'21-22' DMV LACROSSE OUTLOOK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP.

Riverside lost to a very ordinary Gonzaga team this year by 6+ goals and the game wasn’t even close.

Yorktown should try and add one of the traditional powers from the IAC or WCAC to test their players and program.

For years Robinson would always play Landon and Langley often times would play Georgetown Prep. It was great to see Riverside play Gonzaga this spring too, hopefully they can make it an annual contest.

It’s all good for the sport and greater DC area lacrosse.

About 10 years ago, Robinson was reigning state champs and played Prep. They lost by approximately 20 goals.

[Anonymous]

Let’s face it, Public school lacrosse in this area will never be on the same level as the private school lacrosse, but That doesn’t mean that we should tear down public school lacrosse and take away from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s face it, Public school lacrosse in this area will never be on the same level as the private school lacrosse, but That doesn’t mean that we should tear down public school lacrosse and take away from them.

Using words like NEVER seems like a bad idea. It may be the case today, but the times they are a changing. With football participation dropping and lacrosse rising I believe you will see public schools compete as I would say that many of the private school football teams wouldn't compete well with the public school football/basketball teams...these things change.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps a better way to compare these non-competing programs is to determine the number of students they send on to D-1 college programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a better way to compare these non-competing programs is to determine the number of students they send on to D-1 college programs.

I don't think that is the mark of quality necessarily. It assumes a few things, first it assumes that all good/elite lacrosse players want to continue playing in college. Second, it assumes that all good/elite lacrosse players that want to play in college want to play D1. Third, it assumes that the only good/elite are in D1, where its clear that many are looking for a better (or smaller) college experience and play D3 and even club in college (yes some elite players wanted to go to VA Tech for example and could have played D1). And fourth, it doesn't take into account good/elite lacrosse players that are also good/elite in other sports and choose to pursue the other sports in college. It's certainly a measure of a program to show how many players play in college but its really the only way to measure teams is to have them play each other. Until they do the Yorktownies can say what they want to say and the Private Schoolies can say what they say. Push your programs to compete against public/private schools and see how they really stack up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s face it, Public school lacrosse in this area will never be on the same level as the private school lacrosse, but That doesn’t mean that we should tear down public school lacrosse and take away from them.

Using words like NEVER seems like a bad idea. It may be the case today, but the times they are a changing. With football participation dropping and lacrosse rising I believe you will see public schools compete as I would say that many of the private school football teams wouldn't compete well with the public school football/basketball teams...these things change.

You don't understand the history. When the best Virginia public high schools have played the best local private schools in football, the private schools have won. DeMatha beat the top VA schools in the 1990's.

Public schools won't schedule the privates. They know what will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s face it, Public school lacrosse in this area will never be on the same level as the private school lacrosse, but That doesn’t mean that we should tear down public school lacrosse and take away from them.

Using words like NEVER seems like a bad idea. It may be the case today, but the times they are a changing. With football participation dropping and lacrosse rising I believe you will see public schools compete as I would say that many of the private school football teams wouldn't compete well with the public school football/basketball teams...these things change.

Public schools have never been competitive with the privates in any sport.

The WCAC is not only the best in the area, it's at the top of conference nationwide.

Watch the high school football games on ESPN as WCAC teams like St Johns, Good Counsel, DeMatha and Gonzaga play the top teams across the country. These teams would decimate the best of the NoVa schools.

[Anonymous]

Heh, it doesn't take much to ruffle the feathers of the privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heh, it doesn't take much to ruffle the feathers of the privates. [/quote

Or the fans of facts and actual history that demonstrate Private school athletic teams in the DC area are superior to the public school teams.

As is the case in Maryland, where the MIAA and IAC teams are better than the public school teams. Which pretty much destroys the argument that NoVa public’s will ever catch up.

[Anonymous]

Yooorktoooown

[Anonymous]

I think the top NOVA public programs in football would beat the top teams from the IAC in football.
Robinson, Stone Bridge, centerville, South County, Westfield all have about 65+ plus kids on their varsity rosters and have more depth when it comes to football and wear down the IAC programs.


The WCAC (only the top 4 teams SJC, DM, Zaga, GC) pretty much would smash any of the local public’s in football whether it be MD or VA. The top 4 teams in the WCAC are all top 100 programs nationally, not only are do they have plenty of depth, they are aggressively recruiting national caliber players to come play for them. I’m always amazed every Fall how far some of the families will travel to play for the Big 4 football powers in the WCAC.

