Check it out: Here are Cincinnati's 2024 high school lacrosse players to watch
While March Madness is the focus for many sports fans, spring sports are beginning in high schools.
Southwest Ohio high school lacrosse teams can play their first games as early as Friday, March 15. Cincinnati teams always do well in the postseason and this year should be no different. Here is a look at some of the top returning players.
Division I boys
Luke Barkimer, Milford: He was first-team all-Eastern Cincinnati Conference and second-team All-Ohio after notching 54 goals and 52 assists.
Ryan Barone, Lakota East: Senior midfield/defense was first-team All-Greater Miami Conference and honorable mention all-state for the Thunderhawks, who were second in the GMC.
Elijah Cabrerra, Kings: The senior was second in the ECC with 60 goals last season.
Carson Cheek, Lakota West: The senior led the GMC in ground balls and was second in draw controls.
Owen Edkins, Lakota East: The junior led the GMC with 51 goals, adding 13 assists.
A.J. Harrison, Lakota East: The senior had 43 goals and 19 assists for the Thunderhawks.
Bo Hegarty, Moeller: The senior was third-team all-state.
Khalif Hocker, St. Xavier: Possibly the state’s top player, he was first-team all-state and was the team’s leading scorer as the Bombers were Division I state runners-up. The five-star recruit was also Region 4 player of the year.
A.J. Johnson, Kings: The senior was first-team All-ECC after scoring 29 goals with 87 assists.
Evan Meier, Elder: He is a returning all-region selection for the Panthers.
Scottie Michaud, Springboro: The senior goalie allowed nine goals per game and was first-team all-region.
Eli Natorp, Mason: The junior is the top returning scorer for the GMC champion Comets with 24 goals and 17 assists.
Hudson Newman, Lebanon: The junior had 42 goals and 25 assists.
Connor Smith, Springboro: The senior had 42 goals last season and was first-team all-region.
Mason Smith, Kings: The senior defenseman was first-team All-ECC.
Jacob Wagner, Milford: The senior was first-team All-ECC and third-team all-state for the ECC champion Eagles.
George Wirtz, Walnut Hills: The junior had 39 goals last season.
Trent Yelton, St. Xavier: He was third-team all-state as the goalie for the state runner-up Bombers.
Division II boys
Nate Borman, Summit Country Day: The returning senior attack was an All-Miami Valley Conference selection.
Mike Colizza, Seven Hills: The senior midfield was honorable mention All-MVC
Teagen Davis, Cincinnati Country Day: The junior was second-team all-state and second in the MVC in ground balls.
Finn Egan, Turpin: The junior midfielder was second-team all-region last year.
Luke Elliott, Turpin: The junior defenseman was second-team All-ECC.
Hunter Harris, Indian Hill: The sophomore had 36 goals and 19 assists last year.
Vaughan Hawkins, Fenwick: He was second-team all-league in the Greater Catholic League-Coed.
Ryan Hurry, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy: The junior had 32 goals and 15 assists last season.
Cooper Mulligan, Fenwick: He was first-team GCL-Coed after notching 66 goals and 20 assists.
Penn Picton, Indian Hill: The junior defenseman was third-team all-state.
Andrew Schrudde, La Salle: The midfield was second-team all-state.
Sumner Shroyer, Summit Country Day: The senior was an All-MVC pick on defense.
Mathew Swisher, Fenwick: He was first-team all-league in the GCL-Coed after notching 81 goals with 18 assists.
Stuart Wells, Mariemont: The senior is one of the top returning players for the Warriors, who went to the state semifinals. He had 27 goals and a Cincinnati Hills League-high 27 assists.
Carson Yackey, CCD: The senior goalie was first-team All-MVC and second-team all-state.
Division I girls
Claire Baenziger, Mason: The senior was second-team All-GMC after scoring 43 goals with 11 assists for the Comets, who were 16-6.
Kenzie Beck, Kings: The senior was first-team All-ECC after having 55 goals and 12 assists.
Emmi Bennett, Sycamore: The senior defenseman was first-team GMC and second-team all-state for the state semifinalist Aviators.
Avery Butts, Lakota East: She was first-team All-GMC last season.
