Names You Need to Know for Each Team in High School Boys' Top 25

We unveiled the USA Lacrosse High School Boys’ Preseason National Top 25 on Wednesday. Now let’s take a deeper dive on each of the teams that are nationally ranked going into the 2025 season.

1. McDonogh (Md.)
2024 record: 15-3

The Eagles are trying to do something this year no team has done — win a fourth straight MIAA A Division championship. Two regular-season losses last year showed some vulnerability, but McDonogh put everything together for threepeat. They lost six starters, including Luke Miller (Notre Dame) and Ben Firlie (Georgetown), but return five-stars all over the field. Brendan Millon (Virginia) is the top-ranked senior in the country, Aidan Seibel (Maryland) is the nation’s best goalie, their midfield features three experienced seniors Bogue Hahn (Syracuse), Eli Schaller (Maryland) and James Tolker (Navy) and then they have junior Notre Dame commits Hunter Metz (Notre Dame) on attack and Ciaran Sweeney at the faceoff. Ohio State-bound Michael Tan leads the defensive unit.

2. St. Anthony's (N.Y)
2024 record: 12-2

The Friars graduated their starting attack, two-thirds of their first midfield, three starting defensemen and a pair of goalies, all currently playing Division I lacrosse. But back for St. Anthony’s is Gary Merrill, an athletic force at midfield bound for UNC, a pair of beasts at LSM in Parker McDonald (UNC) and Ethan Bramoff (Virginia), as well as faceoff specialist Robbie Johnson (Penn State) and defender Michael Kelton (West Point). Danny Rooney (Maryland) could be poised for a breakout year.

3. Lawrenceville (N.J.)
2024 record: 19-1

Can the Big Red reload for a third straight year atop the rankings? They must replace eight starters who were important parts of last year’s success. Seniors LSM Brock Getson (Harvard), D Nick Voultos (Michigan), Ted Rawson (Syracuse), Sawyer English (Brown) and junior Hansen Peck (Syracuse) lead a Lawrenceville team that will lean on its defense, transition game and ten-man ride to power to the top again.

4. Loomis Chaffee (Conn.)
2024 record: 16-2

The Pelicans return a ton of talent from last year’s squad, highlighted by attackman AJ Rodriguez (Georgetown), defenseman Nate Macpherson (Villanova), Liam O’Keefe (Harvard) in goal, attackman Jayden Rodriguez (Syracuse) and LSM Michael Brennan (Harvard), as well as attackman Milki Conway-Reppert (Dartmouth), who returns from injury. And when you add stud post-grads like Rowyn Nurry (Cornell), David Disque (Johns Hopkins), Cole Goodwillie (Harvard), Gray Tamasco (Richmond), and Hayden Cody (Georgetown), Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) is downright scary.

5. Culver Academy (Ind.)
2024 record: 14-3

The Eagles lost just one game to a Midwest foe last year and avenged that loss to Western Reserve Academy (Ohio) in the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Association Tournament title game. With MSLA Preseason Player of the Year Tay Rodriguez (Michigan) handling faceoffs and Virginia commit Patrick Biese guarding the pipes, Culver figures to be as good as ever in 2025.

6. Archbishop Spalding (Md.)
2024 record: 13-5

Spalding might have been a sleeper to start last year, but this year they are a legitimate MIAA favorite. The Cavaliers beat McDonogh during the regular season last year and lost just two starters. They return a huge senior class led by the country’s top LSM Robby Hopper (Virginia), defender Greyson Dunn (Delaware), faceoff specialist Ryan Crisswell (Navy), midfielder Gordie Bennett (Hobart), attackman Joey Matassa (Bucknell), plus junior attackman Brady Mollot (Maryland).

7. Malvern (Pa.)
2024 record: 20-3

Attackman Michael Ortlieb and midfielder Owen Mears are Duke-bound stars who are part of the Friars' great leadership at the offensive end. The defense will take form under Cornell commit Jack Carroll. Junior Matt Connolly (Penn) steps into the faceoff role. Malvern graduated some strong pieces but has so much depth that they should be able to return as strong as ever.

8. Belmont Hill (Mass.)
2024 record: 17-1

The Hillers are blessed with a strong returning attacking unit, featuring Preston Evans (Brown), who had 29 goals and 34 assists last year, Topher Batchelder, who moves from midfield to attack, and Virginia-bound midfielders Dylan Casillo and Lindan Verville, while Trey Clayton arrives from Acton Boxborough (Mass.), where he was an All-American last year and returning faceoff specialist Eli Friedman led the ISL with a 72% percentage at the X.

