Take a look: The State’s 2026 all-area HS boys lacrosse team, players of the year
A look at The State’s Midlands all-area boys lacrosse teams and players of the year for the 2026 season.
All-Area Boys Lacrosse Team
— The State’s Player of the Year —
Pope Johnson, AC Flora: Senior attack had 59 goals, 29 assists and 27 ground balls. Johnson was Upper State Player of the Year and first team All-State selection.
— Readers’ choice Player of the Year (fan vote) —
First Team
John Grove, AC Flora: Senior face-off won 61.7 percent (140 total) of face-offs and had 5 goals, 5 assists and 113 ground balls. Grove was a first-team All-State selection.
Sawyer Headley, Lexington: Senior had 34 goals, 22 assists despite missing five games because of injury. Headley had 60 ground balls, 15 takeaways, was North-South All-Star selection, second team All-State and signed with Mars Hill.
Sam Heroman, Hammond: Senior Long Stick Midfielder was SCISA Player of Year after scoring two goals with 97 ground balls, 75 takeaways and 29 face-offs won.
Pope Johnson, AC Flora: Senior attack had 59 goals, 29 assists and 27 ground balls. Johnson was Upper State Player of the Year and first team All-State selection.
Kyle Jenkins, River Bluff: Senior midfield was first team all-state selection and had 43 goals, 26 assists, 38 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
Malachi Merkovsky, Chapin: Senior attack had 66 goals, 26 assists, 60 ground balls and 14 takeaways. Merkovsky was second-team All-State selection, played in North-South game and signed with North Greenville.
Win Milliken, AC Flora: Senior Long Stick Midfielder had 7 goals, 2 assists, 80 ground balls and 43 takeaways. Milliken was first-team All-State and picked to play in the North-South game.
Ethan Moore, Chapin: Senior had 29 goals, 28 assists, 41 ground balls and 12 takeaways. Moore was Lower State Midfielder of Year and first-team All-State selection.
Jackson Register, River Bluff: Senior had 76 goals, 19 assists and 39 ground balls. Register was first-team All-State selection.
Michael Shields, River Bluff: Senior face-off had 10 goals, 6 assists, 193 ground balls and won 75.4 percent of his face-offs. Shields was second-team all-state and signed with Lander.
James Stevens, Chapin: Junior face-off had six goals, three assists, 211 ground balls and 308 face-off wins. Stevens was a first-team all-state selection.
Eddie Wright, Chapin: Senior attack had 72 goals, 26 assists, 42 ground balls and 21 takeaways. Wright was second team All-State, North-South All-Star selection and signed with Hampton Sydney College.
Goalies
John Auspelmyer, Blythewood: Junior had a 67.5 save percentage and was a second-team All-State selection.
Alex Hammond, AC Flora: Senior had a 50.9 save percentage and allowed 8.7 goals per game. Hammond was second-team All-State and played in the North-South game.
Second Team
Hampton Boling, Chapin; Tripp Cohn, Hammond; Nicholson Deese, Heathwood Hall; Sean Eagan, Dutch Fork; Andrew Hodges, Heathwood Hall; Filip Livingston, River Bluff; