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Wheeling Central Lacrosse Gearing Up for W.Va. Title

Maroon Knights play for crown on Saturday

Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Central’s Nick Sherman (7) and the Maroon Knights are ready for the state title game.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Central lacrosse team has grown by leaps and bounds this season but there is still work to be done.

The young Maroon Knights have one more test in front of them — a state championship.

Central will travel to Shawnee Park near Charleston at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday where it will take on Spring Mills for the Division I title.

The Knights will be looking for their first crown since winning it all in 2016.

A win would give Central coach Kevin Maloney and the lacrosse program a third state title — the first coming in 2010 — but Maloney’s focus in simply on continuing to help his team grow, learn and improve.

“I think we have become a better unit and have gotten to know each other better as the season has gone along,” Maloney said. “The kids are growing with coaches on game planning. They’ve gained traction and it’s showing on the field.”

Central only returns two starters from last year’s team in senior Chase Edgerton and senior defenseman Griffin Stenger.

Two other seniors joined the team for the first time this year in Jacob Laurine and Supakij (DD) Prajnabhakti.

“Chase is a great player,” Maloney said. “He has every bit of skill needed to be a contributor on any team. When he plays as a leader, the guys rally around that.

“Stenger has helped stabilize the defense and Jacob Laurine and DD just decided to join the team this year and have been very good leaders.

“We have a lot of new starters and it’s been a battle to get us there but I’m happy with our team.”

In route to the state title, the Maroon Knights took down rival Wheeling Park by an 18-8 count in the state semifinal.

“We played Park earlier in the season and lost 9-5,” Maloney said. “Coach Mike Karnell, Coach Mason Huffman and I studied film to understand the matchups they would throw at us. Then, we put together a game plan more tailored to our strengths.

“Park didn’t win a game last year and they had a pretty impressive season. There is a lot of talent in our league, which is growing and continues to take steps forward.”

Central dropped an 11-9 decision to Spring Mills during the regular season and Maloney knows it will be a battle to the end.

“Spring Mills has a talented team and is well-coached,” Maloney said. “They have a huge school on the border of Maryland.

“Our focal point is coming with the attitude of working for it. It’s difficult to give someone the mindset that every inch is a fight and that’s going to be our job as coaches. If we can keep our energy high and focus, I think we’ll be alright.”

A big reason for Central’s success has been goalkeeper Kyle Brown.

“Kyle Brown is remarkable to say the least,” Maloney said. “I’m going to vote him for every honor I can. He has propelled us forward and his emotion to make saves that he is not supposed to makes everyone else step up.”

Players such as Haden Barickman, Stenger, Nick Sherman and Andrew Johnson have also helped Brown on the defensive end.

“Barickman, Stenger and Nick have all helped on defense and Andrew Johnson moved there as a fourth long stick.

“They communicate off the ball well and they just understand their matchups.

“We also have a great defensive coordinator in Coach Mike Fahey.

“Ryan Gossett (Wheeling Jesuit midfielder) just joined our coaching staff, too, and has helped the defense take their game up a notch. He was able to join us after the Wheeling Jesuit season ended.”

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