BARONS LACROSSE NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends and Family of the Blue Ridge School Lacrosse Program,
We are excited to announce the promising start of the 2024-2025 season. Our early practices have been exceptionally productive; we have established the foundation for our slide package, developed two offensive sets, and fine-tuned our clearing and riding strategies. With solid roster depth, we are poised for a competitive season ahead.
We are continuously learning how this year’s team can work together most effectively. As you will see, we have welcomed several new faces to the program, and fostering a sense of comfort with Baron lacrosse has been our primary focus. With that in mind, we are excited about the talented group we have assembled and encouraged by the progress we’ve made so far.
ROSTER UPDATES
This year, we proudly welcome back 16 returning players from last season’s Virginia Independent School State Championship team. Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce 15 new Barons to our roster, including talented local players from the Richmond, NOVA, and Fredericksburg areas. We have also strengthened our team nationally with additions from Indiana, New York’s Southern Tier, and North Carolina. Our Canadian pipeline continues to thrive, bringing in players from three provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
We are pleased to announce the addition of Coach Tyler Houston to our staff. Tyler joins us from Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he successfully managed a competitive travel organization and served as a coach at Division III Mary Washington. He brings valuable collegiate and travel experience that will elevate our program to new heights. Tyler, along with his wife Mary Rose and daughter Maeve, is fully committed to our community and will also serve as the Baron Fund Director and linebacker coach for the football team.
As we continue to refine our roster, we are open to adding a few more players mid-year. While our current lineup is strong, we are always on the lookout for exceptional talent. If you know of
any potential candidates, please feel free to share my contact information.
Thank you for your continued support of the Blue Ridge School Lacrosse Program. Together, we look forward to an exciting season!
RECENT PLAYER COMMITMENTS
Chase Smith 2026 LSM Committed to Denver. Campbell Ellis 2026 G Committed to St. Joesphs. Cole Gibstein 2025 M Committed to Iona College. Brayden Ragland 2025 Committed to Mount St. Marys. Jacob Miller 2025 M Committed to Cortland. Ristan Tomich 2025 D Providence. Mason Lockwood 2025 D Roanoke.
FUMA PG RECAP
During our first long weekend, we had the opportunity to compete against the Fork Union Military Academy Post Graduate program. This match marked the beginning of our fall schedule, and we are pleased to report a successful outcome, with our team securing a 19-6 victory. After a slow start, the players began to demonstrate their potential.
From a coaching perspective, one of the standout aspects of the day was our performance in clearing and riding. Our team exhibited tenacity in the ride, generating multiple second-chance opportunities and seamless transitions—two elements we take great pride in. Additionally, we cleared the ball with remarkable efficiency. Mastering these critical facets of the game bodes well for our future success.
ALUMNI WEEKEND RECAP
While we recognize that we are far from perfect, scoring 19 goals and holding our opponents to under 10 is a promising indicator of our potential. We have gained valuable insights into areas for improvement as a team, and we are committed to addressing these before our next contest.
BRS vs FUMA PG October 6th 2024 Film - Please do not share, but this is a link to the scrimmage!
BRS vs FUMA PG October 6th 2024 Film - Please do not share, but this is a link to the scrimmage!
During my time at Blue Ridge School, Alumni Weekend has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year. We were thrilled to welcome a strong turnout of lacrosse alumni on the weekend of October 12th-13th. This connection is vital to our program; a robust alumni network directly enhances the strength of our lacrosse community. We greatly value the insights and experiences shared by those who have worn Baron Blue, as it allows us to reflect on our history and express our gratitude.
Looking ahead to next year, we aim to achieve our largest gathering of lacrosse alumni to date. Coach Houston is committed to making this event exceptional, and our team is eager to be actively involved in the festivities. This spring, we will dedicate three games to alumni appreciation, further celebrating our rich tradition and the impact of our former players.
PARENT WEEKEND: OCTOBER 25-27
We just wrapped up a fantastic Parents Weekend, marking yet another memorable celebration of community and connection. It was wonderful to meet and talk with so many parents who visited campus. Seeing you attend classes and engage with what your boys are doing daily truly highlights the special environment we foster here. We are proud to continue building an exceptional lacrosse family within the Blue Ridge community, as this strong support is what makes our programs thrive.
I loved seeing parents fully embrace the Parents Weekend schedule while also making time to explore the area and enjoy everything it has to offer. It’s great to witness families not only engaging with our school activities but also taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings and local attractions. This balance enriches the experience and strengthens our community even further!
Please be sure to mark your calendars for the Spring Parent Weekend on April 4th and 5th; it promises to be a fantastic weekend for the Blue Ridge School Lacrosse program and our entire community!
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS: NOVEMBER 23-24
Blue Ridge will be back in action the weekend of November 23rd and 24th. On Saturday, November 23, we will compete at the National High School Lacrosse Showcase (NHSLS), one of the premier high school lacrosse tournaments in the country. This marks our second consecutive year participating in this prestigious event, which attracts recruiters from colleges nationwide. For more information, visit NHSLS Registration. (*Parents* please be sure to register your child at link)
On Sunday, November 24, our players will compete against some of the nation’s top high school teams at the Atlantic Coast Showcase. This invite-only event will take place at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., and will feature coaches from the highest levels of the sport. For further details, please visit Atlantic Coast Showcase.
We are proud to be rising among the top programs in the country. The attention we are receiving from recruiters indicates that we are making significant progress and heading in the right direction.
WARRIOR X TYLER HOUSTON X FUNDRASING EFFORTS
In late September, we were presented with an exceptional opportunity for our high school lacrosse program, thanks to a partnership with Warrior and New Balance. Such deals are typically reserved for collegiate programs, making this an offer we couldn’t pass up. We believe this partnership will enhance our on-field marketing and strengthen our recruitment efforts compared to our competitors.
We are currently engaged in a fundraising initiative to raise money to support the lacrosse program’s budget. The desire to make this deal mentioned above a reality is the core driver for this effort. Many families have already contributed to this, and we are extremely thankful for that! Any families who feel capable and interested in supporting the program more should reach out to Coach Moss and Tyler Houston, who works in advancement here at BRS. We still have work to do to reach our fundraising goal of 20K, and we need to have this done by Nov. 8th. We will send out updates to keep all informed. Extremely excited about the opportunity.