Division III (Preseason #1: Ft. Worth Country Day)

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE LEAGUE DIVISION III

The Team to Beat: Fort Worth Country Day

The defending Division III champions must replace a solid goalie and a top defenseman, but they will return at least five and possibly six of seven players who scored during the Falcons’ 9-7 title-game victory over Keller last spring.

Fort Worth Country Day graduated just four seniors off last year’s title-winning club, and with eight starters coming back anything short of a repeat would be disappointing. Senior attackman Aaron Hall, who had five points in the championship game, is back to lead the team.

He’ll be joined by several impact players, such as sophomore middie Cameron Fraser, sophomore attackman Allan Hall, senior attackman Jeff Schriber and sophomore middie Blake Waltrip.

Contenders: Keller, Colleyville

Keller brings back half its starting lineup from the team that fell two goals short in the 2009 Division III championship game. Keller will be led by sophomore goalie Garrett Hardy, junior attackman Michael Connolly, senior middies Dane Wicks and Aaron Gahwiler, junior defensemen Nolan Frese and Tyler Sheets, and junior middie Mitch Stringer.

Colleyville graduated just two seniors of last year’s team, and the Panthers are certain to make it a three-team race this season. Junior attackman Cameron Day, senior middie Zach “Bucket” Johnson, sophomore defenseman Roland Pettit and junior defenseman Ryan Leininger will lead this group.

Sleeper: Trinity

The Trojans are fighting an uphill battle every season, because they don’t have adequate field space on which to practice. Yet, they are still expected to field a competitive team this year and could give the clear-cut top three some problems. Trinity returns six starters and will be led by senior middie Charlie Baxter, senior middie Matt Holcomb and senior defenseman Aaron Rambo.

Top Players: Dean Bartleet, MF, Rockwall; Charlie Baxter, MF, Trinity; Thomas Bruning, MF, Rockwall; Michael Connolly, Att., Keller; Cameron Day, Att., Colleyville; Cameron Fraser, MF, Fort Worth Country Day; Nolan Frese, Def., Keller; Aaron Gahwiler, MF, Keller; Phil Gill, Def., Rockwall; Aaron Hall, Att., Fort Worth Country Day; Allan Hall, Att., Fort Worth Country Day; Garrett Hardy, G, Keller; Matt Holcomb, MF, Trinity; Zach “Bucket” Johnson, MF, Colleyville; Ryan Leininger, Def., Colleyville; Roland Pettit, Def., Colleyville; Aaron Rambo, Def., Trinity; Seth Riner, Att., Wylie; Jeff Schriber, Att., Fort Worth Country Day; Tyler Sheets, Def., Keller; Mitch Stringer, MF, Keller; Blake Waltrip, MF, Fort Worth Country Day; Dane Wicks, MF, Keller.

Preseason Top 10: 1. Fort Worth Country Day, 2. Keller, 3. Colleyville, 4. Trinity, 5. Rockwall, 6. Lake Highlands, 7. Wylie, 8. Frisco, 9. Flower Mound, 10. Lake Parish.

Notes: There are 13 Division III programs in the state in all, but 10 are located in the North District. Madison is the only team located in the San Antonio District, and Dripping Springs and Vandegrift will represent the Central District. There are no teams at the Division III level in the South District....Three new programs have joined Division III in the North District: Flower Mound, Frisco and Parish Episcopal....Former Allen head coach Mark Baggett is now in charge at Frisco....Other new coaches in Division III include Jason Duncan at Wylie and Mike Smith at Keller....This will be a rebuilding year at Wylie, which brings back just two players from its 2009 team....Rockwall graduated eight seniors off its 2009 team and has no seniors on this year’s squad.