Who Can Dethrone Roswell's Quest For A Three Peat In Lacrosse?

One thing that will be tough for Roswell heading into the 2025 season is that they will lose a good bit of their core from their back-to-back state championship team. Their do-it-all attacker Ezra Moore graduated and is now at Bellarmine University. Roswell lost 10 seniors from last years state championship winning team. Of those 10, six were all state selections including Austin Elder, Luca Orelli, Kyle ONeal, Blake Jeska, Austin Elder, and the aforementioned Moore. So who is returning for Roswell?
Ben Weir is currently committed to Queens. He was a third-team selection in the midfield last season. A strong defender in Carter Dowdy will also return for the Hornets this season. He was first-team all-state. He will be a junior this year after gaining a lot of experience in the last few seasons. Blake ONeal also returns. He was made second-team all-state for faceoff and was key to helping the Hornets win possession throughout the season as a freshman. Kaden Parla is a high-end attacker for the Hornets who can do many things well. He is currently committed to Jacksonville. Parla will take a lead role this year for Roswell and should see more touches on the offensive end. Roswell will face Buford, River Ridge, Milton, Lambert, Pope, Montgomery Bell Academy (TN), Trinity (KY), Centennial, and Blessed Trinity as notable opponents next year.
Lets look at some teams that could be challengers to Roswells three-peat.
Lassiter- Lassiter is probably one of the best teams coming into Division 2 this upcoming year. Last year the Trojans finished 15-5 making it to the quarterfinals. The Trojans only lost five seniors from last years team and returned the majority of their roster that was filled with underclassmen. Attacker Landen Sommers returns this year for the Trojans after averaging 4.3 goals per game last year. He was a first-team all-state selection in 2024 and is currently committed to Sacred Heart University. LSM Quinn Peacock made second-team all-state last year for Lassiter and is one of the better defenders in the state. He is currently committed to Sacred Heart University and had one of his best seasons playing on defense. Goalie Will Smith made second-team all-state as a sophomore last season. Smith was instrumental in helping hold eight opponents to four goals or less. Lassiter has had a grueling start to the season playing North Paulding, Buford, Cambridge, Roswell, and Walton in its first eight games. It will be a good gauge to see where they are.
Pope - Dont be fooled by the 9-10 record last year from the Greyhounds. They have a lot of upside heading into 2025. Yes, they will miss Bryce Petcu who was a standout player for the Pope program who graduated and was a third-team all-state player in 5A-6A last season, but Pope returns a key player. Charlie Layman returns for the Greyhounds this season as one of their more prolific scorers on the field. Zach Pensinger will be another to watch for the Greyhounds this season, another excellent playmaker for Pope. If he isnt hitting game-winning goals, then he is setting up his teammates for chances and opportunities. The duo of Layman and Pensinger will be one to watch for Pope in 2025. Pope will play Roswell, North Paulding, and River Ridge, which are notable opponents for the Greyhounds this season.
Milton - The Eagles went 12-9 in 2024 and made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Buford 14-7. Milton has a number of notable players returning from last years team who should make a difference. When you look at 2025, they have LSM Leo Long (Le Monye commit), LSM Jay Marcille (Lewis commit), and midfielder Steele Smithson (Wingate commit). In the 2026 class, Milton has top-end defender Will Lossie (Mercer commit). Also you have to take into account the Milton vs Roswell rivalry in every sport. It will be the first time the two programs have faced off in two seasons with the 2024 matchup never happening. Roswell has won the last four meetings between the programs. Milton's last win came in 2018 in an 8-5 victory over the Hornets. With Milton meeting Roswell on March 7th and the history between the two schools, it will be a great early test to see how good Milton is in 2025 and if they have a chance to dethrone the champs.
Around the class boys - Tri-Cities picked up a huge 74-69 win on Tuesday night against No.1 Woodward Academy, showing that 5A could be more wide open than we think. A big top 10 matchup between Jonesboro and Lee County will be this Saturday at 3:00 PM. Lee County beat rival Houston County on Tuesday night. Jonesboro lost a heartbreaker to Central-Carrollton on Tuesday. Saturday will be a great test for both teams that will have an impact when the rankings come out on Monday.
Around the class girls - A big matchup is coming up on Friday between two top 10 teams. River Ridge was named the No.1 team after Hughes lost to Carrolllton earlier in the week. The Lady Knights are no strangers to tough games and will face another test going against Pope on Friday night. Pope will also have their work cut out trying to slow down one of the most efficient yet unselfish teams in the state. It makes for a cant miss matchup on Friday night.
Boys Basketball Top 10 Schedule
1. Woodward Academy Friday at Dunwoody, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 3 vs Tri-Cities, 7:30 p.m.
2. Milton Friday vs. Johns Creek, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Whitney Young (IL), 8 p.m.
3. Tri-Cities Friday at Lakeside-Dekalb, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Chamblee, 3:30 p.m.
4. Winder-Barrow Friday at Loganville 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 4 at Apalachee, 7:30 p.m.
5. Habersham Central Friday vs Apalachee, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs Alcovy, 2:30 p.m.
6. Dutchtown Friday vs Northgate, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Lovejoy, 5:30 p.m.
7. Gainesville Feb. 4 vs Milton 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 7 vs. Seckinger, 7:30 p.m.
8. Alexander Friday at Kennesaw Mountain, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs Lithia Springs, 7:30 p.m.
9. Houston County Saturday vs Thomas County Central, 4:15 p.m.; Feb. 7 at Coffee 7:30 p.m.
10. Lee County Saturday vs Jonesboro, 3 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs Northside-Warner Robins, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball Top 10 Schedule
1. River Ridge Saturday at Pope, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs Woodstock, 6 p.m.
2. Hughes Friday vs McIntosh, 6 p.m.; Saturday vs Morrow, 2:30 p.m.
3. Woodward Academy Friday at. Dunwoody, 6 p.m.; Feb. 3 vs. Tri-Cities, 6 p.m.
4. Morrow Friday vs Banneker, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Hughes 2:30 p.m.
5. Milton Friday vs. Johns Creek, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4 at Gainesville, 6 p.m.
6. Tri-Cities Friday at Lakeside-Dekalb, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Chamblee, 6 p.m.
7. Bradwell Institute Friday vs. South Effingham, 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs Statesboro, 6 p.m.
8. Creekview Friday vs. Sprayberry, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs Pope, 6 p.m.;
9. Pope Friday vs River Ridge, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4 at Creekview, 6 p.m.
10. Coffee Friday at Northside-Warner Robins 6 p.m.; Feb. 3 at Thomas County Central, 6 p.m.

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