‘Keeping the tradition alive’: Dublin Jerome boys lacrosse aiming for another state title
Thursday, March 14, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
sgerfen@cbussports.com
Dublin Jerome senior midfielder Kyle White (2), a University of Tampa commit, is one of the Celtics top returning offensive weapons. File photo
Call it tradition or expectation — whatever the word — the Dublin Jerome boys lacrosse team is ready to make another run at what would be its third Division I state championship in four seasons.
“Nothing has changed in our minds,” said White, a University of Tampa recruit. “We’re still going to play fast, even though we lost probably three of the greatest attackers of all time in Ohio. We’re coming in with the mindset of winning the day and taking it day by day. We’re a hungry team, and we’re motivated.”
Graduates Marek Tzagournis, Carder Ungerott and Preston Stucke helped lead Jerome to its fifth state championship last season.
Tzagournis, who’s playing at the University of Denver with his older brother, Chase, broke the Ohio high school lacrosse points record last season with 447.
Jerome went 22-1 last season, defeating Cincinnati St. Xavier 12-10 in the title game.
Dublin Jerome junior Gavin Dean will help anchor a strong group of midfielders this season. File photo
“I remember when we lost seniors from our 2021 championship team, and people were worried about that — how would we do?” said seventh-year coach Andy Asmo, whose team lost to Upper Arlington in the 2022 state final. “It’s going to be different, obviously, without the security blanket we had with those seniors, but we think we are very capable of keeping the tradition alive.”
While the Celtics, who open at Milford on March 15, will be young on the attack. They return a strong group of midfielders and defenders and last year’s regional Goalie of the Year and first-team all-state selection senior Cory Lorentzen.
“We’re lost a pretty key part of our offense, so I think it’s a great opportunity for myself and the defense to step up,” Lorentzen said. “I think we’re really good at being aggressive defensively right from the start of games, pressing out on guys and having them make quick decisions.”
Senior Will Albright is the most veteran defenseman, followed by junior Max Michaels and sophomore Deangelo Nardone.
Dublin Jerome senior Cael Haqq (3), who is currently injured but will be an important player for the Celtics. File photo
Jerome’s scheme calls for more long stick midfielders than most teams, Asmo said.
Seniors Seth Siddell, a four-year varsity player; CJ Infante, who started in last season’s state championship game; and Cael Haqq, who added 14 goals as a junior and is currently injured, will be key to Jerome’s strategy.
Leading Jerome’s attack is junior Davis Pyser, who earned playing time last season when Ungerott and Stucke suffered injuries.
Others expected to contribute offensively include attackers senior Caden Matney, sophomore Jackson Bates and freshman Ty Haqq, who also plays midfield; and midfielders senior Mason Rice and juniors Darren Seikel, Gavin Dean, Xander Johnson and Marshall Webb.
Johnson is a University of Massachusetts commit, and Rice is signed to play at Keiser University.
“We’re definitely going to rely on our defense to make a couple more stops than maybe we needed last year,” Asmo said. “But we still plan on playing a very fast game and putting up a lot of points.”
Dublin Jerome’s Darren Seikel (24), pictured playing during last season’s Division I state final against Cincinnati St. Xavier, returns for his junior season as a midfielder. File photo
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