The Midwest Region preview, presented by LaxRecords.com features a four-part series. Part four is the Top 10 teams and the justification for each.
Midwest Region Preview: Pt. 1: Milestones | Pt. 2: The Big Picture | Pt. 3: Random Region Notes | Pt. 4: Top 10
Preseason Top 10
1. Culver Academy (Ind.)
2. Brother Rice (Mich.)
3. New Trier (Ill.)
4. St. Ignatius (Ohio)
5. St. Xavier (Ohio)
6. Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.)
7. Forest Hills Central (Mich.)
8. Loyola Academy (Ill.)
9. MICDS (Mo.)
10. Dublin Jerome (Ohio)
Also Considering: Archbishop Moeller (Ohio); Benilde St. Margaret (Minn.); Cathedral (Ind.); Hartland (Mich.); Hamilton SouthEastern (Ind.); St. Viator (Ill.)
The Justification
1. Culver Academy (Ind.)
The Eagles boast a Division I lineup a season after finishing 20-1 and claiming a Co-No. 1 ranking by Inside Lacrosse. The Eagles will once again be in contention for a national No. 1 with a schedule that includes Boys’ Latin (Md.), McDonogh (Md.), Haverford School (Pa.) and Gonzaga (D.C.). They also play in the Midwest Lacrosse Challenge and the National Prep Lacrosse Championship. Head Coach Jon Posner enters the year with 272 career victories. Owen Hiltz (Syracuse) is considered the No. 1 attackman in the nation and he is not the highest-rated player on the roster, according to Inside Lacrosse. Junior midfielder Ty English (North Carolina) takes that honor.
2. Brother Rice (Mich.)
The Warriors were among the nation’s best teams last season and play some of the top teams in the midwest this season. A road game against St. Ignatius along with contests against Archbishop Moeller, St. Xavier (Ohio) and rival Detroit Catholic Central. The Warriors return attackmen Jay Frye (Roanoke) and Jordan Hyde (Utah) along with defenders Mason Everly (Rutgers) and Jack Lockwood (Marist). Brother Rice’s defense allowed only 117 goals while its offense racked up 390 goals last season.
3. New Trier (Ill.)
The Trevians are the defending state champion and returns 23 players from the team that went 20-5. The defense should once again be the team’s strong suit with goalie Cooper Yaccino, defenseman James Hemmer and LSMs DJ Nolan and Tyler Nolan returning. Midfielders Johnny Hackett and Jessi Shapiro also return. An early road trip pits them against St. Xavier (Ohio) and MICDS (Mo.). They face Southeast Top 10 Episcopal Dallas (Texas) on April 4. They also have late-season matchups against Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.) and rival Loyola Academy (Ill.).
4. St. Ignatius (Ohio)
St. Ignatius heads into the season as one of the favorites in Ohio with more than 20 seniors on the roster, including their top three scorers from last season. Michigan commit Michael Boehm who set program records for goals, assists, and points for both career and season during his junior season returns along with Connor Cmiel (Ohio State). The Wildcats have an early-season game against Brother Rice at the end of March. Games against Hill Academy (Canada), Detroit Catholic Central and rival St. Xavier round out April.
5. St. Xavier (Ohio)
The Bombers play defending champions in Illinois (New Trier) and Michigan (Brother Rice) by April 4 this season. The Bombers also take on St. Xavier (Ky.), the Kentucky defending state champion in mid-April. Last year, St. Xavier had one of the best strengths of schedules in Ohio - something they expect to repeat in 2020. The go on the road and play at Cathedral (Ind.) on April 4. Head Coach Nate Sprong brings back seniors Noah Reidy and Andrew Green in addition to midfielders Quinn Evans (Roanoke) and Luke Vrsansky.
6. Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.)
The Shamrocks only lost four games last season, with three of those coming at the hands of Brother Rice. The Shamrocks get their first shot at Brother Rice on April 7. A late April road trip will pit DCC against New Trier on April 24. Connor Baratta (Rutgers) will kick off the offense at the face-off. Jacob Sposita (Colgate) returns to the midfield.
7. Forest Hills Central (Mich.)
The Rangers won it all last season and look to get back on top of Division II for the second consecutive year. Jackson Clay (High Point) returns after earning First Team All-State last season. Twenty players return for Head Coach Andy Shira who guided the team to a 22-1 record. Quite a few of their toughest matchups will be on the road this season, traveling to Carmel (Ind.), Brother Rice, Detroit Country Day (Mich.). They do get Cranbrook (Mich.) and Detroit Catholic Central at home.
8. Loyola Academy (Ill.)
The Ramblers bring back a host of talent in Kaden Keller (High Point), Branden Tait (Denison) and Spenser Hensley (Gettysburg) from a team that went 15-7 last season. All but one of those losses were to East Coast teams. They once again travel to Long Island to take on Chaminade (N.Y.) and host New Trier this season on May 9.
9. MICDS (Mo.)
The Rams graduated two of its all-time best players in Graham Bundy and Thomas Niedringhaus. Those two players are among the state’s all-time leading scorers. Head Coach Andy Kay has led the Rams to three-straight state championships. Early-season key games include home games against Shawnee Mission East (Ks.), New Trier and Episcopal Dallas (Texas). A road game against Memphis University School (Tenn.) will continue a mid-season slate of games that includes three defending champions.
10. Dublin Jerome (Ohio)
The Celtics went 16-6 last season and reached the state quarterfinal last season. The Celtics return defenders Zach Dubois (Mercer), Will Ackert, and Anthony Monte from a team that allowed only 95 goals last season. That defense will be tested early with an April 4 game against St. Ignatius. Mid-April games against Detroit Country Day and Cathedral (Ind.) will also be tests.