Bradford Tudor is a dynamic midfielder from the ADVNC SF & NDP ‘24 squad going to play at Middlebury starting this Fall.
Bradford’s dad, Doug Tudor, introduced lacrosse to his son at an early age. A native of Los Angeles, Doug discovered lacrosse at boarding school in Connecticut. He went to Brown University and played lacrosse and soccer.
Bradford on his first lacrosse team, in New Jersey.
Bradford began playing lacrosse at four years old. “My family lived in New Jersey and Georgia until age 6. It was normal to play lacrosse at a very young age, so I was introduced to it once I could run and hold a stick,” recalled Bradford. “There was no lack of participation or passion from the community. I think I played on a team with 60 other kids my age.”
“I remember his first coach telling him to use his stick around the house,” said Christina Tudor, Bradford’s mom. “He told him to use it all the time, and that’s what he did! He held that stick while watching TV; he played with it in the yard; he just had it with him all the time.”
The Tudors moved to the Bay Area when Bradford was in kindergarten. He soon started playing for the Coyotes rec league team. “That’s where I met many guys that became my best buddies,” said Bradford. “And in 3rd grade, I followed most of those same guys and started playing with ADVNC.”
Bradford, playing for the Coyotes.
Bradford has fond memories of his early days playing for ADVNC. “The tournaments were always a great time,” Bradford said. “The parents and coaches created inclusive and enjoyable environments that persuaded me to continue to play the sport. It was never about losing or winning at that age, just making it fun and providing valuable learning experiences.”
“ADVNC has high-quality kids, families, and coaches,” Doug Tudor said. “Bradford’s team became like a real family. It wasn’t just about lacrosse. The experience of being on a team like that and being around high-quality kids and families was really important. Bradford will be friends for life with many of his teammates, and Christina and I are super close with the parents too.”
“Playing with ADVNC took Bradford's game to the next level,” said Christina Tudor. “He was teammates with some of the best lacrosse players in the Bay Area and traveled to play teams all over the United States. It was exciting and exposed him to high-level lacrosse, igniting a real love of the game in Bradford.”
Bradford started playing for ADVNC SF in 3rd grade.
Eventually, Bradford was selected to join ADVNC NDP. “NDP elevated my game, and I would not be where I am today without it,” Bradford said. “Centralizing all the best players on the West Coast and allowing them to compete against East Coast competition was integral to everyone’s development. Playing at that level gave me an edge and competitive fire. I wanted to ensure I was working hard enough to perform and contribute to a team of great players. NDP shifted my entire mindset toward the game.”
Bradford was a key member of the Menlo School squad.
Bradford played competitive soccer alongside lacrosse for most of his life. Bradford, a goalie like his dad, said he had always favored soccer over lacrosse until 2020. “When COVID hit, and both sports abruptly went away, I took time to consider which sport I wanted to commit most of my time to and if I wanted to try and play either in college,” Bradford said. “I thought I would get the best chances of playing in college if I could focus my effort around one sport. Over time, I realized I enjoyed lacrosse’s pace and physicality more. In the summer of 2020, I decided I wanted to play lacrosse in college.” However, Bradford had to rework his training schedule because he had never prioritized workouts that complemented lacrosse. “I had never done much work outside of practice, so starting to do multiple lacrosse-specific workouts per week quickly enhanced my performance,” he said.
Bradford, playing with ADVNC NDP at Sandstorm.
With the summer of 2022 and heightened college coach surveillance quickly approaching, Bradford leaned on ADVNC Founder & CEO Chris Rotelli. “All the teams I played for had played an important role in my recruiting, but ADVNC had a special impact,” Bradford said. “ADVNC is my first travel club, and the guys on that team are the ones I’ve grown up with my whole life. Coach Rotelli has always been supportive of my journey. So, when it came time to get recruited, I sat down with him to discuss my goals and how I could increase my visibility on the summer circuit. He was very supportive, providing me with a step-by-step guide on how to get recruited and perform at the level coaches were looking for. More importantly, he helped me manage my expectations and understand that each player's recruiting timeline is unique.”
“Going into the summer, I was excited to compete against the best and showcase my talents. However, I wasn't meeting my standards during one of my first tournaments on the circuit, the Inside Lacrosse Invitational. I remember being distracted by the college coaches evaluating our game, resulting in me over-thinking decisions in game,” Bradford recalled. “Coach Rotelli helped me find a way to play naturally and without being influenced by the attention my team was receiving. Furthermore, he employed his advanced lacrosse IQ to tweak my play style in favor of my attributes. The next day, I showed up with less stress, which carried over into my performance in the game. I showed out, helping my team make it to the semi-finals. My new attitude carried over into later events with ADVNC and West Coast Starz, where I continued to build on my performance.”
Towards the end of the summer, Bradford realized that his recruiting process would likely extend into the following year. “I had gotten several looks from DI schools but was hoping to get offers from schools with more rigorous academics. I thought, ‘Don’t finalize anything unless I get an offer I can’t refuse. There is no rush to commit.” Bradford decided not to play football in the fall of 2022 to continue improving and building relationships with college coaches. DI and DIII schools recruit players into the fall and spring seasons, giving him ample opportunities to get more exposure. In the winter, when the club season wound down, he discovered the appeal of elite academic DIII schools. “DIII appeals to me because it provides a balance between academics and lacrosse. Leagues like the NESCAC are extremely competitive and feature many players who could play at the DI level. There is no lack of competition, comradarie, or dedication on many of those teams.”
With ADVNC NDP at Crabfeast.
Middlebury College, a member of the NESCAC, located in Vermont, began to capture Bradford’s attention. “I went to a small high school (The Menlo School),” Bradford said. “Middlebury is also relatively small, but not too small. Going from Menlo to Middlebury won’t be too much of an adjustment. I learn best in small class environments where teachers and students frequently interact. Middlebury fits that requirement and all the others, including the ability to do a semester abroad and pursue a degree in economics.”
“Bradford was interested in high quality academics and lacrosse, and Middlebury checked all the boxes for him,” said Doug Tudor. “When he visited, he fell in love with the campus. He liked the vibe and the other kids there. Coach Rotelli gave him great advice on how to be patient with the process. He was super supportive and focused on finding the right fit. ADVNC and Coach Rotelli have been thought partners throughout the college process.”
Throughout his development, Bradford has patterned his game, partly after two recent standout college midfielders. “I molded my game around the play style of the most dominant big midfielders from the past six years of NCAA lacrosse. However, I paid special attention to Notre Dame midfielder Eric Dobson and UPenn midfielder Sam Handley.” Both Dobson and Handley are 6 foot 5 inches and above 220 pounds. They are pretty much identical to Bradford's stature and utilize Bradford's most prominent athletic attributes in the right way. “What’s appealing about those guys is how they bullied their defenders, never letting them dictate what they did on the field.”
As Bradford moves on to the next chapter of his lacrosse and athletic career, he has several reflections about his 15-year journey. “I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by such great family, friends, players, and coaches throughout my years of playing. They have made the game fun, helped me grow as a person and athlete, and created countless unforgettable experiences.” Furthermore, he has this advice for younger midfielders who aspire to follow in his footsteps. “It takes a genuine desire to make it in any facet of life. There is no fake it until you make it in college recruiting or lacrosse. A genuine desire will take anyone, whether athletically gifted or not, to the next level. You don’t need to practice 12 hours a day, but you do need to find time every day to do the work without anyone telling you to do so..”