Season Preview: SPHS Boys Lacrosse

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The lights of Paint Branch High School’s stadium in Burtonsville shined bright on May 22, 2019 as the Severna Park boys lacrosse program won its fourth straight Class 4A title.

It was a triumphant moment for the program, tying Hereford with nine state titles, the most in Maryland boys lacrosse history.

That would also be the last time for nearly two years that Falcons fans would see lacrosse as the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season.

However, the Falcons will return to the field this May as practices and preparations for the 2021 season are officially underway.

“I’ve just taken things in stride for the last year,” interim head coach Travis Loving said. “Things changed three times in four days, but I was super excited when April 17 came along and we were actually on the field. That’s when I believed it.”

Loving, an assistant coach for the Falcons for the past several years, is the newest person to take the helm of one of the best boys lacrosse programs in the state. Being around this team for the past few seasons as an assistant has made the transition much easier.

“This will be my third year in the program, so I’ve been around the players for a few years now,” Loving said. “I know these players well, so it’s been a smooth transition so far.”

This team hasn’t skipped a beat since 2019, with players participating in summer and fall outdoor leagues and box lacrosse leagues during the winter.

The conditioning has been there and the drive has persisted, all waiting for the announcement of the 2021 spring sports calendar in Maryland.

“We all knew there was going to be a next season,” senior midfielder Kurt Klaus said. “Ever since [the cancellation of the 2020 season], we all have been working by ourselves, making sure that we’re all up to par.”

Klaus is part of a strong senior class that will anchor this program on its way to a potential five-peat in 2021.

This team is loaded with talent, but with now having two classes of players who have yet to play on varsity, there is an added emphasis on mentorship coming into this season.

“I thought it was important for us to get out there and get after it with the new faces on the team,” senior face-off specialist and Navy commit Colin Shadowens said. “The sophomores and the freshmen, they don’t really know what’s going on, so it was really important for the seniors to take initiative and give them the lay of the land.”

Bumps in the road to begin the season are expected, and there will be an adjustment period, if not during tryouts and practice right now, then during the early part of the season.

However, this is a battle-tested program that is as hungry as any other to get back on the field.

“The energy is there,” senior attacker and Air Force commit Kyle Griffith said. “If anything, the past year and a half of waiting has built more anticipation. A lot of the seniors and younger guys are eager to be out there. Practices are up-tempo, a lot of fun, and it’s just great to be back out here.”

Severna Park begins its 2021 season at Broadneck High School, May 7, at 7:00pm.

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