By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT–Coach Will Koshansky and his Staples boys lacrosse team members are always striving to make runs at titles and take on the best there is around (and not so close by) as a way to prepare for the challenging postseason.

The defending Class LL state champion Wreckers will face not just their Fairfield County foes, but also a handful of reigning state champs.

The schedule includes St. Joseph of Trumbull (a winner over FCIAC foe Fairfield Ludlowe in Class L), Class S champ New Fairfield and the team Staples defeated in the state championship game last year, FCIAC rival Darien.

The out-of-conference lineup includes the state champions from Massachusetts (St. John’s Prep), New Hampshire (Bishop Guertin) and Rhode Island (La Salle). They will also face very good New York State teams from St. Anthony’s HS in Melville, Horace Greeley HS in Chappaqua and Archbishop Stepinac HS in White Plains. An additional Fairfield County game will be against Brunswick School of Greenwich.

Staples takes on some solid programs but, of course, has a stellar one of its own with experienced and skilled players up and down the lineup.

Captains are Charlie Clark (attack; Second Team All FCIAC), Justin Halky (midfield; Second Team All FCIAC), Eric Skolnick (faceoff specialist) and Bear Swearingen (defense; Second Team All FCIAC).

Returning players include: Max Hill (All American last year as a sophomore, First Team All FCIAC and All State); Nate Maurillo (Second Team All FCIAC); Skolnick (Second Team All FCIAC); and Hunter Pallai (Honorable Mention All FCIAC).

On attack, Clark and Pallai will lead the way with a few guys fighting for the third spot including seniors Tristan Benton and JC Gura.

Middies are led by Halky, Weil, junior Ean Frankel, and sophomore Connor Petrosino, all returnees, and are joined by senior Matt Tybur, sophomore James Fisher, sophomore Cam Herold, freshman Jack Pallai, and freshman Ben Martell.

Long stick middies include sophomore Finn Edwards and senior Sam DiGiovanni.

On defense watch for junior Maurillo and Swearingen return. Others are senior Rory Benton, junior Alex Kovics, junior Parker Toohey, and junior Tyler Little competing for time.

In goal, junior Nate Hammon and sophomore Grant Theisinger are competing for the starting job.

FOGO (faceoff, get off): senior Eric Skolnick and Junior Dan Devine. 

Defensive midfielders are junior Max Hill and senior Jake McGeehan.

Several members of the lacrosse team have already committed to play for collegiate lacrosse teams, including  

• Rory Benton: McGill University
• Charlie Clark: University of Vermont
• Justin Halky: Williams College
• Max Hill: Yale University
• Nate Maurillo: Colgate University
• Hunter Pallai: Bucknell University
• Eric Skolnick: Babson College
• Bear Swearingen: Bates College
• Nick Weil: Trinity University (for football)

The regular season starts with a bang as the Wreckers host Horace Greeley Thursday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Andy Hutchison

^{_{Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories, since the 1990s. He is the sports editor at the Newtown Bee. He writes for the Monroe Sun. He was director of communications and radio color commentator for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (now Islanders) hockey team. He has won numerous writing awards, including regional and national first-place honors.}}