9. Salisbury (Conn.)
2024 record: 7-9

A deeper, more balanced Crimson Knights is poised for a big bounce-back season. Dashiell Lamitie (Johns Hopkins) is a three-year starter and one of the top goalies in the Class of 2025. Defensemen Caden Creech (Princeton) and Joe Florada (Ohio State) are coming off great summers, Connor Wambach (Duke) returns at the faceoff X, Parker Reynolds (Princeton) and Christopher Alexis (Maryland) bring experience to the midfield and there’s a wealth of stud attackmen, including Finley Watson (Ohio State) and Cam Kelley (Notre Dame).

10. Haverford School (Pa.)
2024 record: 20-2

Virginia-bound Griff Meyer is a standout at X. He should help win the ball for an inexperienced but solid offense. Defenders Kellen Gardner (Notre Dame), Gavin Cooper (Duke) and Charlie Halpert (Virginia) should help limit the shots seen by whoever the Fords settle on at goalie. The Fords have another loaded schedule to challenge themselves.

11. Taft (Conn.)
2024 record: 12-6

Taft (Conn.) ticks all the boxes this year — team chemistry, personality, and, oh yeah, studs all over the field. They include returning midfielders Brendan Mullahy (Notre Dame) and Kaden Parsons (Michigan), Henry Hughes (Yale) on attack, faceoff specialist Russell Fitzgerald and Thomas Sheumack (Air Force), who will anchor the defense alongside Evan Freeman (Virginia) and Joe McBride (Michigan) from the Class of 2026. Midfielder Asher Ziv (Yale), John Fisher (Richmond), and Charlie Lowe (Bates) come in as impactful post-grads.

12. Brunswick (Conn.)
2024 record: 17-1

Ten Division I-bound seniors helped lead the Bruins to a second straight appearance in the Prep Nationals championship game, where they lost to Lawrenceville (N.J.) last year. They might not be as elite as in previous years. Still, there’s no such thing as rebuilding at Brunswick (Conn.), who will be led by faceoff specialist Aidan Diaz-Matos (Notre Dame), defenseman Tucker Spiess (Princeton)l midfielder Matt Coletta (UPenn), and attackman Lucas Garcia (Virginia).

13. Bullis (Md.)
2024 record: 14-6

Bullis’ big hopes begin with one of the strongest attack units in the country. Six seniors are back led by Jackson Maher (Penn), Quinn Anzelone (Navy) and Jackson Tolmach (Michigan). Top unsigned senior Ike Silverman, Jack Mangin (Navy) and Thomas Petty (St. Joe’s) bolster the midfield that also has junior Cooper Kuehl (Penn) and sophomore Luke Myre. Haden Wade (Navy) and sophomore Grant Stephenson are SSDM, and Bullis gets senior Chase Darke back. The defense has Blake Paris (Tampa), Brayden Serwer (Navy) and transfer Caleb Caplan while LSM Ryder Hanin (Ohio State) is a force. Cooper Revis (Princeton) was 68 percent on faceoffs last year.

14. Calvert Hall (Md.)
2024 record: 10-7

It's another balanced group for Calvert Hall. They graduated their entire starting defense and goalie and a couple of attackmen, but Bryan Kelly always has players who compete hard and his teams always improve through the season. The senior trio of defender Jermaine Anderson (North Carolina), faceoff man Ben Cuomo (Yale) and middie Jackson Mitchell (Saint Joseph’s) lead the Cardinals.

15. Western Reserve (Ohio)
2024 record: 14-3

Like Culver, the Pioneers' lone losses last year came mainly to teams outside of the region, with one apiece to Culver, Haverford School (Pa.) and Hill Academy (Ontario). WRA is led by a stocked midfield, including Finley Peck (Navy), Luke Jaeger (Providence), Devon Satterly (High Point) and Caden Smith (Ohio State).

16. Boys' Latin (Md.)
2024 record: 14-3

Senior attackman Matt Higgins (Maryland) is the lone starter returning after reaching the MIAA title game, but don’t count out the Lakers. The Lakers are embracing a team-first approach and the players are hungry to learn. Senior attack/midfielder Lincoln Herring (Yale), defenders Brady Wesloski (Delaware), Bryce Barrett (Maryland) and Matt Meredith (Richmond) and sophomore attack TJ Shaw have the chance to shine.

