After a historic spring that saw multiple West Potomac teams reach regional finals and the boys lacrosse team win a state championship, Wolverine athletes are beginning the 2025-2026 season with high expectations and a new group of players ready to step up.
The West Po boys soccer team had a great 2024-25 season, reaching the Occoquan Region finals and state quarterfinals. Last year’s team had three first-team all-region players, two of whom were graduated seniors. With the absence of last year’s seniors, the question is now whether the younger team can repeat the success they achieved last season, making a deep run in both the regional and district tournaments.
“Last year’s seniors meant a lot to us [the team], both emotionally and physically. But this year a lot of young kids will help impact the team,” junior center back Jack Coulter said.
Coulter has been playing for the West Po boys soccer team for three years now and anticipates the team reaching similar success as they did last year.
Another team that made a deep playoff run was the West Po boys lacrosse team. After starting the 2024-25 season 0-2, the team turned it around and made an impressive run in the district, regional and state tournaments, finishing the season ranked first in the Virginia Class 6 rankings and second in the Patriot District. The team ended its historic season as the runner-up in the Patriot District, champions of the Occoquan Region and Class 6 boys lacrosse state champions. After such a successful season, players on the team are anxious to see how this season will play out.
Senior defensive midfielder Logan Allgyer has been playing for the West Po boys lacrosse team all four years of his high school career. Allgyer was part of the varsity team during the 2023-24 season as a sophomore, when the team made another playoff run but fell short in both the regional and district playoffs. Following that season, many players returned, which set up the winning season the Wolverines had last year.
“We had great [team] chemistry. A lot of people who have been playing for a very long time, and we just had a great culture,” Allgyer said. “There’s going to be a big impact [with the loss of last year’s seniors], but I think we’ll be resilient and work through it all.”
Boys lacrosse was not the only team to take home a trophy last year, as the girls lacrosse team also had a winning season. Going into the playoffs second in the Patriot District, the team fell short of being crowned district champions after an 8-9 loss to the Robinson Rams. Losing by only one point lit a fire under the team, as the Wolverines went on to beat the Woodson Cavaliers in the Occoquan Region final to become champions. Like most of the other teams at West Po, seniors have left the program, including Patriot District Player of the Year Audrey Stolarz and first-team all-district player Olivia Jones. However, the team is hopeful for another great year with the addition of new head coach Nick Manzo.
“I think this season’s going to go well. Coach Manzo is very dedicated and knows what he wants out of the team,” senior captain Charlotte Fischer said. “It’s going to be an adjustment having a bunch of new girls, but I think we’ll learn how to work together to come out strong.”
After a promising 2023-24 season in which the West Po baseball team went to the Occoquan Region final, last season the team did not reach the same success, finishing with a 10-13 record and placing fifth in the Patriot District.
“We have a lot of seniors this year, a lot of experience on the team, and that should translate to the field,” senior Banks Holman said.
Holman was one of four players awarded district honors during the 2024-25 season. All of last year’s award recipients are returning for another year to represent the team. There are expected to be more than 15 returning varsity players trying out, which is expected to contribute to this season’s success.
“We’ve been playing baseball together for years, since we were in elementary school. The guys are just really close with each other,” Holman said.
