Culver (Ind.) Ranked No. 1 in High School Boys' Preseason National Top 25

Culver Academy (Ind.) is the No. 1-ranked teams in the USA Lacrosse Preseason National Top 25 lists for high school boys’ lacrosse. Lawrenceville (N.J.), St. Anthony's (N.Y.), Brunswick (Conn.), and Boys' Latin (Md.) round out the top five.

The rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors with input from coaches around the country. We released the Regional Top 10 lists last week.

The first in-season update to the National Top 25 will be posted March 19. Continue below for more on each team.

USA LACROSSE PRESEASON National Top 25

1. Culver Academy (Ind.)  
2. Lawrenceville (N.J.)  
3. St. Anthony's (N.Y.)  
4. Brunswick (Conn.)  
5. Boys' Latin (Md.)  
6. McDonogh (Md.)  
7. Chaminade (N.Y.)  
8. Haverford School (Pa.)  
9. St. John's (D.C.)  
10. Darien (Conn.)  
11. Garden City (N.Y.)  
12. Gonzaga (D.C.)  
13. Malvern Prep (Pa.)  
14. Staples (Conn.)  
15. Manhasset (N.Y.)  
16. Bullis (Md.)  
17. Georgetown Prep (Md.)  
18. St. John's Prep (Mass.)  
19. Baldwinsville (N.Y.)  
20. Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.)  
21. St. Paul's (Md.)  
22. Loyola Blakefield (Md.)  
23. Calvert Hall (Md.)  
24. Fairfield Prep (Conn.)  
25. Salesinum (Del.)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Academy of the New Church (Pa.), Archbishop Spalding (Md.), Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), Boston College High (Mass.), Delbarton (N.J.), Lake Mary (Fla.), Landon (Md.), La Salle (Pa.), Paul VI (Va.), Radnor (Pa.), Ridgewood (N.J.), Severn (Md.), Springfield-Delco (Pa.), St. Mary's (Md.), St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.), Valor Christian (Colo.)

1. Culver Academy (Ind.)

2023 Record: 17-3

The Eagles graduated a good group of seniors, but Duke commits Nik Menendez and Luke Warrington, goalie Tade Wynn (Army), UNC-bound Mason Szewczyk and Luke Macaluso (pictured above) and Aidan McDonald (Princeton) give Culver senior talent at every level of the field. Another senior, Dartmouth-bound Spencer Reagan, and junior Tay Rodriguez (Michigan) are back to rotate at the faceoff. Culver lost twice to Hill Academy (Ontario) last year and St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) was the only other team to upend it.

2. Lawrenceville (N.J.)

2023 Record: 19-1

Last year's No. 1-ranked team has to replace three of its top four scorers and its FOGO, but returning a 15-deep senior class will help. Chris Matia (Providence) and Conor Gately (Yale) lead the offense. Princeton commit Kevin Morrow is an elite LSM and Cornell-bound Timmy Piacentini will continue to shine in goal. The Big Red face a schedule that includes Calvert Hall, Boys' Latin, Malvern Prep, Brunswick, St. Anthony's, Salesianum and Academy of New Church.

3. St. Anthony's (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 12-1

A generational talent and the USA Lacrosse National Player of the Year is gone with Owen Duffy now at North Carolina. He was among 16 seniors who played a huge role in the Friars’ fourth straight CHSAA state title. The strength, at least to start, is defensively with Tommy Snyder (Virginia) and Dante Vardaro (Penn). Highly touted junior Gary Merrill (North Carolina) will get to show his skills on a national level.

4. Brunswick (Conn.)

2023 Record: 13-4

Dave Bruce is again blessed with a loaded senior class, led by midfielders Hudson Hausmann (Virginia) and Payton Anderson (Syracuse), attackman Casey Quinson (Colgate), defenseman Luke Hublitz (Virginia) and goalie Tucker Williams (Brown). Sophomore attackman Lucas Garcia and sophomore midfielder Rick Giordano are studs.

5. Boys' Latin (Md.)

2023 Record: 12-6

The Lakers were the only team to upend Lawrenceville last year while losing four other one-goal games. Spencer Ford (Maryland) and Liam White (Ohio State) lead a strong senior class that looks to win its second MIAA title in four years.

6. McDonogh (Md.)

2023 Record: 17-1

The Eagles graduated attackman McCabe Millon (Virginia), faceoff man Zach Hayashi (Navy) and a chunk of their defense after defending their MIAA crown, but Virginia commit Brendan Millon is ready for top billing alongside Notre Dame commit Luke Miller on attack. Ben Firlie (Georgetown) headlines the midfield and Maryland commit Aidan Siebel returns in goal to give the budding defense confidence. McDonogh is trying to become just the second MIAA team to three-peat (Calvert Hall 2017-2019).

7. Chaminade (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 10-4

Like rival St. Anthony’s, Chaminade returns standouts on the defensive side, including senior Ben Fox (North Carolina), senior Brendan O’Brien (Lafayette) and junior Lou D’Agostino (Syracuse). Quinn Ball (Penn) is back at faceoff and junior Connor Kuttin (Johns Hopkins) has the keys to the offense.

8. Haverford School (Pa.)

2023 Record: 17-3

The only team to beat St. Anthony's last year, the Fords return a lot of the depth that helped make them tough to beat. Ben McCarthy (Duke), possibly the top faceoff specialist in the country, is the key returner.