17. Landon (Md.)
2024 record: 17-2

Landon graduated seven players after winning their first IAC championship in seven years. The Bears hope to remain atop with midfielders Caden Southworth (Princeton) and Devin Stewart (Penn), attack Sean Murray (Bucknell), defenders Logan Cassidy (Penn) and Eli Smink (Washington & Lee), FOGOs Talan Smith (Lafayette) and Hayden Goozh (Michigan). Their faceoff depth and close defense are strengths to lean on while the attack develops.

18. Chaminade (N.Y.)
2024 record: 11-4

The Flyers were a young team that had some growing pains a year ago. This year, they return a ton of high-end talent from last year’s squad, including all three starting attackmen in Connor Kuttin (Johns Hopkins), James Gillis (Duke), and John Balsamo (Virginia), as well as midfielder Gavin Lynch (Notre Dame), faceoff specialist Quinn Ball (Penn) and defenders Lou D’Agostino (Syracuse) and Gavin Fitzpatrick (Johns Hopkins).

19. Deerfield (Mass.)
2024 record: 11-6

Deerfield should also be improved from last year, with post-grads Matt Johnson (Georgetown) and Brayden Lahey (Virginia) strengthening an attack that returns Sam Whitehurst (Boston University) and Cooper Brozek (Harvard) and Atticus Oliven (Michigan) helping strengthen a defense that also returns Connor Coutu (Marquette) and Grant Ramsey (Denver). Liam Appleton (Brown) arrives to join a midfield that includes Justin Tavares (Denver) and Billy Weller (Michigan).

20. Georgetown Prep (Md.)
2024 record: 11-5

Prep reached the IAC title game, and is hoping this year to win it back. The Hoyas have strength at every level. Noah Han is a junior attackman committed to Princeton, and senior midfielder Wyatt Bowman is an outstanding athlete who was going to play lacrosse at North Carolina before switching to play football at Syracuse. Senior Patrick Kelley (Michigan) leads the defense.

21. Fairfield Prep (Conn.)
2024 record: 21-1

Timothy Shannehan, the USA Lacrosse Magazine Northeast Player of the Year, is gone from last year’s state championship squad. But everyone else on attack returns, including younger brother Luke Shannehan (Michigan), Nate Estrella (Air Force), Emmet Crotty (Colgate), as well as midfielders Finbar Malloy, a Rutgers commit who will PG at Hun School next year, and Theo Rudolph, who was on first midfield last year as a sophomore. Transfer Fynn Mulligan (Utah) should also provide a punch on attack.

22. Darien (Conn.)
2024 record: 16-7

The Blue Wave could end up being the best public school in Connecticut when the smoke clears. Mark McNamara (Penn State) anchors the defense, while his 6-foot-7 twin brother Connor will be a matchup nightmare in the midfield. Ben Bilodeau (Georgetown), Max McBride (Lafayette), and Ryan Thurlow (Villanova) are stud juniors in an explosive attack, George Persinger (St. Lawrence) is a crafty lefty who takes over in the cage and Jack Marisca (Loyola) brings toughness and athleticism as a SSDM/FO.

23. St. Ignatius (Calif.)
2024 record: 19-2

St. Ignatius defended its title and claimed the CCS championship crown in 2024 for the third consecutive year after a victory over Sacred Heart (Calif.), the same team they defeated for the title in 2023. The Wildcats capped their season at 19-2 with their only losses against East Coast powerhouses Lawrenceville (N.J.) and Chaminade (N.Y.). St. Ignatius is slated to play both those teams again in April. Dartmouth-bound attack Stu Gates returns for his senior season while sophomore standout Max Ripple (Michigan) will be a player to watch this spring. The Wildcats open their season against De La Salle (Calif.) on Friday, Feb. 28.

24. St. Paul's (Md.)
2024 record: 7-8

St. Paul’s knocked off Gilman, Bullis and Landon last year, but it was a few of their losses that held them back from climbing higher. The Crusaders have all but three starters back and look like a dangerous team capable of the sort of breakout like Gilman had last year. Luke Bair (North Carolina) and Jack Iannantuono (Penn State) lead a strong attack, while Roman Dodson (Towson) and Drew McCormick (Washington College) reinforce a good rope unit. St. Paul’s also has sneaky depth with a wealth of experienced younger players.

25. Garden City (N.Y.)
2024 record: 15-3

The Trojans are the preseason favorite to win the 29th Nassau County title in the program’s illustrious history. Steve Finnell returns several players from last year’s squad, including short- stick defensive midfielders Owen Wuchte (Bucknell) and Blake Cascadden (Cornell), faceoff specialist Luke Cascadden (Navy) and midfielders Michael Berkery (Villanova) and Charlie Koester (Lehigh), who can also feature on attack.