Culver Academy (Ind.) No. 1 in Midwest Region Boys' Top 10

Brunswick (Conn.) tops the first Midwest Region Boys’ Top 10 of the 2023 spring season.

With each region beginning play in different weeks — the South and West start before the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Northeast get underway — our high school contributors will provide in-season updates in each active region prior to the first National Top 25 update.

USA Lacrosse Magazine will also release 25 players to watch for both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse on March 23.

The first National Top 25 update comes March 28. From there, rankings will be updated each Tuesday throughout the spring.

USA Lacrosse Magazine contributors consult with high school coaches across the country to develop the Nike/USA Lacrosse National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 rankings for boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. These rankings do not include schools that admit post-graduate students.

Nike/USA Lacrosse High School Rankings

National Boys' Top 25 | National Girls' Top 25
Northeast Boys' Top 10 | Northeast Girls' Top 10
Mid-Atlantic Boys' Top 10 | Mid-Atlantic Girls' Top 10
South Boys' Top 10 | South Girls' Top 10
Midwest Boys' Top 10 | Midwest Girls' Top 10
West Boys' Top 10 | West Girls' Top 10

1. Culver Academy (Ind.)

The Eagles were brilliant last year, sweeping Everest Academy (Ont.), Western Reserve Academy (Ohio) and compiling a perfect record against the best of the Midwest, with their lone two losses coming by a goal apiece to Boys’ Latin (Md.) and Gonzaga (D.C.). Much of Culver’s top-line talent returns, including attacker Nick Goode (Michigan), stellar defender Rowan Clay (Michigan), Zach Mesa (Lehigh), Nik Menendez (Harvard) and keeper Colin Vickrey (Princeton).

2. Brother Rice (Mich.)

The Warriors, winners of 15 of 17 state titles since lacrosse was sanctioned in the Mitten State, are in the rare position of hunters this season after falling in overtime to Hartland in last season’s state championship game. Two of Brother Rice’s stars from that game, Cashton Papadelis (who had a hat trick) and Christian McNulty are back, as the Warriors return a loaded roster that should contend for another state title.

3. Forest Hills Central (Mich.)

The Rangers return a ton of talent all over the field after posting an undefeated season in 2022, including leading scorer Jonah McConnell, midfielder Nolan Hartl, LSM Sam Sneider and keeper Crandall Quinn. Also watch out for a force at the X in junior Luke Wedder, who won nearly two-thirds of his faceoff attempts last season.

4. Loyola Academy (Ill.)

Coming off back-to-back state championships, the Ramblers should be tough to score on once again, led by senior defender Nate Schwitzenberg (Notre Dame). Also watch for Easton Bello and Sean Cronin, who tallied a goal apiece in last year’s 7-5 state title game win over Lake Forest.

5. Upper Arlington (Ohio)

Replacing the duo of Leo Caine and Chris Mazzaferri, who combined for 41 points in the Golden Bears’ last three games to help lead them to the 2022 state title, will be a tall task. While UA lost a ton to graduation, expect Ohio State commit Tommy Janowicz (52 G, 17 A) to continue to excel (he had a hat trick in last year’s state championship game).

6. MICDS (Mo.)

It will be interesting to see how the Rams recover from the graduation of the Class of 2022, which included last year’s four leading scorers: PJ Behan, Mark Mintzlaff, Landon Gelven and Bjorn Sjogren. Expect Harry Kohler (65 GB, 169/284 FO), Brin Lewis (33 G) and Holt Tipton (26 G, 17 A) to help lead the way forward for MICDS.

7. St. Xavier (Ky.)

Coming off its fourth straight state title, the Tigers return a number of players who helped secure their latest championship, including keeper Ethan Crowe, who stepped in for an injured Bryce Moad and held Trinity to a single second-half goal in the state title contest. Also watch for junior Trevor Havill, who exploded for five goals in that 13-6 win over Trinity (Ky.).

8. Dublin Jerome (Ohio)

The 2022 state runner-up Celtics are poised for another run this season as they return leading scorer Marek Tzagournis (Denver) and Brady Sestilli, who is dangerous as a scorer and a faceoff specialist. Also watch for LSM Luke McLoughlin, who made first team all-state last season, as well as Preston Stucke and Carder Ungerott to form a lethal attack alongside Tzagournis.

9. Hartland (Mich.)

The Eagles prevailed in dramatic fashion in last year’s state championship game, on Bo Lockwood’s game-winner in overtime to top Mitten State powerhouse Brother Rice. Now, Hartland looks to keep up its recent success without Lockwood (96 G, 121 A), who has drifted a half-hour down the road to play lacrosse at the University of Michigan.

10. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.)

Coming off an undefeated season, the Red Knights should be formidable once again. While BSM graduated leading scorer Cam Gelling, it is set to return its other eight players who tallied double-digit goals last year, including Gus Bell (35 G, 24 A), Carsen Brandt (33 G, 39 A) and Sky Rold (32 G, 20 A).