This week, Inside Lacrosse ranked Western Reserve Academy’s Boys Lacrosse team as the #5 team in the nation. Breaking the top five is no small feat; it represents a year of relentless determination from a group of young men united by the kind of passion for the sport that fires you up just by witnessing it. That national recognition was hard-earned, as the Pioneers have spent the spring tearing through a gauntlet of a schedule, punctuated by massive victories over powerhouse programs like McCallie, St. Edward, Kiski and The Hill Academy.

This momentum carries the team into the weekend as WRA hosts the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MSLA) tournament for the sixth consecutive year. There is a distinct "home field" gravity to this year's bracket. Boasting a remarkable 12-1 season record, The Pioneers are looking to exact revenge on long-time rival Culver, following their sole, heartbreaking one-goal loss just a few weeks ago. The stage is now set for a potential rematch that would serve as the ultimate exclamation point on an already monumental run.

The energy surrounding the program has reached a fever pitch, not just on the turf, but across the country. The team’s Instagram account has become a national focal point for the sport, recently spiking to over one million views in the month of April alone. Meanwhile, the inaugural winter inter-team league proved that the WRA community’s bond is unbreakable. When that winter championship match was broadcast from Memorial Gym, it was the engaged alumni who fueled the viewership numbers — a testament to the enduring culture and connectivity that Coach Dylan Sheridan, a Class of 2002 alum himself, has built. 

This year, that culture celebrated a massive professional milestone when Blake Eiland ’22 was selected in the 3rd round of the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft, becoming the first player of the Sheridan era to go pro.

While the national rankings are historic, the program’s impact has been equally significant off the turf, reminding us that sport is as much a platform for advocacy as it is for competition. This was never more evident than on April 22, when the team hosted an Autism Awareness match against St. Ignatius. By selling custom shirts and engaging the community to fundraise for the cause, the boys demonstrated a maturity that matches their athletic prowess. It is a culture that prioritizes character, ensuring these young men are recognized not just for the goals they score, but for the way they represent Western Reserve Academy in the wider world.

This commitment to excellence has, in turn, opened myriad doors for the student-athletes themselves. Highlighting the sheer depth of talent within the program this year is an astounding 17 committed seniors headed to the NCAA. (That’s more than a full starting lineup!)

As these players prepare to take their talents to the next level at programs like UNC, Ohio State, Tufts and RPI, they leave behind a legacy of what it means to be a "signature" program. They have mastered the art of balancing elite performance with a heart for service, ensuring the standard they’ve set remains the blueprint for those who follow.

But for this group, the "Next Level" isn’t just about individual stats. It’s also about the person standing next to them.

You seldom find a member of the lacrosse team walking across campus without another member of the team. So of course, on their National Letter of Intent signing day, there would be no player left to sign the biggest contract of their life alone either.

As is the nature of boarding school, parents can’t always make it to every single big moment. This fall, in any instance that a player’s family couldn’t join them for a photo, they never stood alone for long. Without being asked, his teammates would crowd around him, placing their hands on his shoulders in the same way their parents had done for them. They ensured that his milestone wasn't a solo memory, but a collective one. In an era where "brotherhood" is a common refrain in locker rooms, this group lives it — proving that at WRA, no one walks to the podium, or the crease, alone.

When we look at this bunch, there’s so much in which to take pride. We cannot wait to cheer them on as they conclude an incredible season this weekend at the MAC. Community members far and wide can tune in and support the Pioneers on our streaming platform at wralive.net.