Public School Teams To Watch in 2025-2026

Below is a preview of three public school lacrosse programs we will be keeping a close eye on during the 2025-25 academic year, starting with fall ball action over the next few months.   Darien (Conn.)   After finishing as the runner up in the 2025 Connecticut Class LL state tournament in May, Darien won the 2025 New England Lacrosse Showcase in July against a talented field. So, the Blue Wave seem like a lock to make a deep run in Conny state championship bracket again in 2026.   A major reason for that predicted success in 2026 is their lethal attack group. Georgetown commit and 1st Team All-State selection Ben Bilodeau leads a versatile and deep foursome. Bilodeau is a lefty who is impossible to defend 1v1 because of his serious shake. Ryan Thurlow (Villanova commit) is another elusive attack for Darien. He excels at scoring and feeding from X. Operating at GLE and around the crease is creative finisher Wes Callen. Additionally, Lafayette commit Max McBride is an elite shooter with the ability to rip using either hand.      Running at midfield for Darien is Teddy Baum, one of the shiftiest 2027 prospects on the east coast. Baum can use his wicked change of direction moves to create scoring opportunities for himself or teammates. Running with Baum at midfield is Holy Cross commit Chase Lane. He provides Darien with a legitimate step-down shooting threat. Two-way mid Jack Marisca (Loyola commit) has a reputation as an all-state level SSDM, but his transition offensive skills are highly underrated.   Darien's defense will be anchored by Jimmy Benedict, senior LSM / close defender Rowan Levine, and senior close defender Briggs Davis (Skidmore commit). Benedict is an athletic, high-IQ IQ and versatile pole who committed to Cornell earlier this week. Levine is another versatile pole, and he boasts incredible ground ball skills. Davis brings a physical presence to Darien's back end.   Roswell (Ga.)   Anyone expecting the three-time defending Georgia state champions to fall off in 2025-26 is going to be seriously disappointed as this team is again stacked with college prospects.   Roswell's roster features a standout midfield group that includes 1st Team All-State selection Blake O'Neal and Army commit Linkin Miller. The extraordinarily athletic O'Neal destroys opponents with his speed and deep bag of moves. O'Neal can also drop back and play SSDM. He has flashed remarkable FOGO skills too. Miller is an elusive downhill dodger who can initiate from the anywhere on the field and then fire or distribute on the run. Christian Dralle is a midfielder flying under the radar on this squad. Dralle can play with either hand, is a highly accurate shooter as well as a creative feeder.     The Hornets' remarkable group of face off specialists allow this team to dominate possession. Seniors Jack Dowdy (Anderson commit) and Will Beard are a tremendous one-two punch at the face off dot. Both players can push the break for scores and assists. But they also value possession and thus do not make ill-advised decisions. O'Neal's ability to rotate in on face offs gives the Hornets a third elite FOGO.         When Roswell's impressive collection of mids and FOGOs pass the ball up the field, 1st Team All-state attackman Kaden Parla (Jacksonville commit) is ready to receive it and then work his magic. Parla is a creative lefty with dynamic footwork who scored over 50 goals in 2025. Working with Parla in the offensive end is lefty sniper Wyatt Luce (Wingate commit) and senior Jackson Hardwick. Both Luce and Hardwick recorded multiple hat tricks last season.   The defensive unit at Roswell is impressive too. Close defenders Harrison Penn (1st team all-state) and Dean Maddux excel at taking the ball away from opposing offensive players via powerful stick checks. LSM Sam Gotham specializes at pressing out on ball carriers and causing turnovers that lead to transition opportunities. If somehow the opposing team manages to slip past that group, senior goalie Will Culves (Young Harris commit) is a brick wall as the last line of defense.   The Woodlands (Texas)   In 2025 Woodlands advanced to the to the Final 4 of the Texas Class AA state tournament. With a host of athletic and talented prospects from that squad returning for 2025-26, there is good reason to believe they can advance even further at states next spring.     The starting attack trio for Woodlands needs no introduction. Class of 2027 Stockton Steward (Michigan commit) is the focal point of Woodlands' offense. As a sophomore, this Top 100 recruit with filthy stick skills scored 57 goals. Steward's partner up front is Virginia commit James Whitehorse. He is a 6'2” beast who will cook poles with his quick burst or bully an SSDM with his physicality. Highly regarded Class of 2027 prospect Baron Segar (Rutgers commit) presents serious match-up issues for opponents, too. We expect talented 2027 attack William O'Rourke to make significant contributions as well.   At midfield, the Highlanders will rely heavily on the dynamic duo of Landon Shepard (St. Leo commit) and Mason Wendle. Shepard is a gritty and athletic prospect who is a plus player at both ends of the field. Wendle is a versatile and athletic lefty who has also operated at attack. He can fire lasers into the back of the net from anywhere in the offensive end.   The Highlanders' defense is a collection of exceptionally talented prospects with considerable big-game experience. All-State selection Cooper Young (2027) is one of the top SSDMs in the southwest. At LSM, Woodlands features Class of 2027 standout Joey Bolander and senior Hayden Johnson (Ohio Wesleyan). Young, Bolander, and Johnson do a fantastic job of generating turnovers and then pushing the team's transition game.   On the backend, close defenders Tristian Zielinski (Southwestern commit), Logan Brown and Grant Hebrank function as a well-connected unit. All three of them can track ball carriers for long stretches or play a physical brand of pole.

Below is a preview of three public school lacrosse programs we will be keeping a close eye on during the 2025-25 academic year, starting with fall ball action over the next few months.