9. St. John's (D.C.)

2023 Record: 15-3

Led by premier attackman Ryan Duenkel (Virginia) and highly regarded Maryland-bound midfielders John Draley and John Offutt, the Cadets try to stay on top of the WCAC. Graduating goalie Caleb Fyock (Ohio State) won't make that easy.

10. Darien (Conn.)

2023 Record: 15-6

The Blue Wave were young last year and took their lumps. Now Jeff Brameier may have the most talented team in Connecticut, led by senior attackman Brady Pokorny (Notre Dame), junior defenseman Mark McNamara (Penn State) and senior goalie Carter Hagen (Loyola).

11. Garden City (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 18-4

Stevie Finnell (Duke) and Cole Webber (Virginia) were instrumental in the Trojans’ second straight New York Class B title, but both graduated. Webber passes the torch to senior defenseman Matt Kephart (Princeton). Senior midfielder Andrew Ottomanelli (Holy Cross) and senior goalie Denis Fargione (Villanova) will also play big roles.

12. Gonzaga (D.C.)

2023 Record: 13-8

Maryland commit Johnny Gardiner returns for the Eagles, whose first five losses last year came by just seven goals combined. Gonzaga could be the best in the WCAC if it flips a few of those outcomes.

13. Malvern Prep (Pa.)

2023 Record: 16-7

Another tough national schedule gives Malvern a chance to prove itself. Led by junior Duke commits Michael Ortlieb and Owen Mears, Brown-bound Ennis Udo and three brothers (Lucca, Roman and Peri DiBartolomeo) headed to Penn State, the Friars can knock off anyone.

14. Staples (Conn.)

2023 Record: 17-5

The Wreckers made it back-to-back CIAC Class L titles last spring, graduating All-Americans Tyler Clark (Army) on attack and Mike Nealon (Maryland) on defense. Staples’ third All-American, Ben Burmeister (Notre Dame), returns to anchor the midfield, which also features talented junior Tristan Schaefer, while junior Josh Marcus (North Carolina) should be one of Connecticut’s top goaltenders.

15. Manhasset (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 21-1

Cal Girard, a generational faceoff specialist, is now at Duke, one of three All-Americans gone from last year’s New York State Class C champions. Now competing in Class B, Manhasset is particularly strong defensively, returning a pair of Jacks — Jack Mulholland (Dartmouth) and Jack Morrison (Amherst) — who started at close defense a year ago, along with goaltender Matthew Im (Tampa).

16. Bullis (Md.)

2023 Record: 15-8

The Bulldogs graduated Tucker Wade (Princeton) and Chase Band (UVA), but have enough talent left to move up from last year. Junior Jackson Maher (Penn) is a catalyst on attack.

17. Georgetown Prep (Md.)

2023 Record: 16-2

Prep lost Kelly Award winner Nate Kabiri (Princeton), but brings back Georgetown-bound Owen Horning to lead the attack. Villanova commit Ryan Welgos is underrated on defense and midfielder Ciaran McCleary is expected to have a big year for the defending IAC champions.

18. St. John's Prep (Mass.)

2023 Record: 22-2

The Eagles made it three straight Massachusetts state titles with a thrilling comeback win against Boston College Prep. With senior midfielder Jake Vana (Princeton) back and a stacked junior class led by defensemen Ryan DeLucia (Georgetown) and Jack Weissenburger (Harvard) and midfielder Luke Kelly (Michigan), expect them to make a hard charge at No. 4.

19. Baldwinsville (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 19-2

The two-time defending New York Class A champs should again be one of the top teams with senior defenseman Anthony Nicolucci (Siena) and junior midfielders Brady Garcia (Army) and Iggy LoMedico (Marquette) leading the way.

20. Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 14-6

After losing to Manhasset in the Long Island Class C final, the Wildcats are the favorite to at least get that far. Seniors Liam Kershis (Duke), Alex Kershis (Navy) and Liam Gregorek (Johns Hopkins) anchor the attack, senior Jaden Galfano (Fairfield) returns in the cage and seniors Liam Taylor (Bryant) and Kieran Clifford (Pace) are back on defense.

21. St. Paul's (Md.)

2023 Record: 8-8

Super junior Luke Bair (North Carolina) boosts a Crusaders team that is looking to crack the top four in the MIAA. Finishing games was an issue last year that St. Paul's hopes to figure out.

22. Loyola Blakefield (Md.)

2023 Record: 11-7

Will Haus takes the reins as coach. Maryland-bound Peter Laake and Delaware commit Liam Powell lead the defense. Loyola commit Mason Cook is a go-to attackman.

23. Calvert Hall (Md.)

2023 Record: 11-6

Nine starters graduated from a team that got hot late to reach the MIAA final. LSM Jermaine Anderson (North Carolina) and middie Jackson Mitchell (Saint Joseph's) are back.

24. Fairfield Prep (Conn.)

2023 Record: 18-4

The Jesuits have arguably the best attack in Connecticut, led by senior Timothy Shannehan (Boston University), who is on pace to be the program’s all-time leading scorer.

25. Salesianum (Del.)

2023 Record: 14-4

Salesianum upped its schedule with Lawrenceville and IMG, and the defending Delaware champs have 10 starters back to make noise nationally.