For the first time in Montgomery County history, undefeated throughout the spring season, a Montgomery County boys lacrosse team won the state championship title. WCHS was the school to do it, emerging victorious on May 26th, after beating Broadneck 15-7. The team walked off of Loyola University’s field with medals around their necks, knowing that they couldn’t have done it without each other.

Throughout the season the team faced challenges, such as losing players to injuries and having to reschedule games, but all those frustrations and disappointments disappeared from their minds when the final countdown stopped and they were titled MD 4A State Champions. 

“To win states is indescribable. The program, the coaches, players, have put so much work into making the program a state championship contender. It feels good to finally get the program over the top with a championship.” WCHS senior attackman Eliot Dubick said. “After we won I fell right to the ground, crying tears of joy.”

Dubick has been a crucial player on the team, and as a junior committed to play Division One lacrosse at the University of Maryland. Some of his best memories of WCHS lacrosse involve the bonds he shared among his teammates. 

“What will always stick with me about the WCHS program is putting your teammates first, and enjoying every moment you have with your boys,” Dubick said.

However, the boys on the lacrosse team did not solely become close through practices and games. Before the championship, the players all got haircuts and bleached their hair in solidarity. This pumped them up for the championship matches and brought them closer together. 

“My favorite part of the season was when the team got haircuts,” WCHS senior midfielder Sam Bunten said. “This allowed the team to become tighter-knit and have a little bit of fun.”

In addition to the strength of the players’ bond the team possesses, there was an insane amount of athletic talent. There are five seniors committed to playing college lacrosse and three seniors committed to playing other sports in college (golf, basketball, and soccer). The combination of so many well-rounded athletes and a strong personal connection among players helped move the team to the next level.

“Winning states was a surreal feeling,” Bunten said. “Running with my teammates celebrating was the best feeling in the world.”

Relying on your teammates can sometimes be difficult, but when you consider them your family, it becomes easier to play together and then win together. Aside from the players’ close friendship, there was another glue that held the whole team together: their coach, Jeff Fritz. Fritz played on Montgomery County’s first boys lacrosse team at Seneca Valley High School, and started coaching at WCHS in 1994. Since then he has been hoping for a state championship title, which has finally arrived.  The coaches have had not only a positive athletic impact, but also a positive personal impact on players. 

“I learned from my coaches that giving 100% effort on and off the field is necessary,” Bunten said. “This will help me work hard during lacrosse and during any future jobs or classes.”

The coaches, the players, and even the students in the stands all worked together to create an environment where success was possible. WCHS senior and Dickinson College lacrosse commit Sam Bunten summed it up well.  

“We were more of a family than a team.”