By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
Practices ran throughout the afternoon on Monday in Woodstock’s Union Arena, but the winter’s hockey sticks have been traded in for those of the lacrosse variety.
The Wasps’ lacrosse programs both feature long-tenured coaches with their sights set on the state’s top prize. Boys lacrosse will be led by Brandon Little in his 17th season as the unit’s head coach, his 20th on the coaching staff overall. The Woodstock native said last year’s team went through somewhat of a rebuild due to injuries to key seniors, but this year’s squad should be ready for success.
“We are always strong in Vermont’s Division I,” he said. “Every year starts with the same goal of trying to make it to the final four. Some years that happens, some years it doesn’t, but we should have a pretty good team.”
The team this season will feature a mix of fresh faces and veterans with 11 freshmen, 10 sophomores, three juniors, and 13 seniors. Among the three seniors are standouts Kyler Eaton, Asher Emery, and Rowan Larmie.
“We had a lot of new players last year who are going to be bigger and better this year,” said Eaton, a captain who Little said will be one of the team’s top scorers. “I’m excited to see what they can do. It is exciting to be in the role of leader after years of looking at the older guys and taking what they did into account.”
For Emery, the drive to play lacrosse comes from his love of physical sports. “I play other contact sports and bring a physical mindset,” said the senior captain, who was a big presence on both the basketball and football teams this year. “I like to run, and lacrosse has a lot of running. I like to speed things up.”
Larmie comes into the 2026 campaign as a three-year starter as a goaltender. “Being courageous and not scared,” he explained, is what makes him a good goalie. “I’m not scared to throw my body on the line.” The senior said a strong core of elder leadership and the team’s ability to communicate will be the key to their success this season.
This year, like in years past, Little said the team will take on an underdog persona to fuel success. “They are a group of super-hard-working competitors, who are underdogs in the state,” he said, as the team is always the smallest school in Vermont’s Division I. “We look forward to going against the best teams in Vermont.”
Eleven-year head coach Amanda Hull is hoping to get her team over the hump this year, after falling in the title game in 2024 and losing in the Division II semi-finals last spring. The class of 2004 alum played lacrosse at Woodstock before taking her talents to Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. She will be assisted by Amanda Ferris and Meg Roylance.
After Monday’s practice, Hull was very pleased. “It’s day one, and it seems like we never stopped playing from last year,” she said. “We have a good group of seniors who have been playing a long time, and hit the ground running today. We have a lot of potential.”
According to Hull, the Wasps’ strongest unit will be their midfield, led by seniors Aleks Cirovic and Maeve Roylance, and sophomore Betta Cirovic. “They were a really strong point last year,” she said. “They are a really helpful group to have together.”
Additionally, the head coach pointed to senior goalkeeper Jessica Baumann as a name to watch. “She started playing as a freshman, and every year has gotten better and better. I feel like this year she will be even better and is a solid rock for the team,” she said.
Sophomore Alaythia Lockhart, who said she wasn’t planning on returning to the team this year but came back to be a part of a strong team, praised her head coach. “She’s got great energy, is always upbeat and brings the whole team up,” she said. “When you are surrounded by positive energy like that, it makes the team better.”
Another underclassman, sophomore Addison Tapley, commented on the pressure she feels stepping into more playing time this season. “It is good pressure, especially since the upperclassmen are so welcoming and open,” she said. “I’m really excited for the season. We have a strong base built, and I think we are going to keep getting better.”
Hull is optimistic for the team’s chances this season. “They have a great energy, they work well together, and have a lot of potential,” she said. “I’m excited to see where this group of hardworking girls can go.”
Woodstock’s boys will open the season on Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at Burr & Burton Academy, while the girls make the trip down to Manchester this Saturday afternoon for a series of scrimmages, before officially kicking off their season against BBA at home on Monday, April 13.
