Oregon high school boys lacrosse: Meet the top stars of 2022 (Part 1)

By René Ferrán

SBLive Oregon is highlighting several of the top boys lacrosse players in the state. Here is Part 1 of our list.

All statistics are as of mid-May. Our list was created based on nominations made by Oregon high school lacrosse coaches. Many coaches did not respond. We invite fans to send us names of players they feel should be added. 

Photo by Chase Allgood

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A Kade Barvitz, Sr., Aloha-Southridge

Barvitz has led the Warrior Hawks in scoring the past two seasons and was well on his way to doing so again this spring with 27 goals and five assists (4.6 points per game), 20 ground balls won and only nine turnovers through seven games. He was a second-team all-Metro selection last season. “Kade is very technically sound,” coach Paul Voas said. “He has both a great dodging ability paired with an uncanny ability to get open, catch and shoot in traffic.” 

A Royal Beard, Fr., Century

Beard might have been considered the future of the Jaguars program before the season, but he’s quickly impacting its present as well, leading the team with 14 goals through seven games with a 39% shot percentage. His best game came against Wilsonville, when he scored seven of the Jaguars’ 10 goals, including the game-winner in the final minute. “Royal’s knowledge of the game is outstanding,” coach Robert Beard said. 

A Eric Brostek, Jr., Bend-Caldera

Brostek played a big part in the Lava Bears’ 11-5 start to the season. A second-team all-High Desert selection a year ago, he leads the team in goals (32), assists (22) and ground balls won (49). 

G Kaiden Brown, Sr., Glencoe

Brown stepped right off the wrestling mat, where he qualified for the OSAA 6A state championships with a runner-up finish at the Pacific district meet, and onto the lacrosse field, where he was an all-Pacific honorable mention selection last spring. He has a game with 18 saves this season. “Kaiden is an incredible worker who understands what it takes to put your sweatsuit on, your headphones in, and get to work,” coach Kaelen Stow said. “Because of this, Kaiden is reaching new heights.”

LSM Gus Burrell, Sr., Thurston

Burrell was a second-team all-Southwest selection last spring whom Colts coach Ken Rodgers said is “responsible for numerous fast-break opportunities thus far. He’s super aggressive and will pressure middies all the way out to midfield.” 

D/LSM Omar Carranza, Sr., Aloha-Southridge

Warrior Hawks coach Paul Voas calls Carranza “our most disruptive defender” whom he matches against the opponent’s top offensive player. The second-team all-Metro selection had 31 ground balls won and 21 forced turnovers in the first seven games while also chipping in two goals and four assists. “Omar is an extremely aggressive and disruptive defender,” Voas said. “He’s athletic enough to play both close D and LSM.” 

LSM Kyle Claussen, Sr., Bend-Caldera

Claussen was a second-team all-High Desert selection last season. He leads the Lava Bears in caused turnovers (19) this season and is second on the team with 38 ground balls won.

A Lucas Clemons, So., Thurston

Clemons’ father, Lionel, is a Hall of Fame lacrosse player at Santa Clara who now serves as the Colts’ attack coach. Lucas is off to a strong start to his own career, having earned second-team all-Southwest honors as a freshman. “He has the smoothest stick skills on the team,” coach Ken Rodgers said. “Very quick and an excellent feeder at attack.”

M/FOS Brady Davis, Sr., Century

Davis, a first-team all-Pacific selection last spring, is dominant on faceoffs with a .750 win percentage and more than 80 faceoff wins in the Jaguars’ first seven games. The Grand Canyon commit and four-year starter also has 60 ground balls won this season. 

M/A Evan Grimshaw, Sr., Glencoe

Grimshaw earned first-team all-Pacific honors as an attackman last spring. He splits time between attack and midfield this season. Crimson Tide coach Kaelen Stow called Grimshaw “one of the most naturally gifted players that I have had the pleasure of coaching. Not only is he a natural athlete, but he also has one of the highest lacrosse IQs in the state.” 

M Ronan Iverson, Sr., Aloha-Southridge

Iverson broke both bones in his left wrist in last spring’s season finale, giving him a chance to coach youth teams over the summer. He returned this season and played a critical role in the Warrior Hawks’ 9-4 start — in their first seven games, he had 10 goals, 24 ground balls won and nine caused turnovers. “Ronan is the spiritual leader of the team,” coach Paul Voas said. “His physical play sets the tone for both our offense and defense. He is a true offense-defense midfielder, playing on both the man up and man down teams, and as a lefty, he presents a difficult cover.” 

A Zackary Kirigiti, Jr., Century

Kirigiti has moved from the midfield, where he was an all-Pacific honorable mention pick as a sophomore, to attack this spring, becoming the team’s second-leading scorer and shooting at a 37% clip through seven games. “Zack sees the entire field, creates his own openings and takes advantage of them,” Jaguars coach Robert Beard said. 

M/FOS Tyler Konold, So., Canby

Konold led Class 5A in rushing yards for the state quarterfinalist football team, and now he’s sparking the lacrosse team with his 60% success rate on faceoffs while also contributing nine goals and four assists. “He’s an absolute workhorse on the field who is not afraid to run over people,” coach Trey Bellmore said. “Tyler is a big, physical kid who does a tremendous job of getting us extra possessions.”