Olender is a long and agile multi-sport athlete who is a standout football player, too. On the lacrosse field, Olender is a highly skilled midfield prospect who just committed tothe University of Pennsylvania. During his injury-shortened 2026 season, Olender scored 17 goals in just nine games. Included in those seventeen goals was an impressive hat trick Olender posted against Loyola Blakefield (MD). With his long strides, shifty moves, and polished stick skills, Olender thrives in unsettled action. Whether he is pushing a coast-to-coast transition chance or coming out of the box and then charging downfield, Olender is a serious threat to score or distribute on the run. In 6v6 action, Olender is a sniper on the perimeter, His quick release and precise aim make it impossible for goalies to stop his long-range cranks. The Penn coaching staff will love Olender’s ability to operate in two-man action.     

Early in the 2026 season, Olender has established himself as one of the top offensive threats in Pennsylvania’s Class of 2028. On Tuesday, that trend continued against Loyola, as Olender notched a hat trick. Olender scored one goal in transition as well as two goals in 6v6 action. His precise shooting touch was obvious on all three goals. Olender’s most impressive scoring effort was a rocket to the top, near corner that came off pick-n-pop action. His crafty off-ball movement produced the other goal in settled action.     

Olender reminds me a lot of some of the highly touted Haverford middies that I covered 10-15 years ago, which is quite a compliment considering how many horses the Fords produced during that time. In many ways, he has the skills and hands of an attackman, and he pairs that with exceptional athleticism. Drawing slides every time in the process, he’s able to make his man miss with his first step, acceleration, and overall dodging prowess. Beyond being a confident and formidable gun-slinger, he can also throw it back once he gets defenses rotating and has better vision than most natural middies. Olender got his feet wet at the varsity level as a freshman and showed flashes of brilliance when given the opportunity, but I can’t help but think that he’ll break through and be an issue for the rest of the Inter-Ac as a sophomore and beyond.