The Aegis 2024 high school boys lacrosse preview: Fallston hoping ‘success breeds more’
Twelve Fallston juniors wrapped state championship medals around their necks at Stevenson University last May. They return as seniors for one last dance with hopes of scaling back up the mountain.
Cougars coach Pat Mull, a 2009 Fallston graduate, wrapped the 2023 Class 1A medal around his neck in the bowels of the Owings Mills stadium speaking to the pressure and expectations within his program. “It’s our responsibility to uphold that standard,” he said at the time. Not to rest on their laurels.
Following their second state championship in three years, the fourth-year coach added: “Hopefully, success breeds more.” They’ll open their season with an early-season litmus test hosting John Carroll at 6:45 p.m. Thursday.
Here’s a look around the area (Editor’s note: not all teams responded to requests for information):
Aberdeen
Coach: Trent Reynolds, second season
2023: 8-5, regional semifinalist
Top returners: Senior Christopher Eichhammer (M); juniors Chace Allen (M), John Okougbo (M) and Christian Mercado (A); sophomores Azuriah Holmes (M) and Ryan Wheeler (D).
Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Christopher Allen Jr. (LSM), Jared Mansfield (D), Mason Holmes (A) and Omari Tinnin (M).
Coach’s outlook: “This season I am excited to see the growth of the guys throughout the season. After winning the Susquehanna division last season, we made the leap up to the Chesapeake division. I want this program to build up and grow and to do that we must play with the best competition possible. This season we have a collection of beginners and veterans in the sport. And we may be one of the smallest teams in Maryland, but we will compete to the best of our abilities — I promise that.”
Bel Air
Coach: Doug Testerman, eighth season
2023: 7-7, regional semifinalist
Top returners: Seniors Devin Trzeciak (A), Owen Conway (D), Holden Colt (D), Jonathan Vanegas (M) and Brady Warble (M); juniors Eli Hodgson (LSM), Benjamin Gaughan (D), Grant Smith (A), Jason Pitzer (M), Augustis Anastasi (M), Tyler Maxwell (G) and Peter Myers (LSM).
Newcomers to watch: Seniors Garrett Alban (M) and Ayden Shughart (M); juniors Patrick Sullivan (D) and Hunter Neal (A); sophomores Patrick Cook (G) and Chase Bullock (M).
Coach’s outlook: “This senior class has worked extremely hard to get Bel Air back to a competitive program. We look forward to competing in a strong UCBAC this year.”
C. Milton Wright
Coach: Andy LeBrun, second season
Last year: 7-5, regional semifinalist
Top returners: Seniors Hayden Goscinski (D) and Justin Eckman (M); juniors Gavin Morris (M) and Dylan Sander (LSM); sophomores Zach Droski (D) and Garrett DiBlasi (FO).
Newcomers to watch: Seniors Kevin Kolb (M) and Gavin McCullough (A); sophomore Shane Beegle (M) and freshman Liam Bender (A).
Coach’s outlook: “I’m confident in the staff and players that we have on this program. We laid the groundwork in our first season as a staff last year and now we are applying it. Tough hard nose defense and smart offense.”
Edgewood
Coach: Rick Burton, second season
Last year: 5-8
Top returners: Sophomores Jarred Burton (D) and Matthew Cook (A).
Newcomers to watch: Junior Javier Bowens (GK).
Coach’s outlook: “We are a very young team, but we have plans to quietly win many games in a very competitive division.”
Fallston
Coach: Patrick Mull, fourth season
Last year: 16-3, 1A State Champions
Top returners: Seniors Owen Karantonis (D), Jacob MacMillan (A), Landon Mills (G), Joey Bolesta (D), Gage McKenna (M), Michael Lembach (FOS), Greg Hoer (A), Chris King (A), Nick Nikola (M), Ian Wilson (M), Jack Baylin (M) and Alex Arno (M); juniors Ian Swartzendruber (M) and Owen King (D).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Cooper Savelle (LSM), Lucas Clark (LSM) and Caleb Canatella (A).
Coach’s outlook: “We are very excited about this season and the potential this team has. A lot of our seniors this year are returning for their final season after having started multiple seasons for us. That experience, coupled with some other talented players in the younger grades has us very excited about the potential this team has. We are working hard in hopes that we can reach that potential and have a successful season.”
