Green Hornets Swarm Win U11 County, State Crowns

The Severna Park varsity lacrosse teams aren’t the only state champs in town.

The Green Hornets Swarm fifth-grade/U11 boys lacrosse team achieved its own state title on June 12, defeating Cockeysville 8-4 at Cedar Lane Park in Columbia to close an outstanding all-around season with a state championship.

The team of Hayden Fox, James Sullivan, Ben Taylor, Jack Clark, Ben Dryer, Owen Lyons, Dash Havens, Landon Williams, Brady Holden, Bodie Isenberg, Lane August, Sawyer Grant, Garrett Wise, Beckett Dickson, Tyler Lawhorne, Ben Ruppert, Zachary Cielewich and Zachary Simpkins qualified for the state tournament by first becoming county champions out of the Anne Arundel County Youth Lacrosse League AA Division. There, the Swarm went 7-1 during the regular season, suffering only one loss, a 6-5 defeat to the Pasadena Bay Dogs.

Facing the Bay Dogs in the county title game at Annapolis High School on May 11, the Swarm won, 8-3, to claim the county crown and earn entry to a four-team state tournament.

In the state semifinals, the Swarm defeated Silver Spring, 11-3. In the state final, a solid defensive effort by Wise, Fox, Cielewich and Grant held Cockeysville to just four goals as the Green Hornets secured the 8-4 win.

The team played throughout the season in the ultra-competitive Howard County League concurrently with its play in Anne Arundel County. Severna Park went 7-1 overall in Anne Arundel County regular season play and 13-6 overall across both leagues and playoffs.

Severna Park was coached by Mike Ruppert, Tom Dryer and Jay Lawhorne.

Ruppert touted the goalie play of Clark, faceoffs by Havens and offense by Williams as standout contributions.

“I think solid goalie play by Jack Clark and winning the ground ball battles, a total team effort, was key to winning the championship,” said Ruppert. “Dash Havens dominated the faceoffs and Landon Williams on offense was also key. These kids just got better and better as the season progressed. Fun to watch them play.”