Boys Lacrosse: Worthington Kilbourne Wolves capture OCC title despite uneven season

Michael Rich, ThisWeek
·4 min read
Senior Lachlan Korn has been a key contributor for Kilbourne, which won the OCC-Capital championship during what has been an up-and-down season. "We're getting better every single week and that’s encouraging," Korn said.
Senior Lachlan Korn has been a key contributor for Kilbourne, which won the OCC-Capital championship during what has been an up-and-down season. "We're getting better every single week and that’s encouraging," Korn said.

With a strong freshman nucleus and strong senior leadership, it’s been anything but a lost season for the Worthington Kilbourne boys lacrosse team.

Sure, the Wolves have taken their lumps because of a tough schedule, but there’s tangible proof that all was not lost. The Wolves are league champions for the second consecutive season and sixth time overall, finishing off an outright title in the OCC-Capital Division at 6-0 with a 14-0 win over Dublin Scioto on May 3.

Kilbourne’s overall record, though, was 6-10 after beating the Irish.

“The biggest thing is that we still have everything to play for,” senior Lachlan Korn said. “We’re getting better every single week and that’s encouraging. I think come tournament time, we’re going to be playing our best lacrosse and we’re going to be playing for a regional championship or even a state championship. That’s what keeps us going.”

Korn had 10 goals, four assists and 44 ground balls in Kilbourne’s first 15 games. He also won 34 of 47 face-offs.

Kilbourne, which has had only three seasons in which it finished under .500 in its 30-year history, lost to Upper Arlington 16-2 on April 8, Arden (North Carolina) Christ 16-5 on April 11, Hudson Western Reserve 19-2 on April 24 and Detroit Catholic Central 19-9 on April 30.

As of May 6, Western Reserve was ranked first in the state and UA was second, according to laxnumbers.com. Christ was ranked fifth in North Carolina and Catholic Central was fifth in Michigan.

“Each one of those games will hopefully help us prepare for what’s to come in May,” coach Brian Miller said. “After May 13, when the regular season is done, everyone is 0-0. If we don’t take anything away from losses, then they are truly just bad losses.”

Some of those lumps have been bitter, such as five games lost by two or fewer goals.

Some of those setbacks have been more noticeable, such as five losses by 10 or more goals.

Despite that, the Wolves rolled through their league schedule by an average margin of victory of 10.3 goals.

“We really have come together and started to play for one another,” senior goalie Colin Machcinski said. “We’ve started to have fun with another, which is really important. We were four goals away from starting (the season) 5-1. I think everybody sees the potential we have.”

But Kilbourne is young, with freshmen Thomas Tyack and Cole Fisher each playing a key role on offense.

“It’s definitely been defined by a lot of ups and downs,” Korn said. “What’s frustrating is that we’ve lost five (close) games. ... At the same time, we’ve had a lot of really positive things. (It’s) young guys stepping up and winning an OCC championship, which is something that not a lot of Kilbourne teams have done, actually.”

Fisher had 22 goals and 14 assists in the first 15 games to set the program’s freshman points record, topping Carson Kott’s 35 points in 2017.

“Cole has stepped up and grown into being an offensive leader and not just a role player,” Miller said. “That’s why he broke this record and he still has more to do. It’s so impressive and he’s done it in a balanced fashion (with) both goals and assists nearly 50-50.”

Freshman Preston Hawkins has solidified himself as the team’s primary goalie, taking over for Machcinski early in the season. Hawkins had 90 saves with a .529 save percentage through 15 games.

“It’s obviously not easy,” Machcinski said. “I want to be out there and I want to help my team and make a difference in big games. We play a loaded schedule and I want to compete at the highest level. But Preston is a stud. He’s going to be a top goalie in his class by the time he gets to my age. So, I’ve just really tried to help support him and be there for him.”

Sophomore Luke James had 18 goals and 18 assists, junior Tommy Bussard had 86 ground balls and had won 115 of 192 face-offs and junior Ryan Frech had 65 ground balls.

Machcincski has proven valuable to the team in other ways. He’s an encouraging voice to Hawkins, especially after a loss.

“(Hawkins) is extremely lucky in that he has a senior goalie that’s a captain that’s been his steady Eddie,” Miller said. “They have a great relationship. Colin is someone that he’s able to look to and compete with every single day. To be able to have two goalies that can play at an extremely high level is special.”

mrich@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekRich

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys Lacrosse: Kilbourne wins league title in uneven season