Spring forecast: Boys' lacrosse
The season starts Friday, and could we see new contenders arise? A handful of YAIAA coaches think that's possible, as Central York was an overwhelming pick to contend in Division I.
To do so, the Panthers will have to unseat a Dallastown that returns a few standouts but also lost key players, such as longtime goalie Trevor Zero. Here's a look at the YAIAA boys' lacrosse field:
Power rankings
1. Central York (11-6, 4-4, Division I): Many coaches pick Central York to take Division I this season, mostly because the majority of its lineup returns. Coach Wade Noonan has experience at attack (Max Haldeman, Ian Desenberg and CJ Belker), in the midfield (Colin George and Conor Thornton) and on the defensive end (Asyck Schildt and Luke Hinkle). The only question is at goalie, "but I have two pretty good goalies in the running for varsity," said Noonan, the Central grad who's been head coach since 2010. Shane Walker and Pearson Hinkle, the younger brother of Luke Hinkle, will compete for that starting spot.
2. West York (13-7, 9-1 Division II champs): The Bulldogs lost D-II Player of the Year Klayton Garman to graduation, but Steven Wilson and Tanner Gerace return. Gerace, a senior midfielder who handles faceoffs, had 24 goals and 24 assists as a junior. Wilson is a first-team All-YAIAA defender. Austin Groff, a junior and all-league performer, also is back. Junior attacker Seth Clauser had 41 goals and 18 assists.
3. Dallastown (20-2, 8-0 Division I champs): Like the Bulldogs, Dallastown must replace its D-I Player of the Year, Pat Conroy. It helps to have Jake Mitchell, a senior attacker, back in the lineup. Mitchell had 46 goals and 21 assists as an All-YAIAA performer. Junior attacker Tanner Ierley had 21 goals and 12 assists a season ago, while senior Kyle Andrews won 70 percent of his faceoffs. Perhaps a tougher task for Dallastown and coach Chris Andrews will be to replace three-year starting goalie Trevor Zero.
4. Susquehannock (11-7, 8-2 Division II): Thomas Nace should be back for a Warriors squad that has typically been near the top of Division II. This season, they will have a new coach in Grant Zimmerman, as Steve Marshner takes over the girls' team.
5. Kennard-Dale (9-7, 6-4 Division II): Jesse Schonbrunner, a junior midfielder, is back with 41 goals and 25 assists from last season. Senior Nate Mikolinis, junior Freddy Seitz and senior James Barlow all scored at least 25 goals last season. The defense will be led by four-year starter Oakley Dieter. The Rams have 12 starters back in all.
Keep an eye on ...
- South Western (8-10, 4-4, Division I): Senior defender Mitch Fuhrman returns for the Mustangs, who will have a first-year head coach in Gary Hartsock. Around Furhman will be a young team, but he does have senior defender Logan Neiderer, an honorable mention all-league player, by his side.
- Red Lion (8-8, 4-4, Division I): First-year coach Stefan Striffler expects to rely on his defense early. The Lions will be young and have two returning starters in junior defender Matt Wanbaugh and sophomore Joe Dashler leading the way.
- York Suburban (5-10, 3-5 Division II): Anthony Bettencourt, a junior midfielder, returns after an All-YAIAA sophomore season.
- Eastern York (first year as varsity program): The Golden Knights enter their first year as a varsity team and play in Division II. Bob Rhein will guide them into this first season with a team that has experience together on the youth league levels. They have few seniors with juniors Jon Witman and Justin Keller on the attack, plus sophomore Conrad Rhein at midfield.