Brian Smith: Five Berks boys lacrosse teams set to open District 3 playoffs Tuesday

May 16—Five Berks County boys lacrosse teams open play in the District 3 playoffs Tuesday.

In Class 3A, fifth-seeded Wilson (16-4), the Berks and defending champion, will host No. 12 South Western (12-6) at Mack Stadium at 7 p.m., and No. 8 Gov. Mifflin (12-5) will host No. 9 Carlisle (13-3) at 7 p.m.

In Class 2A, No. 9 Schuylkill Valley (9-5) will face No. 8 Berks Catholic (10-8) at Forino Sports Complex at 7 p.m., and No 12. Wyomissing (8-8) will play at No 5 New Oxford (12-5) at 5 p.m.

Wilson is led by four All-Berks picks: seniors Matt Stitzel, Sean Dendall, Alex Hatalsky and goalie Brayden Skipper.

Stitzel, a faceoff specialist, has 15 goals and 17 assists. Dendall, Hatalsky and Skipper are part of a defense that has allowed a league-low 82 goals.

Dylan Garber leads the balanced Bulldogs in scoring with 55 points on 24 goals and 31 assists. Carter Brensinger has 54 points and a team-leading 41 goals and 13 assists. Ten Wilson players have at least 10 points.

Wilson is making its 10th straight appearance and 12th overall, but this is its first first-round game since 2016. The Bulldogs have begun in the quarterfinals each season since.

South Western is making its fifth overall appearance and first since 2019. It lost to Wilson 13-10 in the quarterfinals that year after beating Exeter 12-8 in the first round.

Mifflin is led in scoring by Drew Mathieu, an All-Berks pick who has 62 points on 47 goals and 15 assists.

Trey Rock has 34 goals and 20 assists for 54 points, Caden Blandford 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points, and Jude Enriquez 30 goals and four assists for 34 points. Rock and Blandford also were voted to the All-Berks team.

The Mustangs are making their second straight appearance and seventh overall. They lost 13-10 to Penn Manor in the first round last year.

Carlisle is making its first appearance since 2017, when it lost to Wilson 11-5 in the quarterfinals.

In Class 2A, Schuylkill Valley is making its first appearance in districts.

The Panthers are led in scoring by Kyle Moats and Zack Moats.

Kyle Moats has 50 goals and 27 assists for 77 points, ranking second in the county, while Zack Moats has 46 goals and 23 assists for 69 points. Ben Eddinger (24 goals, nine assists) and Caden Ryan (21 goals, 12 assists) each have 33 points.

Schuylkill Valley goalie Caleb Miller was voted to the all-division team.

Berks Catholic is appearing in districts for the eighth straight tournament. It lost 13-10 to York Catholic in the first round last year.

Ryan Scheivert leads the Saints in scoring with 75 points on 56 goals and 19 assists. He ranks third in the county.

Christian Cacchione has 61 points on 39 goals and 22 assists, Luke Hughes 55 points on 37 goals and 18 assists, and Hayden Nowotarski 49 points on 18 goals and a team-leading 31 assists.

Scheivert, Cacchione and Dylan Gault were selected to the All-Berks team.

Berks Catholic beat Schuylkill Valley 16-7 at Leesport on May 3 as Scheivert scored 10 goals.

Wyomissing is in districts for the first time since 2013, and fifth time overall.

Chase Maggs, an all-division selection, leads the Spartans in scoring with 62 points on 49 goals and 13 assists. Logan Hyde has 55 points on 39 goals and 16 assists, and Will Levin has 41 points on 16 goals and a team-high 25 assists.

New Oxford is making its second straight appearance. It lost 16-11 to Hershey last year in its opener in the quarterfinals.