Wooster’s boys and girls lacrosse teams enter the 2026 season with different paths but similar goals — building on last year’s experiences and pushing deeper into the postseason.
The boys return from a state runner-up finish with a veteran core aiming for another championship run while the girls look to blend experienced leaders and emerging talent as they pursue a stronger tournament showing.
Below are season previews for each team.
Boys
After reaching the pinnacle of Ohio high school lacrosse last season, Wooster enters 2026 determined to finish the job.
The Generals went 18-3 a year ago and advanced all the way to the state championship game, finishing as the Division II state runner-up after winning their region and posting an 8-0 mark in regional games. Now, coach Reid Delaney’s squad returns a talented and experienced core that believes it is ready for another run.
While Wooster graduated 10 letter-winners from last year’s team, the roster included a strong junior class that now brings valuable experience.
“The biggest difference this year is experience,” Delaney said. “Our players now have another full year of playing together and, more importantly, another year of competing in big moments. Last season we won the region, reached the Final Four and played in the state championship game.”
That experience — both the excitement of the run and the disappointment of finishing as runner-up — has fueled the Generals entering the new season.
“This team is more mature, more comfortable in high-pressure situations and more driven,” Delaney said. “We’re led by a great group of seniors who bring energy and positivity every day but also understand the standard and the work it takes to compete at the highest level.”
One of Wooster’s biggest advantages comes from its specialists, anchored by senior goalie Liam Ozar and senior face-off specialist Logan Beery. Ozar returns as a first-team All-Ohio selection and the Ohio Div. II Goalie of the Year while Beery also is a first-team All-Ohio honoree and the Div. II Face-Off Specialist of the Year.
“I think our biggest strength is the balance we have across the field,” Delaney said. “A big part of that is our specialists. We return Liam Ozar and Logan Beery, and together they form what I believe is the best specialist unit in the state of Ohio in Div. II.”
The midfield group also should be a major strength for the Generals. Seniors Grady Hahn and Drew Thomas both earned first-team All-Ohio honors last season while Brooks Laughlin received honorable mention all-region recognition. The trio has played significant minutes together and provides both scoring and leadership.
At attack, senior Gavin Giauque and sophomore Jack Thomas are expected to take on expanded roles this season as the offense continues to develop.
Defensively, Wooster returns several key pieces including seniors Max Haas and Kellen Smith, along with Ozar protecting the net.
“Defensively, we’re excited about the group we have returning,” Delaney said. “I believe this unit has the chance to be even stronger than the defense we had last year.”
Other returning letter-winners include senior goalie Andrew Yaskulka, juniors Axton Hammerly (defense) and Vincent Vande Velde (short stick defensive midfield), and sophomores Lincoln Conley (defense) and Cayden Kandel (defense).
Wooster also will look for contributions from several newcomers including juniors Brayden Ahrens (attack) and Avery Tyrrell (short stick defensive midfield), sophomore Pierce Neyhart (midfield), and freshmen Clay Tudor (midfield), Kellan Shetler (midfield) and Caleb Pycraft (attack).
Despite the returning talent, the Generals will still face early-season challenges. Wooster lost several key contributors to graduation.
“One of the challenges for us this year is that we don’t have quite the same depth that we had last season,” Delaney said.
Still, the expectations inside the program remain high.
“Our expectation is to compete at the top of our region again this season,” Delaney said. “We want to put ourselves in position to finish first in the region, win the regional playoff and earn another trip to the Final Four.”
After coming within one game of a state title last spring, the motivation for the Generals is clear.
“The ultimate goal is to get back to the state championship and give ourselves another opportunity to compete for a title,” Delaney said.
Girls
Wooster enters the 2026 season looking to blend youth with experience as it aims to improve on last year’s 10-10 record and make a deeper postseason run.
Coach Holly Pope, now in her 16th season leading the program, brings a career mark of 131-110-6 into the year. The Generals were eliminated in the second round of last season’s tournament by Revere but return several key contributors who will be counted on to lead a roster featuring both veterans and emerging players.
Wooster returns a number of experienced attackers and midfielders including seniors Amelia Correll, Carolyn Greene and Kameah Lyons, along with juniors Alyssa-Rae McIntosh and Jay-Cee Hackett. Sophomores Anaca Holcombe and Zoey Phillips also return after gaining valuable varsity experience a year ago. Senior defender Alice Kirchhofer anchors the defensive unit.
One of the biggest transitions for the Generals comes on the defensive end after graduating several veteran defenders and their starting goalie. Junior Maddie McNeil, a letter-winner last season, is expected to step into the starting goalkeeper role this season.
“Our defense now, though young, is focused and hungry, and Maddie McNeil has been monumental in being a positive anchor as our new starting goalie,” Pope said.
Wooster also expects contributions from a few promising newcomers. Sophomore Ellen Armour, who saw limited varsity minutes last season, is expected to make an impact defensively while freshmen Lyla Smith at midfield and Delaney Hoffman on defense are players the coaching staff believes could make early contributions.
Despite the roster changes, Pope believes the team’s biggest strength will be its balance.
“A mix of experience and youth but overall a unified front who’s eager to make their mark,” she said.
Like many spring sports teams, the Generals may need some time early in the season to find their rhythm as athletes transition from winter sports.
“Winter sports season just ended, so it’s going to take us a minute to gel,” Pope said.
Once the team settles in, Wooster hopes to build momentum throughout the season and extend its postseason run.
“We’d like to make a deeper tournament run with an Elite 8 finish,” Pope said.
