Last year, the Marblehead High boys lacrosse team had one of those dream seasons. They won the Northeastern Conference title again — their fifth conquest in a row — with a perfect 18-0 record, and were seeded seventh in the Division 2 state tournament, where they went on to defeat Boston Latin (11-5), Milton (16-8) and Nauset (13-9) in the Elite 8 game, before dropping a 12-4 decision to Duxbury in a rain delayed state semifinal game at Weymouth.
But coach John Wilkens, who has been coaching the team since 2002, and his returning veterans have since moved on looking for continued success in the NEC and beyond.
While it will be difficult to replace the offensive firepower of Baxter Jennings, Carter Laramie and
Connor Cronin, Wilkens thinks the versatility of his veterans should help to overcome those losses.
“We definitely have a lot of work to do, especially on offense, where we have to figure out who will be our go-to guys,” Wilkens said.
But he has good numbers to work with this year with about 50 showing up for the first day of practice.
Those who don’t make varsity will be playing for veteran JV coach Ron Zagarri, who has been with Wilkens the last four years.
J.J. Pollender, Eliot Pluss, Cam Waldman and Charlie Grenier, who have been in the program all four years, are the team’s captains this spring.
Hogan Sedky and Charlie Grenier, fresh from leading the boys hockey team to the state championship, Wilson Bullard, Bodie Smith, sophomore goalie Finn Gallup, Pollender and Pluss will solidify the defensive end of the field.
Charlie’s younger brother Toby Grenier, another hockey state champ, will be counted on to win faceoffs.
Senior Cam Waldman, junior Sean Dolan and freshman Will Sullivan, who also played pivotal roles on the boys hockey state championship team, are ready to be prominent members of the lacrosse squad, as well.
“Before we worry about anybody else, we have to worry about ourselves first,” said Wilkens. But it’s good that we have a lot of multiple sport athletes on this roster, which should help us achieve our goals this year, starting with winning another conference title.”
The 2024 season is already underway. The Magicians took on host Winchester on March 30 after press deadline. They have since returned home to get ready for the Piper opener on April 4 against Newburyport, starting at 5 p.m.