Harford Tech
Coach: Kyle Funk, second season
Last year: 5-8
Top returners: Seniors Ryan Bulgar (D) and Drew McClean (D); junior Rory Jenkins (G).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Nate Claypoole (A).
Coach’s outlook: “We are a younger team this season but feel like we might be able to surprise some teams.”
John Carroll
Coach: Gunnar Waldt, first season
Last year: 2-10
Top returners: Seniors Dougie Kolb (M) and Logan Boltz (M); juniors Jackson Harcarick (A) and Owen Chesla (LSM).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jacob Hartman (M), Aedan Gilbert (M) and Jaden Riley (M); sophomore Noah Harmel (A); freshmen Jacob Norris (D) and Ty Rizzuto (A).
Coach’s outlook: “This team has fully embraced the style in which we want to play and the culture we are building for the growth of this program. We have a tremendous senior class that is setting the bar on how to lead and hold each other accountable. We are pretty spread out with players from each grade having significant roles throughout this season. I’m very optimistic in the way we are going to compete and execute in every game this season.”
Joppatowne
Coach: Steve McElroy, seventh season
Last year: 0-13
Top returners: Junior Jake Steinmiller (M), Justin Craig (M), Kolton Miller (M), Anthony Galie (A), Sam Barry (A), Cody Eckloff (A), Joey Fleming (D) and Ethan Houston (D); sophomore Tim Sims (G) and Ryan Kleiner (M/A)
Newcomers to watch: Junior Kyle Kunes (M); sophomore Brenden Layte (D) and Dimeji Kadiri (M); and freshman Jameson Miller (M).
Coach’s outlook: “We’re returning 10 players with experience who have upped their game in the offseason. We’re athletic and hungry. We expect to be more competitive this season.”
North Harford
Coach: Rich Tabeling, 11th season
Last year: 8-8, regional finalist
Top returners: Seniors Zac Warfield (D), Blake Howell (G), Preston Webb (M), Kent Holcombe (SSDM), Mason Rabb (D), Colin Heuser (D), Kyle Difillippo (A), Tyler Ottensmyer (SSDM) and Lance Sunderhaus (D); juniors Chase Thomas (A), Caleb Kerr (M) and Jacob Tompkins (A); sophomores Max Diegel (D), Carter Priet (D) and Nate Shutt (FOGO/MF).
Newcomers to watch: Seniors Ben Wardle (M) and Mike Lawry (M); juniors Frankie Lamb (M), Drew Keener (D) and Michael Dejesus Jr. (D); sophomores Luke Bylen (M), Cameron Beresh (M) and Nathan Sellers (M); and freshman Jacob Herman (A).
Coach’s outlook: “We graduated some experienced and talented players. We are looking for our returners to lead the way and our new players to step in and fill some big shoes.”
Patterson Mill
Coach: Ryan Arist, second season
Last year: 11-3
Top returners: Seniors Matt Bechtel (A), Carson Gebhard (A), Drew Pape (M), Naythan Wlodarczyk (LP), Adam Shefcheck (D), Andrew Flerlage (D), Samir Manning (M) and Todd Lewis (M); juniors RJ Wilhelm (M) and Bryce Kelly (D).
Newcomers to watch: Junior Sean Catalano (G) and sophomores Tony Bauer (FO) and Rex Reynolds (A).
Coach’s outlook: “I’m excited about this year’s team as we have a core number of players coming back including the entire defense. We have some solid offensive players (Pape, Gebhard, and Wilhelm) coming back along with the defense anchored by Shefcheck and Wlodarczyk. If we can have some newcomers step up in the midfield on both sides of the ball we will be OK.”
Perryville Panthers
Coach: Doug Savick, fourth season
Last year: 13-3, state finalist
Top returners: Seniors Dan Hickling (G), Nick Howes (M), Ben Clark (D), Finn Tome (M/FO) and Rowan Gatch (M).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Aiden Gatch (A), Grayson Ittner (M/FO) and Joey Eggerling (A).
Coach’s outlook: “After losing 13 seniors, most being starters, our program will be starting over in a lot of ways. Fortunately, we still have a number of strong leaders returning from last year. Additionally, there is a good group of freshman and sophomores looking to make an impression on this team. We will go through some growing pains early on but there are young players on this team who have the ability to fill the holes that we lost.”