By Grant Chaney
Round Table reporter
As the snow finally melts and the turf is revealed, the Middletown Knights boy’s lacrosse team is ready to begin their season once again. With high expectations for the upcoming year, the promising squad is looking forward to a season of tough competition and hopeful success.
After finishing last season with a winning 8-6 record, the team only lost two senior starters. The squad was celebrated last year for their underclassman talent, most notably first team all-area players Johnny Gallaway and Conor Duckett. Last year’s junior class also shows promise, including second team all-area players Simon Kinderknecht, Thomas Pitsenbarger, and Matt Wein. Another first teamer, Zack Hansell, transferred this year to Middletown, adding another player to the already talented roster.
Junior midfielder Conor Duckett believes the team will be better than last year and able to replace the talent lost from the last senior class. “Since we have a lot of potential as a team to succeed, all the boys are willing to give what they’ve got,” said Duckett.
With another year of practice and experience under their belt, the team of athletes feels confident about the competition to be faced this season.
“I feel like our preparation in the offseason is going to help us tremendously this year,” said sophomore attack Johnny Gallaway.
Because of the February snow storms, conditioning and preparation has been somewhat interrupted for the lacrosse squads. However the players are not worried; a few days of rest has never hurt anybody.
“During the two weeks of school we missed, we didn’t have any workouts,” said senior goalkeeper Simon Kinderknecht. “But as soon as we were back, we hit the weights and conditioned, so it only had a small affect. Now that we’ve gotten back into it, I think we have the ability to do really well, but like any team there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Since half of this year’s roster is made up of seniors, the Knights boy’s lacrosse team hopes this is the season for a successful run into the playoffs. Both Duckett and Gallaway agree that if all players “keep practicing like a team and get all the fundamentals down,” there is a chance at bringing home the state championship.
The fans can expect a season full of hard work and exciting games. Come help support the team led by senior captains Evan Clough and Simon Kinderknecht in their first game on March 23 as they challenge South Carroll at home at 6:30.
