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Boys Capsules
IHSLA Fox Valley Conference
Cary-Grove
Coach: Chris Kochajkiewicz (1st season)
Last year: 14-5, 6-0 FVC; lost in IHSLA state semifinals
Top returners: Dylan Cost, Sr. G; Joe Monfeli, Sr. M; Keith McCowan, Sr. D; Tommy Martin, Sr. A.
Key newcomers: Tyler Forney, Fr. M; Cole Eggebraten, Fr. D/M.
Noteworthy: The Trojans reached the IHSLA B-class semifinals last season, but lost their top three scorers and their head coach from that squad. Senior Tommy Martin was fourth in scoring last year but will be counted on even more this year. Senior goalie Dylan Cost is once again back in net as a captain and while leading defender Keith McGowan is starting the year injured, he is expected to return. The season didn't start well, however, as Trojans lost their opener against Huntley Thursday, their first conference loss since 2012. "Our goals for the year are to stick together and battle through adversity as a team, win our conference, be playing our best Lacrosse in May so that we can make another run in the playoffs," Kochajkiewicz said.
Crystal Lake Central
Coach: Kerry Murphy (3rd season)
Last year: 2-11, 2-4 FVC; lost first-round playoff game
Top returners: John Stroud, Sr. G; Peyton Wood, Sr. D; Jake Anderson, Sr. M.
Noteworthy: “This year we have a very young team with a lot of new players. Our goal is to grow as a program each year,” Murphy said. “With the kids at CLC becoming increasingly involved in lacrosse, we are seeing a variety of athletes joining the team who we hope will contribute to future success of our program.” The Central alumnus said their goal is to finish .500 this season. The Tigers lost their opener, 8-2 to Conant.
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Jordan Klinsky (2nd season)
Last year: 6-10, 3-3 FVC; lost in second round of playoffs
Top returners: Mason Howard, Billy Rotermund, Corey Sheehan, Trey McGinn, Mark Smith, Nate Olsen, Andy Weber and Max Klinsky
Noteworthy: The Gators graduated a small class, but lost their two best players, and two of the county’s best, in Sam Klinsky and Jason Van Dyck who both went on to play college lacrosse. After finishing .500 in the conference, hosting and winning a playoff game last year, the Gators have gotten deeper, growing their numbers to 59. They open the season Tuesday at Deerfield.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: William Petersen and Shaun Gosselin (1st year)
Last year: JV only
Top returners: Ryan Mountain, G; Middies including Johnathon Reese, M; Ryan Thompson, M; Santo Voiculescu, M; Jack Stratton, M; Aaron Corona, A.
Noteworthy: The Chargers didn’t compete at the varsity level last year and Petersen said, "This year is mostly about getting our team up to speed and used to play at the varsity level. We're hoping to make steady improvement throughout the year and get better with every game. Most teams on our schedule we'll play two times and are hoping that by the second time we'll be able to play them very competitively."
Hampshire
Coach: Colin Fleury
Last year: JV only club
Top returners: Dolton Collins, Sr. A; Logan Fleury, Sr. M; Jared Lund, Sr. M; John Shively, Sr. M; Cooper Gross, Jr. A; Cameron Fleury, So. A; Allen Schane, Sr. D; Phil Wilkins, Sr. D/M; Steven Brill, Sr. G.
Key newcomers: Jackson Cosgriff, Fr. M; Zachary Slaten, Fr. A;
Noteworthy: The Whip-Purs make the jump to the varsity level but feel well-prepared for the move with a strong returning core of players. "We have some great athletes," coach Colin Fleury said. "My midfielders are really fast, they're really good athletes, they've got good heads about them. There's not many people that can keep up with them. They get the ball, they're off, there's not a lot of people that can catch them. That's one of our biggest strengths, we've got a lot of athleticism." They started the season by winning their first two varisty conference games on back-to-back nights.
Huntley
Coach: Dom Saccomanno (1st season)
Last year: 11-5, 4-1 FVC; lost in second round of playoffs
Top returners: Collin Fischer, Sr. A; Griffin Kopp, Sr. M; James Huber, Sr. A; Johnny Abmrogio, Jr. M.
Key newcomers: Max Greco, Fr. M; Sam De La Paz, So.