I’m my honest opinion, I have always thought NOVA public league football was better than MD public as a whole. Generally speaking, the NoVA public’s have higher enrollments, more bodies to choose from and field good teams.

In full disclosure, my son graduated from GP not too long ago but still have a good pulse of the football landscape.

[Anonymous]

With Casey O'Neil stepping down at Gonzaga a few weeks before school starts, Gonzaga will drop further down in the WCAC pecking order and DC area.

I've been told a few current assistants who have been a part of the varsity staff for a number of years are also leaving the program.

2022 Outlook

1. SJC: the top team in the DC area this past spring brings back virtually their entire roster next spring
2. GP: despite losing a very strong 2021 senior class, look for the Lil Hoyas to reload and defend their IAC title
3. Landon: Bears have a solid senior class and bring back several strong freshmen who started last spring.
4. Saint Stephens: the Saints bring back most of their team from last Spring, always extremely well-coached
5. Bullis: similar to Prep, the Bulldogs graduated a loaded senior class. Bullis does bring back the best offensive player in the IAC and a star defenseman
6. PVI: always has talent, always has a number of players committed to D1 programs but always seems to come up short in the big games when the season is on the line... perhaps a new coaching staff will change this... until PVI proves they can win a big game, they will remain here (losing to Episcopal in the VISSA finals)
7. DeMatha: Dave Mitchell will bring a ton of energy into a competitive program. Stags also lost a big senior class but always have the numbers to field a competitive team.
8. Gonzaga: leaderless right now and wasn't impressed with the Eagles this past Spring. Gonzaga teams have always been known for their athleticism and that was certainly lacking this past Spring.
9. Episcopal: hearing rumors a few Canadians have enrolled at the Alexandria boarding school. the Maroon always have 1 - 2 big upsets in a season.
10. STA: Colin Heeter should have the Bulldogs more competitive this Spring. I expect them to have 1 big upset this Spring in the IAC as the depth in the program appears to be getting better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With Casey O'Neil stepping down at Gonzaga a few weeks before school starts, Gonzaga will drop further down in the WCAC pecking order and DC area.

I've been told a few current assistants who have been a part of the varsity staff for a number of years are also leaving the program.

2022 Outlook

1. SJC: the top team in the DC area this past spring brings back virtually their entire roster next spring
2. GP: despite losing a very strong 2021 senior class, look for the Lil Hoyas to reload and defend their IAC title
3. Landon: Bears have a solid senior class and bring back several strong freshmen who started last spring.
4. Saint Stephens: the Saints bring back most of their team from last Spring, always extremely well-coached
5. Bullis: similar to Prep, the Bulldogs graduated a loaded senior class. Bullis does bring back the best offensive player in the IAC and a star defenseman
6. PVI: always has talent, always has a number of players committed to D1 programs but always seems to come up short in the big games when the season is on the line... perhaps a new coaching staff will change this... until PVI proves they can win a big game, they will remain here (losing to Episcopal in the VISSA finals)
7. DeMatha: Dave Mitchell will bring a ton of energy into a competitive program. Stags also lost a big senior class but always have the numbers to field a competitive team.
8. Gonzaga: leaderless right now and wasn't impressed with the Eagles this past Spring. Gonzaga teams have always been known for their athleticism and that was certainly lacking this past Spring.
9. Episcopal: hearing rumors a few Canadians have enrolled at the Alexandria boarding school. the Maroon always have 1 - 2 big upsets in a season.
10. STA: Colin Heeter should have the Bulldogs more competitive this Spring. I expect them to have 1 big upset this Spring in the IAC as the depth in the program appears to be getting better.

The IAC is going to be so exciting to watch this year. For the first time ever, I think any team in the IAC could beat any other team. Bottom team is likely still STA, but they have an unbelievable 2023 class that could help upset Prep, Landon and Bullis.

[Anonymous]

PVI might not be as great as they were last season. The number 1 player on there team (Rutgers commit attack) transferred back to public school. He scored 7 goals against Gonzaga and was the reason the team did so well that game.

[Anonymous]

The above makes a lot of sense. SJC is the only sure thing heading into next spring. They will crush everyone in the area. Their only risk is taking someone local too lightly as they think of national aspirations.

Prep and Bullis will be very different teams versus what were on the field last year. Landon may actually be the team to beat in the IAC. SSAS is a wild card because this squad, which returns many staters, was both very bad and very good at times last year.

Gonzaga losing its coach may be a blessing or a curse. Either a chance to reboot after a disastrous season or more rebuilding. PVI will compete with everybody but scare nobody.

Everyone else is in “also ran” territory.