Tyler Bowers, Walnut Hills: The senior is the top returning scorer in the ECC with 60 goals and was first-team all-league.
Alexa Cool, Lebanon: The junior had 49 goals last season.
Madison Coster, Oak Hills: The senior scored 64 goals last season.
Addison Curp, Walnut Hills: The senior was first-team All-ECC.
Addy Dailey, Lakota East: The junior had 41 goals and 10 assists last season.
Chloe Downing, Springboro: The senior midfielder had 26 goals and 19 assists and was first-team all-region.
Samantha Drew, Kings: The senior had 57 goals and was first-team All-ECC.
Tess Geiger, Sycamore: She was second All-GMC with 35 goals last season for the state semifinalists.
Brynna Hall, St. Ursula: The senior is a returning first-team pick in the Girls Greater Catholic League.
Paige Harris, Sycamore: She was second-team All-GMC on defense.
Caroline Ling, Springboro: The senior had a phenomenal 167 goals and 33 assists for the Panthers.
Amelia Macura, Loveland: The senior defenseman is one of the top returning players for the Tigers.
Lucy Sander, Mount Notre Dame: The senior was first-team All-GGCL after scoring 59 goals last season.
Faith Sellet, Seton: The junior was the player of the year in the GGCL after scoring 68 goals with 13 assists last season.
Carly Thiel, Sycamore: The senior was player of the year in the Greater Miami Conference, midfielder of the year in the region and first-team all-state after leading the Aviators to the state semifinals. She had 121 goals and 211 draw controls.
Carea Tuck, Walnut Hills: The senior had 16 goals and six assists and was an all-region selection for the ECC champion Eagles.
Poppy Wallbank, Lakota East: She was first-team All-GMC after scoring 53 goals with 35 assists last season.
Division II girls
Ellen Benintendi, Turpin: The senior was first-team All-ECC and had 35 goals last season.
Grace Bevington, Ursuline: The sophomore was second-team all-state after scoring 70 goals with 19 assists.
Cara Bush, Fenwick: The junior defenseman had 42 ground balls, one of the top marks in the GCL-Coed.
Josie Carrelli, Turpin: The junior midfield/defenseman was an all-region pick last year.
Natalie Christine, Cincinnati Country Day: The senior defenseman was a first-team all-region pick.
Francie DiMauro, Madeira: The junior was fourth in the CHL with 59 goals last season.
Katie Gallagher, Fenwick: The senior had 30 goals and 13 assists last season.
Harper Hodgett, Ursuline: The junior goalie was an all-region pick last year.
Maho Ito, Turpin: The senior was first-team All-ECC and first-team all-state and was the DII state goalie of the year.
Riya Jain, Wyoming: The senior had 39 goals last season.
Samantha Kayne, Indian Hill: The junior had 43 goals and 10 assists last season.
Cece Kuwatch, Mariemont: The senior is the top returning scorer for the Warriors with 25 goals and 10 assists.
Cassie Larsen, Indian Hill: The junior had 31 goals and 13 assists to help the Braves to the state semifinals.
Lexi Larsen, Indian Hill: The senior was first-team all-state after scoring 63 goals with 22 assists for the state semifinalist Braves.
Macy Lashells, CHCA: The junior was second-team all-state with 51 goals and 14 assists.
Siena Motch, Seven Hills: The sophomore had 30 goals and 20 assists.
Brynna O’Brien, Mariemont: The senior goalie returns for the Warriors in net.
Isabel Ramirez, CCD: The senior was second-team All-MVC after scoring 59 goals with 23 assists.
Lucy Snyder, CHCA: The junior was first-team All-MVC with 16 goals and 20 assists.
Roxy Sorensen, Wyoming: The senior had 38 goals and 20 assists.
Sophia Wilhelm, Wyoming: The senior defenseman is one of the team’s top returning players.
Elizabeth and Megan Zimmerman, CCD: The multi-sport senior soccer and basketball star sisters also score lots of goals on the lacrosse pitch. Liz had 66 goals and 21 assists, while Megan had 32 and 26.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who are top 2024 players to watch in Cincinnati high school lacrosse?
