The young KO boys lacrosse team has shown promise early in their season with a record of 1-3. With a mix of grit and positivity, they are gearing up to make their mark in the Fairchester League, aiming for an appearance in playoffs.
Head Coach David Hild shared the fundamental UAE principle shaping his team’s approach. “There is acceptable behavior, exceptional behavior, and unacceptable behavior,” he said, “and the more we can strive to have exceptional behavior, attitudes, and play, the better we’re going to be.”
So far, it seems the boys have taken strides in playing with exceptional behavior, competing against St. Luke’s School and coming away with a 7-6 big win. Throughout the game, St. Luke’s was up by four, but KO rallied from behind, tying the score in the final minute. The game was pushed into overtime, and the Wyverns ultimately clinched a thrilling overtime victory thanks to a goal by junior attacker Bennett Smith.
The boys have taken hold of a hopeful season, led by senior Co-captains long stick midfielder Michael Bzowyckyj and goalie Alex Levin. Their ability to collaborate effectively appears to be one of their most valuable skills. “I think our greatest strength is that we’re close with each other, we’re all very friendly to one another, and we spend a lot of time together,” junior midfielder Jack Neikrie said. Coach Hild agreed, emphasizing that the team doesn’t rely on a superstar but thrives on the collective efforts of hardworking players who function together as a unified team.
Despite their hard work and determination, the boys lacrosse team has faced some challenges. “We don’t have a lot of depth, we are pretty young, and we’re not a deep team in terms of our numbers,” Coach Hild said. Neikrie also acknowledged that the team only has a few players who participate in the sport year-round. Levin explained what the team works on during practices. “We focus on work ethic, mental toughness, and gameday execution,” he said. “Coach [Rich] Mok stresses the importance of practice affecting gameday performance, so we try to simulate game-like situations in practice.”
During spring break, some of the squad traveled to Florida for a training trip, proving to be a fun and valuable experience for the 12 players who attended. Coach Hild emphasized its impact. “It was a huge help in terms of getting the team together as a group,” he said. “They had a lot of fun, and really expanded in a very positive way in the sense of team.”
In Florida, the Wyverns faced off against teams from all over including a team with over 30 players from Golden, Colo., and despite having half the number of players as their opponents, KO emerged victorious. “We only had 12 kids, and we beat a team who had about 32 kids,” Coach Hild said. Another notable game was against the Tilton School from New Hampshire, where KO just narrowly lost. “They had a bunch of post-graduates and about 25 or 30 kids, and we lost on a last-second goal,” Coach Hild said. “The kids figured out that they can do very well.” Among the players on the trip, there was a range of experience levels, adding a dynamic element. “The trip also gave some players who were new to lacrosse lots of practice and game-time opportunities they wouldn’t have elsewhere,” junior midfielder Christian Gingeleskie said.
With a victory already under their belts, the boys are hungry for more action as they gear up to face Rye Country Day on Saturday, April 27. Rye is yet to lose a game, KO hopes to change that. Next up, on Wednesday, April 29, they play Wooster School in what is expected to be a close and competitive game. With their sights set on victory and a strategic focus on shutting down the opposition’s star player, the team aims for success. Best of luck to the boys in the rest of their season, KO is rooting for them to make the playoffs!
