Boys’ Latin To Be Led By Strong Midfielders

The responsibilities have changed a lot for Bob Shriver as he starts his 32nd year as the head varsity lacrosse coach at Boys’ Latin.

“There is so much more as it relates to college recruiting and things of that nature,” Shriver said before a practice one day in early March. But one constant that keeps the undisputed dean of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) on the field is the camaraderie.

“What’s really been great for me is that I coach with some remarkable coaches and great friends,” Shriver said.  “We really have a good time, and that has really kept it very fresh.”

That, and constantly putting top teams on the field. The Lakers have played in the championship game in five of the last nine years, including last season, and won the title in 2002 and 2006.

And the Lake Avenue school (16-4 overall last year, 12-3 in conference) may have as good a chance as any to get there again this year. Shriver says this year’s league will be as balanced as it has ever been.

“While the league has always had great balance and competition, usually three or four teams are clearly better,” Shriver said.  “(I’m) not sure you can say that this spring.”

The strength of this year’s Boys’ Latin team lies at midfield where two seniors— Jeff Chase and Taylor Stothoff—are among some of the best in the league.

“As a tandem, they’ve been playing together for three years,” Shriver said.  “Truthfully, they’re just both excellent lacrosse players.”

Another three-year player is Andrew Dempsey, also a senior, who will likely form the core of a second midfield.

“Ironically, all three of those guys are left-handed, so you’re not putting them on the same line— it just doesn’t work,” Shriver said.

Two other seniors, Trevor Kiddy and Alec Whitman, will be joined by junior Chris Rubino to round out the nucleus of returning midfielders.

The biggest issue Shriver sees at midfield is replacing face-off specialist R.G. Keenan, who graduated last year.

“We think we have three very capable kids vying for the jobs. It’s not going to be R.G. handling 90 percent of every face-off—those guys will probably split it,” Shriver said.

On attack, the Lakers will be led by senior Wells Stanwick, last year’s leading scorer who was also an All Metro and High School All-American selection.  Joining Stanwick will be junior Greg Pyle, who scored 20 goals as a sophomore, and Stephen Luck, another senior, who Shriver says has excellent stick and skills around the goal.

“We have some good guys coming back on defense,” Shriver said of Joey Weidner, Ben Keller and Mac Pons. “They basically were our starting close defense last year.”

Keller, a senior who is a three-year starter, will usually cover the opponent’s best player, according to Shriver. Weidner, another senior, is a three-sport athlete who has good stick, size and feet. Pons, only a sophomore, had solid contributions last year.

“We graduated our poles, so we’re going to have to figure that out,” Shriver said of a long-stick defenseman who runs with a midfield line.

Two more seniors—Adam Davey and Chris Rizakos—are vying for the starting job in goal.  Shriver said Davey is very good in and out of the goal, while it is tough to get the ball past Rizakos.