By Jake Dziubla
Round Table sports editor

After losing in the state championship last season, members of the Middletown High School varsity boys lacrosse team will keep their eyes on the prize again for the upcoming season, hoping to return where they left off: at another championship.

The team will have to meander its way through a tumultuous series of games against tough opponents, including a showdown with powerhouse Linganore to start the season on Mar. 22. The Lancers are the defending 4A state champions for Maryland.

“There’s really no off nights, there’s no easy games on our schedule this year,” said varsity head coach Hawkins as he read through a list of some of the teams they will be playing.

The list includes a spring break match on Apr. 4 against Loyola-Blakefield, a team that is ranked fifth in the nation. The Knights will also square off against teams ranked high in the state as well.

“We won’t see anybody tougher in the playoffs than we’ve seen during the regular season,” said Hawkins. Hawkins planned ahead of time to instill a mindset of preparedness in his teams, saying that the tough schedule came as no surprise to his players.

Senior Christian Ottenritter, a veteran of the game who has committed to Providence College to play lacrosse, is eager to begin his last season playing for Middletown. While this will be the last year Ottenritter will be playing with his friends, he knows that this season will require perseverance and a team effort.

“[The schedule] is a lot tougher than last year, more challenging, but I’m confident in the strength of our team,” said Ottenritter who has been on the varsity team since his sophomore year and has been playing lacrosse for 12 years.

Ottenritter is one of four seniors on the team who will be playing lacrosse elsewhere upon graduation; Johnny Gallaway and Dan Goldstein will both be playing for Villanova, and Luke Verdi will be playing for MIT. Hawkins praised Verdi for deciding to commit to MIT rather than a school of lesser interest for Verdi, but of more lacrosse prominence.

Players have been preparing for the season since the new year began, gathering in the school gym after school to work-out and get a jumpstart on sharpening their skills. Practice begins on Mar. 1 and the weather doesn’t seem to be much of a nuisance this year as spring appears on the horizon earlier than usual.

As far as goaltending is concerned,  junior Max Edelmann will be the starting netminder, according to Hawkins. Edelmann has been on the varsity team since his sophomore year.

Last year the Knights went 15-2, losing only to South Carroll and then Hereford in the championship game.