The Observer’s 2023 high school boys and girls lacrosse preview

Charlotte-area teams are riding the crest of the wave of growth in high school lacrosse in North Carolina.

Last spring, the area produced one state champion and a runner-up in boys’ lacrosse, and two champions and two runners-up in girls lacrosse.

In boys lacrosse, Cannon School won the Division 1 private school state title, and Weddington was second in the public schools’ big-school division.

Charlotte Latin (Division 1) and Davidson Day (Division 2) won private school state championships in girls lacrosse, with Charlotte Catholic finishing second among the private schools.

With several schools adding lacrosse programs this season and the talent level continuing to increase, the Charlotte area is poised to dominate again.

Boys teams to watch

Cannon School: The Cougars might have one of the best boys high school teams in the country. They have eight Division 1 recruits, led by two players who have earned all-America honors – GK Brayson Wilson and MF Will Crispino. North Carolina commit Brevin Wilson, a junior, leads the offense. And 41 of Crispino’s 59 shots last season went into the opponents’ net.

Charlotte Catholic: Coach Bo Turner’s team has all-state players in ATT Jack Ranson, D Davis Russell and MF Owen McAllister. GK Matthew Stokes stopped 44 percent of opponents’ shots as a freshman and should be even better. The Cougars are the Southwestern/SoMeck Conference favorites.

Hough: The Huskies reached the big-school semifinals last spring and are loaded again. Senior D Karter Williams (a Notre Dame commit) had 29 ground balls and 19 takeaways. Hough’s defense should be especially strong.

Lake Norman Charter: Junior ATT Jack Dalton was a scoring machine last season, with 123 points. The Knights could be a contender in the public schools’ small-school division.

Myers Park: The Mustangs will be young, with several sophomores in key roles. Junior ATT Eric Mendenhall (48 goals, 20 assists in 2022) will lead the offense, and junior Mason Adams won 65 percent of his faceoffs last season. They’ll battle Charlotte Catholic in the Southwestern/SoMeck.

Providence Day: Junior ATT Alex Jessey (71 goals, 41 assists last season) and senior ATT Will Thompson (31-24) lead a potent offense that will score a lot. Defense could be the key, with Charlie Hanson and Kyle Van Dam serving as building blocks.

Weddington: The Warriors lost 9-8 to Middle Creek in the big-school state championship last spring, and they lost four seniors who scored 200 of their 321 goals. But plenty of defensive talent returns, led by senior Charlie Smith (56 ground balls and 34 takeaways last spring). Weddington will face a challenge from Marvin Ridge, however.

Boys players to watch

Will Crispino (Cannon School): A senior midfielder, Crispino (a Middlebury commit) won 23 faceoffs in the Cougars’ state championship victory over Christ School. He is praised for his role in both setting up the offense and playing solid defense.

Jack Dalton (Lake Norman Charter): Dalton’s numbers last season as a sophomore – 56 goals and 87 assists. He is the cog on a high-scoring Knights’ attack.

Eric Mendenhall (Myers Park): A junior attacker, Mendenhall had 48 goals and 20 assists, leading the Mustangs last season in scoring.

Jack Ranson (Charlotte Catholic): A junior attacker, Ranson (a Georgetown commit) earned all-state honors last season, with 54 goals and 38 assists.

Brayson Wilson (Cannon School): Wilson is ranked No. 3 nationally among prep goalkeepers and earned all-state and all-America honors last season. Wilson (North Carolina commit) stopped 62.3 percent of opponents’ shots, averaging 6.3 saves a game.

Girls teams to watch

Charlotte Catholic: Senior MF Molly Baumgratz (Delaware commit) scored 61 goals last season, and junior ATT Kate Daniels (Louisville) added 57. Coach Dee Bier has another powerhouse with its eyes set on a state title.

Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers have reached the state finals 11 of the past 13 seasons, and coach Kristy Boyles’ team has talent galore with senior ATT Sadie Ward, sophomore MF Grayson Anne McCordy, and junior D Caroline Beasley.

Charlotte Latin: The defending state champion Hawks are led by junior ATT Evie McMahan, (54 goals, 15 assists in 2022). Also on hand: junior ATT Ardyn Henry (47 goals) and senior D Crawford Fisher (15 caused turnovers, 21 ground balls).

Lake Norman Charter: The Eagles will battle Hough and Lake Norman in the ever-improving Queen City/Greater Metro/South Piedmont Conference. Their defense is solid, with junior GK Aubrey Hamm, junior D Jordan Cornellier and senior MF Gaby Bernardo.

Myers Park: Senior ATT Lauren Kelly (Virginia Tech commit) scored 56 goals and gathered 50 ground balls last season. Add senior ATT Kate Perrin, a 38-goal scorer, and you have a team that could challenge Charlotte Catholic.

Weddington: Junior GK Madilyn Wargo (a Davidson commit) has transferred in to Weddington and gives the Warriors a solid base. She is a two-time Under Armour all-America choice. Elektra Koulouris (Duke) is coming off a 71-goal season, and the young defense is led by sophomore Coco Sheronas.

Girls players to watch

Molly Baumgratz (Charlotte Catholic): A Delaware commit, Baumgratz has 111 career goals and had 61 goals and 77 draw controls in her junior season.

Gaby Bernardo (Lake Norman Charter): Bernardo, a senior midfielder, had 86 ground balls last season, 12th-best in the state. She also scored 37 goals.

Finley McLeod (Ardrey Kell): McLeod is coming off a 55-goal season and earned third-team all-state honors last spring.

Evie McMahan (Charlotte Latin): McMahan (Virginia commit) is a junior attacker who totaled 54 goals and 15 assists. She and Ardyn Henry (California commit) lead the offense for the defending state champion Hawks.

Evelyn Scallion (Marvin Ridge): Scallion, a Penn State commit, totaled 50 goals, 50 assists and 100 ground balls as a junior in 2022.

Notes

▪ Lincoln Charter is among the schools with new boys’ programs this spring. Senior Joey Wrenn (Piedmont University commit) leads coach Jim Gallagher’s young team. And South Iredell is beefing up its relatively new program under first-year head coach Jon Goodman.

▪ Charlotte Latin GK Bryce Hoben, a standout as a sophomore, returns to the team in 2023 after missing all of last season with an injury. He is a High Point commit.

▪ The winner of the Southern Carolina Conference has reached the boys’ state championship game every year since 2014. Last year it was Weddington. Marvin Ridge, behind senior Mike Palombera (31 goals in 2022) and Ryan Ormond (27 goals), will join Weddington as a state contender this spring.

▪ Cannon School’s boys’ program is a national power, but the Cougars’ girls’ team is on the rise. Seniors Caroline Mills and Ella Kungl (17 goals, 30 ground balls last spring) return, and coach Brittany Pasut says a strong freshman class has arrived.

▪ Davidson Day won the private schools’ Division 2 championship last spring with two eighth-graders – Izzy Pierce and Molly Brown – totaling 79 goals. Gone via graduation, however, is 110-goal scorer Delaney Brown.

Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle

This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "The Observer’s 2023 high school boys and girls lacrosse preview."