BY HALEY WESTON

The head coach of the Mariemont Men’s Lacrosse Team, Steve Peterson, is known for motivating his team with the statement, “One title is a championship. Two titles is history. But three titles is a dynasty.” The Spring 2015 season marks the perfect opportunity for the boys lacrosse team to win their third State title and re-make history.

Last year, the team finished with a 17-2 overall record and captured their second straight State Championship title. According to LaxPower.com, the team was ranked second in the state and seventh in the Midwest on the combined division list (division I and II). 

This year, the team is ranked first in the preseason rankings for the southwest region by the Ohio Boys Lax Report. The Southwest region is the smallest region in Ohio. According to Lacrosse-Ohio.com, Mariemont is the only team from Southwest Ohio to win a division-two State Championship in the past nine years. Cincinnati Country Day won the division-two state championship in 2005.

While many lacrosse fans may be worrying over the loss of 5 all-state players, including two All-Americans (Sam Long and Macko Saffin), the players and coaches of the boys lacrosse team are looking forward to another great season.

Junior Aaron Urevick, a midfielder on the team, isn’t concerned with pressure to bring home another State Championship.

“I don’t think anyone feels too much pressure to win another state title. I think the expectations are high for this team for sure, but the pressure isn’t extreme. We are all super confident in our coaching staff as they are in us and the captains. It’s a great combo,” says Urevick. 

Senior co-captain Chris Cascella agrees. “The pressure to repeat is something that our senior leaders have dealt with. We know it will be extremely hard, but the challenge motivates us,” says Cascella.

This year, the boys lacrosse team will be returning one all-state player (senior Parker Sullivan) and three first-team southwest region players (seniors Connor Bortz, Cooper Hayes, and Chris Cascella). These four players, plus goalie-turned-defender-turned-goalie Connor Osgood, will comprise the senior captain staff for the Spring 2015 season. The team has 53 players total.

Senior co-captain Connor Bortz says that, aside from the players lost, there won’t be many changes this season.

“Our head coach, Coach Peterson, loves continuity so not much is going to change in how we approach this season. We just have to make sure that we are confident but not cocky, and ready for every team we face because we’ll get their best shot,” says Bortz.

Senior co-captain Cooper Hayes says that the team is focusing on taking the season one step at a time, and putting themselves in position to have a great regular season.

“I think that as a team we will have a very large target on our back, so we want to make it out of the region before looking too far into the future. It’s undeniable that we have graduated a lot of talent, but I see this as a chance for some of the younger players to step up and fill some spots,” says Hayes.

Senior co-captain Connor Osgood also sees this season as an opportunity for a number of team members to make great strides.

“I’m excited to see John Fening at defense, Rory McGoff at midfielder, and Nick Weston at attack,” says Osgood.

Most of the players on the team agree that the team excels in two areas that will lead them to success: maintaining a positive team dynamic and focusing on fundamentals.

“I love the team dynamic. The energy is like nothing else I have been a part of. Everyone is so excited to be there even in the single digit degree weather. It’s great to be on a team where people aren’t complaining about working hard, but instead thanking me for pushing them to be the best we can be,” says Hayes. 

Osgood agrees and believes that the drills the team does in practice make their stick skills better than every team they play. 

Senior co-captain Parker Sullivan, however, has a different opinion concerning the team’s talents.

“Per capita, the men’s lacrosse team at Mariemont High School has on average the most attractive and strongest teenage boys, more so than any other organization in North America,” says Sullivan.

Cascella, and other members of the team, are confident in their coaching staff, who will ultimately help lead them to success.

“We have the best coaches in the state. Coach Stephens does a fantastic job with the middle school and is someone we are lucky to have as a part of our porgram. Coach Harden’s experience and expertise is invaluable and essential to our overall success and complimented perfectly by Coach Lever, who is an offensive mastermind. And obviously Coach Peterson who is the base of it all,” says Cascella.

Cascella says that the team’s toughest opponents this year will be from division one.

“Obviously our D1 opponents are always tough, the toughest being Mason, St. Xavier, and Moeller,” says Cascella.

Bortz acknowledges that the team will play many worthy opponents, but he believes that the team has what it takes to bring home another state championship.

“Our goal, and now some people’s expectation — is going to always be a state championship — which is a lot to live up to. But we think we have the guys, and if we work hard and people are able to step up, there’s no doubt in my mind that we have a shot at another championship run. Some teams in the state are counting us out, so hopefully we can surprise a lot of them,” says Bortz.

The boys lacrosse team will play their season opener at home on March 23rd at 7 PM against Fenwick High School.