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Seniors Keyed Wolves' Success

Jun. 19, 2009

The Worthington Kilbourne High School boys lacrosse team's Division I state title was the result of months of preparation.

So it only seems natural it took more than 24 hours for the accomplishment to sink in.

The Wolves won the title with a 7-6 victory over five-time defending champion Upper Arlington on June 6.

"It was such a surreal feeling," defender Lucas Wood said. "It's something we've been working for and to finally accomplish it was amazing. It didn't sink in until one or two days later."

"I'm not sure it has sunk in yet," said coach Mike Riffee, who team finished 21-2. "We've been so busy with everything. Maybe after everything's over, we'll sit back, relax and reflex all that has happened."

The Wolves will have a lot to think about. In addition to winning the program's first state title, Kilbourne:

•Set records for the number of wins in a season (21);

•Defeated Upper Arlington for the first time in program history (beating the Bears 10-8 on April 29 and in the state final);

•Won the OCC-Buckeye Division (7-0);

•Had its best finish in the MSLCA tournament, placing second after losing to Hudson Western Reserve Academy 12-9 on May 16.

Much of the team's success it attributed to its talented senior class.

The Wolves lose Tyler McConahay, Tony Piteo and Wood, and goalies Luke Bott and Adam Gunter from the defense, Colt Carnahan, Juan Contreras, Tim Davis, Kevin Mack, Drew Roper, Christian Sorensen and Austin Wright from the midfield, Josh Burton as a specialist and Matt Fischer and Pat Riffee from the attack.

Roper (Penn State), Wright (Hofstra), Wood (University of Maryland-Baltimore), Pat Riffee (Ohio State), Mack (Ohio State) and Sorensen (Wittenberg) will be playing in college.

Pat Riffee (58 goals, 48 assists and 82 ground balls) and Wright (36 goals, 15 assists and 83 ground balls) were All-Americans, and Wright was the state's Midfielder of the Year.

Wright and Riffee joined Roper (37 goals, 21 assists and 74 ground balls) as first-team all-state, and Wood (56 ground balls) was second-team. Wood, Wright and Pat Riffee were first-team all-MSLCA, Roper was second-team and Mack and Davis were honorable-mention. Roper, Wright, Riffee and Wood were first-team All-OCC.

"The seniors have pretty much grown up together and the closeness of the team really made a difference," said coach Riffee, who has resigned.

"Eight of the seniors have been on the varsity since they were sophomores. During that time frame, we were 55-13. They won the Region 2 champion as sophomores, were state runners-up as juniors and now they're state champions."

"We wanted to send the seniors off with a win," junior Will Campbell said. "Last year we got here and couldn't get it done and this year we got it for them."

Kilbourne won the OCC-Buckeye Division, finishing ahead of Upper Arlington (6-1), Thomas Worthington (5-2), Dublin Jerome (4-3), Dublin Coffman (2-5), Dublin Scioto (2-5), Hilliard Davidson (2-5) and Hilliard Darby (0-7).

"The turning point in the season was the first win over UA," Riffee said. "After we did that, we were confident we could beat any team in the state."

After defeating UA, the Wolves lost to Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice 13-10 on May 1 but avenged the loss with a 9-8 win over the Warriors in an MSLCA semifinal May 15. The Wolves were 5-2 in games decided by three goals or fewer.

As much as the seniors meant to the team, it was juniors Campbell and goalie Cole Horwatt who collected top honors at the state tournament. Campbell was the offensive MVP, and Horwatt was the defensive MVP.

Returnees to the defense are junior defenders Tim Gebert, Jake Hertenstein (39 ground balls), Matt Goldberg, David Rainey, junior specialists Peter Worley and Jake Seidensticker and junior goalies Horwatt and Alex Watson.

Returning to the attack are juniors Conor Igoe (38 goals, 23 assists and 74 ground balls) and Cory Spencer (40 goals, seven assists) and freshman Charlie Bassani (eight assists). Back in the midfield are Campbell (18 goals and 58 ground balls), Kyle Giannamore, Tyler Johnson and Tyler Englehart.

Horwatt was second-team all-state and Igoe was third-team all-state and second-team all-MSLCA. Horwatt was honorable-mention all-MSLCA and all-league.

Kilbourne goalie Cole Horwatt was named the defensive MVP of the Division I state tournament as the Wolves beat Upper Arlington 7-6 on June 6 in the title game.

At a glance

•Record: 21-2 overall, 7-0 (first) in OCC-Buckeye

•Seniors lost: Luke Bott, Josh Burton, Colt Carnahan, Juan Contreras, Tim Davis, Matt Fischer, Adam Gunter, Kevin Mack, Tyler McConahay, Tony Piteo, Pat Riffee, Christian Sorensen, Lucas Wood and Austin Wright

•Key returnees: Will Campbell, Jake Hertenstein, Cole Horwatt, Conor Igoe and Cory Spencer