Noteworthy: The Red Raiders have 12 returning players in Saccomanno’s first season at the helm. They started with a bang, beating Cary-Grove Thursday, their first win over the Trojans since 2012. "Honestly any of our players are up for a big year if they want it," Saccomanno said. "How hard they are willing to work is the only thing that will slow them down. We have some hard workers on our team and they will be the ones to shine in this system of constant motion.”
Jacobs
Coach: John Bigler (9th season)
Last year: 11-8 overall, 5-2 FVC; lost in second round of playoffs
Top returners: Matt Bertone, Sr. A; Joe Biallas, Sr. M; Ryan Oates, Sr. M; Evan Schwarz, Sr. A.
Key newcomers: Louis Czech, Jr. M; Andrew Glover, Jr. D; Kyle Gretz, Jr. D; Alec Rainier, Sr. G.
Noteworthy: The Golden Eagles lost top scorer and faceoff specialist Brian Ta (92 points last year) to graduation but have a strong group back from a team that won its opening playoff game last season. "This group has a lot of experience in the program and already plays well together as a unit," Bigler said. "Our team goal is to compete for the conference crown and play for a high seed in the tournament. Individually we want to continue to build a strong program and help our younger players develop." They fell to Prairie Ridge to open the season on Tuesday.
McHenry
Coach: Adam Tolan (6th season)
Last year: 5-7 record in JV play
Top returners: John Krueger, Sr. A; Derek Hogel, Jr. M.
Key newcomers: Ryan Strach, Fr. A.
Noteworthy: The Warriors are competing at the varsity level for the first time this year. Tolan said he is happy with the group he has back and is starting to see more experience players come out who have played with the local youth club. He said their numbers have grown my about 25 percent. The Warriors won their first varsity match on Thursday, beating Dundee-Crown, 7-2.
Prairie Ridge
Coach: Josh Cole (1st season)
Last year: 0-14; lost in first round of playoffs
Top returners: Parker Tomlin, Sr. M; Brendon Ewing, Sr. D; Pat Knochel, Sr. D; Cole Naumovski, Jr. M; Nolan Yager, Jr. M; Cooper Tomlin, So. M; Zack Starks, Jr. A; Jacob Sperling, Jr. A; Matt McDowell, Jr. G
Key newcomers: Cory Zordan, So. A; Nick Pilafas, Sr. M; Brad Kilb, Jr. D; Ethan Kirchberg, Fr. M; Alex Kast, Jr. D/M.
Noteworthy: Before this season, the Wolves hadn’t won a game since 2013, going 0-24 over the past two seasons. They have already snapped that streak, winning their first three games of the season. Cole said they should be much more competitive this year with a mature core of juniors, strong senior leadership from captains Ewing, Tomlin and Knochel plus a group of young players who went 15-2 at the JV level last year.
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Marian Central
Coach: Rick Rewiako (2nd year)
Last year: 4-1 in club play.
Top returners: Payson Wilde, Sr.; Jamie Biewer, Sr.; Noah Meisner, Sr.; Pat Brunken, So. ; Jake Potthoff, So.; Mike Hucek, So.
Noteworthy: The Hurricanes move up from club play to join the East Suburban Catholic Conference. "This year is an exciting year but challenging one," Rewiako said. "We are excited to join the catholic league but know we have several challenges in front of us as we play premier lacrosse schools such as Saint Viator, Benet Academy, Carmel and Notre Dame." Rewiako said he expects big offensive years from Wilde and Meisner, who scored six and four goals respectively in their first win of the year against Dundee-Crown.
Girls capsules
IHSWLA Independents
Huntley
Coach: Tony Nigro (1st season)
Last year: 8-3 in JV play
Top returners: Christina Meyer, Sr. M; Emily Girard, Sr. A; Gabby Novarro, Jr. M; Katie Zaremski, So. M; Kesely Werner, So. G;
Key newcomers: Abbey Ryan, Jr. M; Nicole Fischer, So. A
Noteworthy: Huntley begins its first season of varsity girls lacrosse with a deep squad. Meyer leads the returning Red Raiders with 33 goals last year while Girard had 26 goals and 22 assists last year. In goal, Werner made 111 saves with a 75 per cent save percentage. “There are a lot of unknowns with regards to how we match up but I feel we have a lot of talent in the midfield and at goalie,” Nigro said. “Our team is young but athletic and if we can control the ball we will be able to compete. Our program has grown from 18 girls a couple of years ago to 48 this year but we will be facing some very mature programs.”