The Native Americans historically referred to lacrosse as the “Medicine Game.” For the Princess Anne High School varsity boys lacrosse team, this season has required a massive dose of that healing spirit to navigate sudden coaching changes, a week without clear leadership, and a list of injuries.
The Cavaliers’ resilience was put to the test early in the season when the team spent a full week entirely without a coach. The unexpected disruption, which occurred over spring break, forced some players to rely on themselves to keep their practices going. “Our captains ran our practice for a while,” sophomore Jacob Chavis said. “I think they did a decent job. Obviously, it would have helped to have a coach here, but I think they did a pretty nice job.”
However, the lack of structure quickly exposed the team’s vulnerabilities. “When we didn’t have a coach, it was definitely a little chaotic,” sophomore Oliver Fallin added. “It wasn’t really in order.”
The chaos subsided when Coach Mike Beattie stepped in to spearhead the program. Beattie was a familiar face, having been involved with the lacrosse community since its club days in 2020. He explained that he had previously watched his own son, who graduated in 2024, play for the team. Because Beattie already knew half of the roster before taking over, the transition was built on pre-existing trust and relationships.
“[I’m] trying to keep them moving, keep them motivated,” Beattie said of his initial approach. “There weren’t any real fixes. There’s definitely a change. Change isn’t always easy for everybody.”
He described the season as “full of adversity” because of the sudden coaching transitions and injuries they faced. For the coach, a central focus of the season was sustaining the legacy of Princess Anne lacrosse, honoring a tradition for a long time in the club days. He noted that “there have been players recognized for first and second team for district awards.”
Adjusting to Beattie’s system meant an immediate shift in how they interacted on the field, steering away from isolated play toward a unified front. “I think we played more as a team instead of just by ourselves and individually,” Chavis said. “I think with our old coach, it was more of just an individual game.”
While the coaching change altered the team’s internal dynamics, the team maintained steady performance throughout the Beach Region. Following a 19-3 loss against Hanover High School on Mar. 21, the Cavaliers secured a series of victories, including an 11-9 win over Ocean Lakes, a 19-0 win against Bayside, and a 12-11 win over Kempsville.
Alongside the structural changes, the Cavaliers have also battled physical setbacks. Key players like sophomore Adam Smith missed the majority of the season, while freshman Carson Regan was recently sidelined with a broken thumb.
Despite these setbacks and a 17-0 loss to Kellam High School on May 8, the team’s internal bond has stayed intact. “We had a big test last week, which we lost by a bunch, but this team kind of stuck together,” Beattie noted. “That was a good sign. They weren’t fighting after that.” Junior Conner Denton agreed that the challenging circumstances ultimately brought the players closer. “We’ve really grown closer together as a team,” Denton added. “The team has been playing a lot better.” Denton, who started playing sports young, with soccer and baseball before being recruited to lacrosse his freshman year for the fall season, picked up the sport with his late grandfather’s stick.
As the regular season winds down, individual and collective goals remain the focus. Junior Jacob Chavis, who is currently a leading player in the Beach Region in scoring, is aiming for postseason recognition. Chavis joined the lacrosse community after playing club ball with his friends as a kid and “falling in love with the game.” He said his goal for the rest of the season would be “to make a second team or region as a sophomore.”
The program has also had multiple players win USA lacrosse awards. Beattie highlighted that they had Noah McCarty last year, who was an All-American, currently playing at Virginia Wesleyan. He also mentioned Sawyer Dole, an Academic All-American, and Xavier Jardine, class of ‘23, their goalie, who was also an Academic All-American. The year before that was Gunnar Romsland, who won the Bob Scott Award, which is part of giving back to the lacrosse world. Beattie stated that they are “trying to keep going in that direction here.” The team has also fostered academic excellence, highlighted by former standout and 2024 valedictorian Derek Lindenberg.
Those postseason accolades continued to build with the announcement of the 2025-2026 Region 5A Boys Lacrosse All-Region Team. Senior Diego Cobos secured a spot as a Second Team Midfielder, while senior West Oderman was honored as a Second Team Defenseman. Several more standouts, including senior Maxwell Schubart, junior Conner Denton, and sophomores Jacob Chavis and Nicholas Granata, also received regional recognition as nominees for the all-region selections.
Sustaining that program trajectory looks promising, as some players are already looking toward the team’s future. Beattie noted that one of the graduating players has already told him he would like to come back and help out next year, which he calls “definitely a good sign.”
With the postseason approaching, the Cavaliers are relying on their collected perseverance to carry them forward. First-year player Mark Jessup noted that the welcoming environment makes it a good option for new athletes, adding that anyone considering playing should try out because “anyone can make it.” Beattie added, “Hopefully everyone likes it enough to come back, spread the word about the game, and grow the sport a little bit.”
