Howard County high school boys lacrosse 2024 season preview: Several aiming to end county’s state title drought
Howard County boys lacrosse once again fields several strong programs, each looking to capture the county’s first boys lacrosse state championship since 2019.
Mt. Hebron, who has reached two consecutive Class 3A state championship games, brings back a lot of key players. Glenelg also features several marquee returners from last year’s 2A state quarterfinal team. Marriotts Ridge and River Hill are two other teams projected to be near the top of the county standings, while several other programs are looking to make a push toward that top group.
Howard County’s 12 public school varsity teams are split between Class 2A West and 3A South.
Centennial and Oakland Mills are in 2A West Region I, while Glenelg, Hammond, River Hill and Wilde Lake are part of 2A West Region II. Howard, Long Reach, Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron are in 3A South Region I, while Atholton and Reservoir are two of the four teams in 3A South Region II.
Here is a look at the county teams. Note: Not all teams submitted requests for information.
Atholton
Coach: Alex McCoy, seventh season
2023: 7-8, Class 3A East Region II finalist
Top returners: Seniors Andrew Marr (GK), Andy Christiansen (D), Evan Cade (M), Camden Thibeault (M), Anri Leger (M), Colby Evans (A) and Justin Soriano (FOGO).
Newcomers to watch: Senior Tobias MacCormack (A); junior Sean Tiffany (M).
On the field: The Raiders return a wealth of experience, particularly on defense and in the midfield. Marr will anchor the backend as a multi-year starter in net, while Thibeault, Leger and Cade provide ample veteran leadership in the midfield. Both MacCormack and Tiffany will look to add to the offense as newcomers.
Coach’s outlook: “This year’s team has a solid mixture of experience and new to varsity players. We expect to lean on a large class of seniors with multiple years of varsity lacrosse under their belt to support our rising varsity players with getting up to speed.”
Centennial
Coach: Gregg Smith, third season
2023: 6-7
Top returners: Seniors Will Holland (LSM), Cam Westlake (A) and Aiden Krawcyzk (A).
Newcomers to watch: Seniors Eric Bush (D) and Ciaran Brighton (GK); sophomore Colby Dabbs (A).
On the field: Westlake and Krawcyzk headline the Eagles offense coming off 49 and 48-point seasons, respectively, last year. Dabbs adds an infusion of youth to the attack unit. Holland will be pivotal on both ends of the field as a long-stick midfielder, while Brighton steps in as the starting goalie after the graduation of Angelo Rosata.
Coach’s outlook: “There are a lot of very good teams and players in the county this year. Our focus is on getting better each week.”
Glenelg
Coach: Josh Hatmaker, 21st season
2023: 12-6, 2A state quarterfinalist
Top returners: Seniors Chris Iannarino (M), Tim Iannarino (A), Conner Hammond (M), Kiran Blackwell (D); juniors Brandon Klopp (A), Shane Dubois (D) and Drew LaPointe (M).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Chase Buscher (A); freshman Jack Iannarino (M)
On the field: The Gladiators bring back several key pieces, led by Chris and Tim Iannarino offensively, with younger brother Jack now joining the fold. The brothers provide great versatility for Glenelg’s offense, while Klopp brings added firepower as a strong attackman. Dubois and Blackwell spearhead the defensive unit, while Hammond and LaPointe provide added depth in the midfield group. Buscher brings more speed and another creative option offensively.
Coach’s outlook: “We are excited about this team. I think that they are an athletic group of kids who can do a lot of dynamic things on both sides of the ball. We will look to push the pace and be aggressive.”
Hammond
Coach: Nick DeWind, first season
2023: 1-10
Top returners: Matthew Lee (A), Marcus Lee (M), Christian Gilbert (D) and Nick Hager (D).
On the field: The Golden Bears will look to bounce back during the 2024 campaign and will lean on their returners to do so. Matthew and Marcus Lee will guide the offense while Gilbert and Hager provide stability on defense.
Coach’s outlook: “Looking forward to growing the program.”
Howard
Coach: Shea Conway, third season
2023: 12-5, 3A East Region I finalist
Top returners: Seniors Connor Hunter (D), Dylan Treese (M) and Jayden Denicola (M),
Newcomer to watch: Junior Ethan Smith (D).
On the field: Treese and Denicola will lead the offense in 2024. Denicola is coming off a 32-goal, 11-assist junior season while Treese added 28 goals and 15 assists. Each also showed their defensive prowess with 12 caused turnovers. Junior attack/midfielder Dylan Kimmel will step into a larger role offensively this season as well. Hunter is part of a defensive unit that will look to make up for the loss of first team All-County performer Grant Peffall.
Coach’s outlook: “As a team, we will have many players develop a larger role this season and expect them to compete at a high level. We return some midfielders, which will help with continuity of our defense and offense having graduated a few players in those areas.”
