Hough’s top-ranked lacrosse team fueled by talent, friendship … and a sandwich
What’s not to like about this Hough High boys’ lacrosse team?
The team leaders are equal parts buddies and standout lacrosse players.
The team is the top seed in the state’s Class 8A playoffs and seemingly in good shape for a run at the school’s first state championship in the sport.
When an all-state player from a neighboring school transferred in, the team leaders made sure the transition was seamless.
And if all that isn’t enough … how many other teams have a sandwich named for an assistant coach? But more about that later.
“We’re brothers, on and off the field,” junior attacker/midfielder Cooper Show said. “That’s a big reason for what we’ve done so far.”
What the Huskies have done so far is to earn the No. 1 seed in the Class 8A playoffs by compiling a 17-3 record and outscoring opponents by an average of 13.4-6.5 per game.
Only one loss was to an in-state public school team — a 9-5 setback in late March to perennial state title contender Cardinal Gibbons, the favorite in Class 7A.
Their playoff opener will be Friday night, at home against Myers Park, which beat Providence in a first-round game Tuesday.
Among the victories was a 16-7 conquest of rival Lake Norman on April 29. It was the Huskies’ first victory over Lake Norman since April 2022, before any of the current players arrived at the school.
“It’s a tight-knit group that works well together and has worked hard to get here,” said head coach Adam Olmstead, who has compiled a 143-33 record since coming to Hough in 2016 from Community School of Davidson, where he was athletics director.
Buddies for years
Most of the Huskies’ leaders have been friends for years, playing together in the Charlotte area’s growing youth lacrosse programs.
They say that has built friendships, which have paid dividends on the field.
“We know we can trust one another, and we know we’ll be able to pick up one another,” said senior defender Drew Weber.
Show, senior long stick specialist Bryson Armstrong, junior attacker Grady Cinotti, senior midfielder Alex Gregoloff and junior goalkeeper Chubs Slater have played in the local junior leagues for eight to 10 years.
Weber is unusual in that he didn’t take up the game until eighth grade. But his older brother, Grant, played at Hough, so Drew was familiar with the program.
The Huskies’ leaders say the friendships played a big role when Armstrong moved from Lake Norman Charter, where he was an all-state selection last season, to Hough.
On some teams, an arriving big-name player might affect the chemistry. The Huskies say they had no such problem.
“It was an instant fit,” Gregoloff said.
“I already knew everybody,” Armstrong said. “It feels like I’ve known these guys forever.
“We share the same philosophy. Everyone on this team wants to succeed. We push one another, and that comes from a place of love.”
The big victory
The Huskies’ leaders say there have been a number of big moments this season, but it’s clear that beating Lake Norman topped them all.
“Every year, this game is circled on the calendar,” Weber said.
“Beating them at their place was fantastic,” said Armstrong, who said that he and his Lake Norman Charter teammates got their “teeth kicked in” when they faced Lake Norman last season.
“We were all ready for it,” added Slater, whose moniker — Chubs — dates back to early childhood, when he was a chubby toddler.
“And after that game, we went out to dinner together — almost everyone on the team,” Slater added.
They went to Torrence & Knox, the Cornelius restaurant where three of the players work. And nearly everyone feasted on the Ricker.
That sandwich, with a variety of meats, is named for defensive coach Rick Cinotti.
“It’s our go-to,” Armstrong said.
Don’t go looking on any website for Hough boys’ lacrosse statistics — not until after the season, at least.
“We have a statistician who keeps them, but we don’t even see them until after the season is done,” Olmstead said. “We don’t get fixated on that.”
The Huskies’ coach had to furnish the N.C. High School Athletic Association with the stats prior to the start of the playoffs, so we can tell you that Cinotti (73 goals) and Show (32 goals) lead the offense; Gregoloff has won 309 of 394 face-offs and collected 196 ground balls; Armstrong has 71 ground balls and 75 caused turnovers; Weber has 84 ground balls and 42 turnovers; Slater has stopped 67 percent of opponents’ shots.
While it has never won a state title, Hough came close in 2021, losing in the 4A final to Cardinal Gibbons.
But Armstrong has state-title experience, winning two championships with Lake Norman Charter. He has told his Hough teammates that a state title requires a lot of work.
“Every game is a fight for your life,” he said. “You don’t catch any breaks. And you don’t want it to end.”
Show said the Huskies are not looking at the playoff brackets.
“We focus on us,” he said. “We’re not getting into the analysis and looking ahead. We know it depends on how we do.”
