Yorktown's Ranagan Looking To Renew Winning Ways At Hopkins

It doesn't matter if it's an NCAA championship lacrosse game, a pickup game between Yorktown alumni, or a volleyball game at a family reunion.

John Ranagan has always been highly-competitive individual. He wants to win.

No matter how high his individual totals are, no matter how many game-changing plays he made or highlight-reel shots he blasted, winning has always been the major priority.    

Throughout a storied career at Yorktown, one in which the two-time All-American helped steer the big Husker boat to three Sectional championships and three berths in the state semifinals, Ranagan won and won often. Losses were scarce.    

A rising sophomore middie at Johns Hopkins, Ranagan lost eight games as a freshman this past year. The Blue Jays' 7-8 season culminated with a crushing loss in opening round of the NCAA tournament. No.5 Duke obliterated them to the tune of an 18-5 blowout.  

For Ranagan, those eight losses were more than he experienced in his junior and senior seasons at Yorktown.  

"Obviously this year didn't go as planned," said Ranagan, who popped nine goals, dealt out five assists, scooped up 10 groundballs and cracked the Blue Jays' starting lineup midway through the seesaw 2010 campaign.  

"There's two ways you can look at it. You can sulk about it or you can work your tail off in the off-season. To be playing at Hopkins, especially with the way Coach (Dave) Pietramala runs the system, you always have to be working your tail off."  

Ranagan will be flushed into a more prominent role come 2011, now that midfielder Mike Kimmel, attackman Steven Boyle, and defenseman Sam DeVore (all of whom were claimed by 2010 graduation) were selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft in June.    

He's been working out religiously at Club Fit and playing with other high-caliber Division-I players to prepare for fall ball. While the team may have lost some of its luster with the aforementioned trio, Ranagan believes the Jays have enough young talent to renew the winning ways.  

"It's going to be tough losing those guys, but we have a good unit where everyone knows their role," said Ranagan, who says next year's team will be about sharing the wealth as opposed to relying on a go-to scorer in any 6-on-6 situation.  

"Everyone is really excited to get back on the field and erase what happened last season. It was a learning experience. The good part about it is nobody is coming in expecting to be that No.1 guy. Each of us wants to do the best they can at their position and work cohesively."  

For Ranagan, a dodger by heart, adapting into a bigger role as a full-time starter will likely include playing off the ball more and getting his shot off on the fly.  

Ranagan knows playing out of his nature to benefit the team is important, especially for since Hopkins is eager to wash the repugnant taste of defeat from its mouth. With a year of experience under his belt, Ranagan also believes he can help develop a highly-decorated recruiting class.  

Included in this star-encrusted recruiting class is Yorktown All-American Kevin Interlicchio, the two-time All-American who evolved into the Huskers' all-time leading scorer this past season.  

"K.I. has been my best friend for about 15 years," said Ranagan. "He grew up two houses down from me. We've been working out together, doing the workouts that our strength coach has given the team. At Yorktown, the lacrosse community is close-knit. It's like a surrogate family and that's why we love it."    

Ranagan said the leap from high school to major Division-I lacrosse is no cakewalk, though the support staff at Hopkins helps.    

"I was pretty nervous going in," Ranagan recalled. "I just kept my eyes and ears open and was fortunate to have a guy like (newly-minted Chesapeake Bayhawk) Micheal Kimmel take me under his wing. You have to really take in everything they tell you. It's a transition and definitely a hard transition but having great coaches makes it easier."  

Ranagan and Zach Palmer, who authored a stellar career at the Hill Academy in Canada, were the only freshmen to play significant minutes this season. The tandem became tight and are expecting a lot out of each other, as well as rising senior Kyle Wharton. Wharton netted 24 goals, embracing his role as the guy who deposits medium range rips.    

Ranagan is confident that he and Interlicchio can create a Yorktown connection at Hopkins.  

"Coming from Yorktown, I mean it's one of the best if not the best programs in New York State. People know we're hardworking, blue-collar guys. Still, you have to prove yourself at the next level. Having won 34 of the last 37 Section I championships, there's a lot of expectations you have to live up to. The big time schedule you play at Yorktown really prepares you for a 60-minute dogfight at the next level."    

Ranagan will trek back to the Baltimore campus on August 24. You can bet your bottom dollar, renewing the winning ways will be on his mind from the get-go.