Welcome back to the island, Pelicans! Starting off the spring season, The Loomis Chaffee Boys lacrosse team traveled to Orlando, Florida, for this year’s spring training. Upon their return, they started the season with a big win against Malvern, ranked among the top teams in the country. However, they suffered a tough loss against Salisbury School. The team quickly bounced back with a dominant 12–5 victory over Trinity-Pawling School, bringing their season record to 2–1.

Last year, the lacrosse team had an outstanding season, finishing ranked second in New England and 12th nationally, while also claiming their first Founders League title in 16 years. The team is now focused on carrying the lessons from last season into their current campaign. “I think the biggest lesson we took from last year is that we have to play together. While last year’s team was very talented, they played unselfishly, and ultimately, the team that supported each other the most in our league won the title,” Head Coach William Ball stated.

As the team progresses this season, they are building better chemistry. “While last season went well, we have a lot of new guys who are playing together for the first time here at Loomis,” Graham Wiggenhauser ‘25 shared his thoughts on the team’s dynamic. “We are doing our best to build on our group this year rather than relying on last year’s success.”

The team has set ambitious goals for the future. “We are pushing each other to be better every day in hopes of reaching our goals of winning New England West 1 and the Founders League,” Graham ’25 continued.

As the team pushes forward toward the Founders League title, they remain focused. Matteo Sanders ’26 explained their dedication: “Winning last year was great, but that doesn’t matter anymore. Our team is focused on this year, on the next game, with the larger goal of winning the Founders League. We play in the toughest league in the country, and just because we won last year and are a top-ranked team this year doesn’t mean we’re just going to cakewalk to another championship. We go out to every practice and every game and treat it like it’s the most important thing.”

Clearly, the Loomis Chaffee lacrosse team is a dedicated group with big goals both individually and as a whole. The team also has newcomers who are excited to begin their Loomis Chaffee lacrosse journey. Oj Ika ’28 shared his thoughts on his first season: “I am most excited about learning new skills and adding them to my repertoire, whether I am learning them from our coaches or from older, more experienced players.”

As the team continues to build on their successes from last season and pushes forward with determination and teamwork, the future looks bright for the Loomis Chaffee boys’ lacrosse team. With a focus on growth, both individually and as a team, the Pelicans are poised to make this season just as memorable. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting year ahead. Go Pelicans!