Victories haven’t been easy to come by for the Chambersburg Trojans boys lacrosse squad, a group that is still searching for its first winning season of the 2020s.
But this season seems different. There’s excitement in the air for coach Joey Wilmot’s boys, as the program brings back many key players from a 2025 squad that just missed the .500 mark.
The Trojans are optimistic, as is Smithsburg, a perennial MPSSAA contender that is well-stocked with talent. North and South Hagerstown each graduated some big playmakers, and each squad will be striving for improvement this spring.
We’ll take a closer look at these four teams in today’s high school boys lacrosse previews. In the days to come, we will continue unveiling our spring previews.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each of our area’s boys lacrosse squads:
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Joey Wilmot
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: The Trojans went 8-10 overall and 7-9 in the Commonwealth.
Top projected returners: Ryan Cosey (Sr., Attack), Matt Tucker (Sr., Attack), Blake Dupont (Sr., Attack), Kellen Sanders (Sr., Goalkeeper), Eli Herbert (Sr., Defense), Tavian Ferguson (Sr., Midfield/Defensive Mid), Blake Hitchens (Sr., Midfield), Reese Schaeffer (Sr., Long Stick Midfield/Defense/Defensive Midfield), Dylan Horst (Sr., Attack/Midfield), Wyatt Pyne (Jr., Attack/Midfield), Reece Mader (Jr., Defense), Hudson Sites (Jr., Long Stick Midfield/Defense), Brayden Sprow (Jr., Long Stick Midfield/Defense).
Meet the Trojans: Loaded with returning talent, Chambersburg has good reason to believe it can post its first winning season since 2019 … The Trojans graduated an All-Commonwealth Second Teamer Quinn Makosy, but return another All-Star in senior attack player Ryan Cosey, who was also on the Second Team … Two seniors, Blake Dupont (attack) and Eli Herbert (defense), have been selected as team captains … Kellen Sanders, a senior, will reprise his role as starting goalkeeper … Chambersburg is hoping that its group of experienced returners can mix well with a group of newcomers that include George Beach, a senior transfer, and Kahne Smith, Braylen Davis, Parker Watkins, and Liam Doty … The Trojans are coached by Joey Wilmot, who is in his sixth season leading the program.
Coach’s comments: Wilmot said, “This is the most talented team we have had since I have been the head coach here. We return our entire attack and defense and added some exciting talent at midfield.”
Opener: Monday, March 16, at Cumberland Valley
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Larry Winston
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: The Hubs posted a 4-9 record, with their season concluding with a 7-4 loss to South Hagerstown in the Class 3A West I Region Semifinals.
Top projected returners: James Aleshire (Jr., Goalie), Paul Houpt (Sr., 6-1, 150, Attack/Offensive Midfield), Travis Correia (Sr., 6-4, 235, Defense), Chase Garver (Jr., Midfield), Gideon Williams (Jr., defender, 6-1), Mason Mauriello (Sr., Defensive Midfield), Tai Gilliam (Sr., Defensive Mid)
Meet the Hubs: North Hagerstown’s pursuit of a winning season, its first since 2017, will be put to the test with a roster that has graduated several key pieces … Q’Maree Winston, an attacker/midfielder who notched 30 goals, 11 assists, and 27 ground balls, has graduated, as has Liam Warwick, Grayson Peck, Michael Guerra, and Donovan Mulkey … To stay competitive, the Hubs will be counting on junior goalkeeper James Aleshire for another big season after posting 186 saves and stopping nearly 60 percent of the shots he faced last spring … Senior Paul Houpt will be looking to lead as an attacker/offensive midfielder, while 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior defender Travis Correia provides a physical presence on the back line.
Opener: Friday, March 20, at home vs. Winters Mill
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Tim Rockwood
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: The Rebels posted a 7-9 mark. Their season ended in the Class 3A West I Region Final with a 20-2 loss to Linganore.
Top projected returners: Jack Burns (Sr.), Dustin Campion (Jr.), Nygil Jefferies (Jr., Mid/Defender), Paul Ngolle (Jr.)
Meet the Rebels: It’s hard to believe that South Hagerstown, a region runner-up last spring, is just two seasons removed from snapping a years-long losing streak that dated back to 2017 … But that’s the reality for this Rebels program, which has been under the direction of head coach Tim Rockwood since 2022 … Breakout play from Nick Bryan (35 goals, 15 assists, 47 ground balls), Thurman Harold (25 goals, 14 assists, 72 ground balls), and Marques Barnes lifted South to new heights last spring, but all three of those players have been lost to graduation … Overcoming these losses will be key for the Rebels in a season where they make the bump up from Class 3A to 4A … The squad will look to two juniors, Dustin Campion and Nygil Jefferies, to lead the way this spring … Campion forced 32 turnovers and racked up 45 ground balls, while Jefferies totaled nine goals, six assists, 36 groundballs, and 18 caused turnovers.
Opener: Saturday, March 14, at home vs. St. John’s Catholic Prep
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Cullan Ganley
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: The Leopards went 8-5, with their campaign coming to a close in the Class 1A West II Region Semifinals with an 8-7 loss to Boonsboro.
Top projected returners: Zack Linn (Jr., Mid), Kaden Dietrich (Sr., Attack), Jake Nussear (Sr., Defensive Midfield), Nicolas Roncone (So.), Preston Coffman (Jr., Attacker), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., Midfield), Noah Hegbe (Jr., D), Riley Carr (So.), Brady Snyder (Jr., Defense), Kyle Krestsinger (So.), Logan Crutchfield (Jr., Midfield), Bryce Vanderhuff (Jr., Defensive Mid), Doug Herrod (Jr., Defender), Ty Ciccarelli (So., Attack), Dante Rucci (Jr., Goalkeeper), Drake Cool (So., Goalkeeper).
Meet the Leopards: It’s hard to call Smithsburg’s winning 2025 campaign a “down season,” but when the Leopards fell in the region semifinals, it snapped a six-year streak of qualifying for at least the state semifinals … With a roster loaded with returning talent, Smithsburg would love nothing more than to put last year in the rear-view mirror and return to its standard of excellence this spring … Although the Leopards graduated their Top 2 scorers in Ayden Weakfall (40 goals, 14 assists) and Blake Linn (29 goals, 47 assists), as well as another key midfielder in Vinny Roncone, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Smithsburg can be a contender this spring … Senior attacker Kaden Dietrich, fresh off the wrestling season, is set to return to the field this spring after totaling 15 goals, eight assists, and 26 ground balls in 2025 … Midfielder Zack Linn, a junior, set the bar high last season when he recorded 34 goals, 15 assists, 50 ground balls, and 21 caused turnovers … A number of other point-scorers are projected to return for the Leopards, including Jake Nussear (7 goals, 2 assists, 17 ground balls), Preston Coffman (6 goals, 2 assists, 15 ground balls), Nicolas Roncone (6 goals, 1 assist), Marquis Weakfall (4 goals, 2 assists, 38 ground balls), and Kyle Krestsinger (2 goals, 1 assist, 14 ground balls) … Smithsburg brings back three key defenders in Noah Hegbe, Riley Carr, and Brady Snyder, three players who combined to scoop up more than 120 ground balls … Look for the Leopards to be solid in goal for years to come with the return of keepers Drake Cool and Dante Rucci … Cool, a sophomore, went 5-3 last season and posted a 7.3 goals against average, while registering 64 saves … Junior Rucci posted a 3-2 record with a 6.8 goals against average, and totaled 55 saves … With this group, Smithsburg will pursue its first state title in program history. The Leopards were MPSSAA finalists in 2018 and 2021.
Opener: Thursday, March 20, at Frederick
