overall in the fifth round. As a midfielder in his senior season, Apers finished with 17 points (11G, 6A) and six ground balls.
All deals are pending league approval.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 4:
The Georgia Swarm has signed 2018 draftee Sawyer Howell to a two-year contract.
Howell, 21, was picked in the sixth round of the 2018 NLL Entry Draft at No. 71 overall. With the Mimico Mountaineers (Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League), the righty played defense in 2018, helping the Mountaineers finish with an 11-9 record. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Howell posted four points (1G, 3A) in 19 games.
The deal is currently pending league approval.
Season Tickets for the Swarm’s 2018-19 season are On Sale Now! Season Ticket packages include 10 games (nine regular season games and one postseason game) and a handful of VIP benefits. Join Sting City by reserving your membership today by calling 844-4-GASWARM.
