Apr. 17—1. Falmouth
By the end of the season, the Navigators could be in the discussion for one of the best boys lacrosse teams in Maine history. The talent is certainly there to repeat as Class A state champion. Falmouth returns four All-Americans: midfielders Joey Guerrette, Gio Guerrette and Hayden Davis, and defender Indi Backman. Those four are committed to Division I collegiate programs, and goalie Cameron Sinclair is committed to St. Anselm, a Division II powerhouse. The Navigators also return all-conference players in long-stick midfielder Miles Thaxter and faceoff man Peter Kearns. Thornton Academy coach Ryan Hersey said he thinks Falmouth could beat a number of Maine collegiate teams. Hersey’s team gets the first crack at the Navigators in Thursday night’s season opener.
2. Yarmouth
The Clippers graduated only two players from last spring’s Class B state championship squad. One of them is Colter Olson, the Varsity Maine Player of the Year, whose offensive skill will be tough to replace. That said, the Clippers might not need to be as prolific offensively, thanks to their strong defense. All-state defender Ward Jenkins is back and plans to play at Virginia Military Institute. Defender Wyatt Gawtry, another captain, also returns, as does goalie Will Redfield. Juniors Hakon Yeo and George Brown will lead Yarmouth’s offense. Yeo scored 35 goals and had 12 assists last season, while Brown added 32 goals and 14 assists. Midfielders Owen Walsh, a captain, and Matt Cain, can contribute offensively as well. The Clippers’ schedule includes games against Class A contenders Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, as well as a pair of games against York, their main competition for the Class B crown.
3. York
The Wildcats came within seconds of repeating as Class B state champs last season before falling to Yarmouth in overtime in one of the best games of the season. York has the skill to contend for the state title again. The Wildcats return one of the top scoring tandems in the state in senior midfielder Evan Anastas and senior attack Quinn Walenta. The pair combined for 92 goals and 71 assists last season, and will again be a nightmare matchup for defenses. Other key returning players include defender Shea Buckley, midfielder Jacob Donnell, faceoff specialist Riley Butters, attack Cooper Dodge and goalie Brendan Dowling. The Wildcats will be tested early, opening the season with back-to-back games against Class A contenders Deering and Cape Elizabeth.
4. Thornton Academy
The Trojans reached the Class A semifinals each of the past three seasons and should make a deep playoff run again. Jackson DeLeo is Thornton’s top offensive threat, coming off a season in which he scored 39 goals with 13 assists. A strong two-way midfielder, DeLeo can help the Trojans’ defense as well. That defense is led by junior Grady Hersey, who corralled 75 ground balls last season and can be expected to play tight defense against the top scorers in the SMAA. Hersey also contributed five goals and six assists. Thornton’s schedule doesn’t allow the Trojans to ease into the season. After opening against Falmouth, Thornton takes on Deering, a team that should be among the most improved in the conference, and South Portland, led by Beckett Mehlhorn, one of the top scorers in the state.
5. Cape Elizabeth
It’s hard to ever say Cape Elizabeth is rebuilding, but that may be the case this season. The Capers graduated a lot of talent from a team that finished last season as the Class A runner-up, but with such a strong lacrosse tradition, there’s no doubt the team has strong players ready to take on bigger roles. Aidan Connolly, a senior midfield/attack, scored 11 goals with six assists last season. Junior midfielder Alex Mainville will look for a bigger offensive role after finishing with three goals and four assists in 2024. The same can be said of senior midfielder Josie Sparks, who had four goals and six assists. Senior defender/long-stick midfielder Cam Leonhirth caused 17 turnovers and grabbed 22 ground balls and will be a key in the Capers’ defense, along with Tucker Clark and goalie Luke Gagne, both senior. Cape opens the season Saturday afternoon at home against rival South Portland.
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Joey Guerrette of Falmouth celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against Cape Elizabeth in the 2024 Class A state final. Foley is one of four returning All-Americans for the reigning state champions. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald
1. Falmouth
By the end of the season, the Navigators could be in the discussion for one of the best boys lacrosse teams in Maine history. The talent is certainly there to repeat as Class A state champion. Falmouth returns four All-Americans: midfielders Joey Guerrette, Gio Guerrette and Hayden Davis, and defender Indi Backman. Those four are committed to Division I collegiate programs, and goalie Cameron Sinclair is committed to St. Anselm, a Division II powerhouse. The Navigators also return all-conference players in long-stick midfielder Miles Thaxter and faceoff man Peter Kearns. Thornton Academy coach Ryan Hersey said he thinks Falmouth could beat a number of Maine collegiate teams. Hersey’s team gets the first crack at the Navigators in Thursday night’s season opener.
2. Yarmouth
The Clippers graduated only two players from last spring’s Class B state championship squad. One of them is Colter Olson, the Varsity Maine Player of the Year, whose offensive skill will be tough to replace. That said, the Clippers might not need to be as prolific offensively, thanks to their strong defense. All-state defender Ward Jenkins is back and plans to play at Virginia Military Institute. Defender Wyatt Gawtry, another captain, also returns, as does goalie Will Redfield. Juniors Hakon Yeo and George Brown will lead Yarmouth’s offense. Yeo scored 35 goals and had 12 assists last season, while Brown added 32 goals and 14 assists. Midfielders Owen Walsh, a captain, and Matt Cain, can contribute offensively as well. The Clippers’ schedule includes games against Class A contenders Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, as well as a pair of games against York, their main competition for the Class B crown.
3. York
The Wildcats came within seconds of repeating as Class B state champs last season before falling to Yarmouth in overtime in one of the best games of the season. York has the skill to contend for the state title again. The Wildcats return one of the top scoring tandems in the state in senior midfielder Evan Anastas and senior attack Quinn Walenta. The pair combined for 92 goals and 71 assists last season, and will again be a nightmare matchup for defenses. Other key returning players include defender Shea Buckley, midfielder Jacob Donnell, faceoff specialist Riley Butters, attack Cooper Dodge and goalie Brendan Dowling. The Wildcats will be tested early, opening the season with back-to-back games against Class A contenders Deering and Cape Elizabeth.
4. Thornton Academy
The Trojans reached the Class A semifinals each of the past three seasons and should make a deep playoff run again. Jackson DeLeo is Thornton’s top offensive threat, coming off a season in which he scored 39 goals with 13 assists. A strong two-way midfielder, DeLeo can help the Trojans’ defense as well. That defense is led by junior Grady Hersey, who corralled 75 ground balls last season and can be expected to play tight defense against the top scorers in the SMAA. Hersey also contributed five goals and six assists. Thornton’s schedule doesn’t allow the Trojans to ease into the season. After opening against Falmouth, Thornton takes on Deering, a team that should be among the most improved in the conference, and South Portland, led by Beckett Mehlhorn, one of the top scorers in the state.
5. Cape Elizabeth
It’s hard to ever say Cape Elizabeth is rebuilding, but that may be the case this season. The Capers graduated a lot of talent from a team that finished last season as the Class A runner-up, but with such a strong lacrosse tradition, there’s no doubt the team has strong players ready to take on bigger roles. Aidan Connolly, a senior midfield/attack, scored 11 goals with six assists last season. Junior midfielder Alex Mainville will look for a bigger offensive role after finishing with three goals and four assists in 2024. The same can be said of senior midfielder Josie Sparks, who had four goals and six assists. Senior defender/long-stick midfielder Cam Leonhirth caused 17 turnovers and grabbed 22 ground balls and will be a key in the Capers’ defense, along with Tucker Clark and goalie Luke Gagne, both senior. Cape opens the season Saturday afternoon at home against rival South Portland.