Marriotts Ridge
Coach: Matthew Richter, second season
2023: 9-5, Howard County champion
Top returners: Seniors Quinn Jenkins (M), Aidan Ro (FOGO), Ian Murphy (GK), Robert Page (D), Mike Machiran (A); junior Luke Holland (D); and sophomore Mason Machiran (A).
Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Cooper Ellis (FOGO).
On the field: The Mustangs bring back five All-County performers from last year’s group. Jenkins finished with 35 goals and 21 assists last year, showing his propensity as a two-way midfielder. Meanwhile, Ro led Howard County winning 70% of his faceoffs. Murphy finished with a 54% in his first year as a starter, aided defensively by Page and Holland. Both Mike and Mason Machiran provide added depth offensively, while Ellis brings added versatility to faceoffs.
Coach’s outlook: “After a 9-5 season last year Marriotts Ridge is excited to compete and improve as the season goes on. Players have been working hard in order to compete and have fun playing against some very strong lacrosse teams this year.”
Mt. Hebron
Coach: Mike McCarthy, 18th season
2023: 13-6, 3A state runner-up
Top returners: Seniors Maverick Smith (M), Keegan Ryan (M), Cooper Stockenberg (A), Kyle Ratta (M), Zach Goodwin (D), Aidan Hauf (D), Jonas Hulbert (M), Connor Van Horne (LSM), Daniel Harrington (D); juniors Doug Cohen (FOGO) and Luca LeClaire (GK).
Newcomers to watch: N/A
On the field: The Vikings figure to be one of the state’s top teams, strong throughout the field. Smith (46 goals, 25 assists) and Ryan (63 goals, 19 assists), Delaware and UMBC commits, respectively, are an elite midfield duo. Stockenberg, a Florida Tech commit, leads the attack unit coming off 44 goals and 18 assists last year. Defensively, Goodwin, Hauf and Harrington make up a unit that is both physical and strong in front of LeClaire who gave up just 4.8 goals per game last year. Van Horne and Hulbert are back healthy now and add to the defense’s strength, while Cohen returns as one of Howard County’s best faceoff men.
Coach’s outlook: “Feel pretty good. We have a really tough schedule. Broadneck, South River, Urbana, Kent Island, St. Marys Ryken and Hereford are our out of league games.”
Reservoir
Coach: Robert While, second season
2023: 4-9
Top returners: Seniors Kevin Sisk (D), Miles Reinders (D) and Caleb Suo (M).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Eli Nichols (M), Jesiah Nichols (M), Jack Nataro (A) and Aaron Aquino (M).
On the field: Sisk is back as a two-time first team All-County performer and is a swiss-army knife type for the Gators. He had 19 goals and 12 assists last year, also winning 53.5% of his faceoffs and scooping up 152 ground balls. Reinders will anchor the defense, while Suo leads the midfield group after moving from attack. The newcomers give Reservoir added speed and versatility at both midfield and attack.
Coach’s outlook: “We have a spirited bunch that has put in a lot of work during the offseason. With that is great Senior leadership combined with a young group who had the feeling of success on junior varsity. The attitude and energy at practice has been excellent and there is determination and optimism in our effort. We are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this season.”
River Hill
Coach: Keith Gonsouland, 24th season
2023: 10-5, 3A state quarterfinalist
Top returners: Seniors Nate Bacon (M), Josh Davis (M), Ryan Fowler (A), Johnathan Li (LSM), Travis Ridgeway (A); juniors Jack Hardman (GK) and Shane Schrecengost (A).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jordan Hennessey (D) and Max Deiullis (D)
On the field: River Hill has one of the county’s top midfield groups led by Bacon and Davis. Both were All-County selections as juniors. Fowler, Ridgeway and Schrecengost make up a physical and athletic attack unit. Hardman is entering his second year starting in net, with Hennessey and Deiullis two of the key pieces in front of him as newcomers.
Coach’s outlook: “Our team has a lot of returning players who are working hard to improve each day. The season will be challenging as we picked up some strong out-of-county opponents along with the usual teams.”
Wilde Lake
Coach: Tony Bell, third season
2023: 5-8
Top returners: Seniors Lewis Collora (GK), Zach Hirsch (A) and Dylan Collora (D).
Newcomer to watch: Freshman Benny Eagan (D)
On the field: The Wildecats are a young group and will lean on those seniors for leadership. Lewis Collora is in his third year as a starting goalie, with Dylan’s presence in front of him leading the defense. Eagan will look to add to that defensive unit in his first varsity season. Hirsch will lead a young offensive group, as Wilde Lake will look to make up for the graduation of attackman Rowley Jackson.
Coach’s outlook: “We have six seniors, three juniors, 14 sophomores and one freshman on the team.”