Reestablishing Identity for the 2025 Season

The Midlakes Boys Lacrosse team is gearing up for an exciting pre-season after a roller-coaster 2024 campaign. Last season's 6-11 record provided its share of thrills and spills, but the team is looking to build on that foundation with a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.

Farewell to Key Players

The team bids farewell to four graduating seniors who played pivotal roles in the previous season. Notably, Kaiden Larsen, the standout goalie, leaves behind impressive stats: 196 saves and a save percentage of 59.4%, earning him the Finger Lakes Goalie Player of the Year award. Defensive stalwarts Abe Diaz and Jamie Westfall, along with attacker/midfielder Garrett Cooper, will also be missed on the field.

Return of the Midlakes Identity

Last year, the Midlakes team was merged with Red Jacket, creating a combined squad. This season, however, marks the return to an all-Midlakes roster. The separation from Red Jacket allows the Midlakes team to re-establish its unique identity and focus solely on the talents and strengths of its players. This renewed sense of unity and pride is expected to drive the team forward as they aim to improve on last year's performance. 

Returning Talent

Despite the losses, Midlakes boasts a wealth of returning talent. The team’s offense remains largely intact, with 99% of their total goals and 97% of their assists returning this season. Leading the charge will be first-team All-League honorees Nate Lathrop and James Sprague. Lathrop was an offensive dynamo last year with 33 goals and 21 assists, while Sprague contributed 23 goals and 19 assists. Adding to the attacking prowess are Brendan Baldwin and Stuart Quku, both second-team All-League selections. The defense will be anchored by first-team defender JW Smith and second-team defender Conner Tripp, ensuring the team remains solid at the back.

Season Outlook

With 11 rising seniors, the team is expected to bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the field. Junior and sophomore classes will contribute depth and versatility. Last season saw the team in nine close games, with four decided by just a single goal. This resilience in tight matches bodes well for the upcoming season, where the squad aims to turn those narrow losses into victories. The focus will be on leveraging the returning offensive firepower while tightening up defensively to improve on last year's 8.2 goals-against average. Entering his second season as head coach, with a scholastic record of 26-26, Coach Hicks is optimistic about the team's potential. "The boys have worked pretty hard this off-season and they are hungry to have success as just Midlakes lacrosse. They have come together to work more as a team and they know we need to just work even harder and take everything game by game."

Players to Watch

Expect Nate Lathrop to be the offensive engine, building on his 33 goals and 21 assists from last season. James Sprague, a versatile midfielder, will contribute both offensively and defensively. JW Smith, a rock-solid defender, will lead the backline. As the Midlakes Boys Lacrosse team prepares for the 2025 season, there's a palpable sense of excitement and determination. With a blend of experienced leaders and eager underclassmen, the team is poised to make some noise in the Class D division. Fans and supporters eagerly await the first face-off, ready to cheer on their team to new heights.

Preseason stories are based on information from SportsFive.NET databases and coaches.

Stories are planned for each of the teams in Section V and will be released, a few at a time, between now and the start of the playing season. The stories will remain on the front page for about one week and then will be available in the NEWS archive. There will be links for all the published stories HERE and a link will also be available on each TEAM PAGE.