The Chase Begins: MHSAA Lacrosse Preseason

Photo by Brother rice Lacrosee Instagram page.

As the MHSAA lacrosse season gets set to begin, the conversation feels familiar—but the pressure is new. Every team is chasing the same thing.And at the top, the standard hasn’t changed.

Last June, the state finals in Ann Arbor delivered two defining finishes that set the tone heading into this season.

In Division 1, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice once again proved why they’ve been the benchmark of Michigan lacrosse. In a back-and-forth battle with Detroit Catholic Central, the Warriors pulled out a 9–8 overtime win—another championship in a long line of them. It wasn’t easy, and that’s what made it matter. Even with the pressure, even in the moment, they found a way.

In Division 2, East Grand Rapids showed a different kind of dominance. Their 15–10 win over Detroit Country Day wasn’t just a victory—it was control. From start to finish, the Pioneers played like a program that understands what it takes to win at the highest level.

Now, a new season begins. But the reality is simple: nothing is given.

Brother Rice and East Grand Rapids return as defending champions, but titles don’t carry over. Every year resets, and every contender is coming in with a target on their back. Still, until someone steps up and proves otherwise, those two programs remain the standard. Right behind them are teams that know how close they were. Detroit Catholic Central and Detroit Country Day both felt what it’s like to be one step away. That kind of loss doesn’t fade it fuels. Experience, urgency, and unfinished business will follow them into this season, and that makes them as dangerous as anyone.

Beyond the top contenders, the growth of lacrosse across Michigan continues to show. The depth is improving. The competition is getting tighter. More teams are capable of making real runs, and that’s what could define this season more than anything else.

Because in this sport, the margin is thin.

And as the season unfolds, the question won’t just be who has the most talent. It’ll be who can handle the moment when it comes.