With the Oviedo high school lacrosse season on the horizon, the team announced the lineup for the 2025 season. While last year’s 9-9 record and early playoff exit indicate a rebuilding year, they lost multiple starters to graduation. Despite some holes in their lineup, veteran members of the team and new athletic additions gear up the Lions for their best season since their 13-2 playoff run in 2021.
“One of the biggest players we are gonna miss is our lefty attackman, Ethan Jones, he was a big scorer for the team,” Senior co-captain Liam Swisher said
Ethan Jones, now a Division 2 lacrosse player at Saint Leo University, led the squad with 52 goals last season. Missing his high-volume goal-scoring and senior leadership would put most teams in disarray, but the Lacrosse team’s development of young talent seems to be paying off this year.
“We have some strong attack men from younger grades like Sophomores and Juniors that are coming up and filling in those empty spots” Leading Defenseman Kopelan Lee Said.
While some of the team’s holes are filled by young talent, glaring holes at Defensive midfielder and goalie didn’t have the same simple solution. So the team turned to experienced athletes from other sports like football, wrestling, and even former basketball players to fill in holes in the lineup.
“Our goalie is newer for sure, but I’m willing to bet that he’s going to grow this season,” Lee said, “Most of our D middies are already athletes from football so it won’t be too hard for them to adjust”.
With the addition of high-level athletes and younger talent, the veteran members of the squad, have high hopes for their last year as a Lion.
“I hope we can make states, we haven’t made it since my freshman year and that’s the big goal we always strive for,” Swisher said.
Every member of any team wants to find success but the Lion’s Lacrosse members take extra measures to ensure that they will reach their high potential.
“I do a lot of speed training for footwork, I also do some weight training,” Lee said. “I run as many miles as I can and I’m always practicing shooting at home,” Swisher said.
Each member of the team offers a specific skill set and some of the team’s most important players’ skills are necessary to the team’s success.
“In my position, my skills have to be airtight to win every faceoff. If I mess up, it throws off our momentum” Senior Faceoff Gavin Towers said.
The squad’s seniors have been on some talented teams, but this year may give the veteran Lions their best shot at getting far in the playoffs and defeating the best teams.
“Honestly for me, I just wanna beat Lake Mary, they are back-to-back state champs but we have a real chance to win” Towers said.
The season’s high potential can only be met through strong play and tough practice but the Lions seem to have the squad that can compete with the best. Even with new additions from younger classes or from other sports, the athletic potential gives the coaches, players, and fans hope for a strong playoff run.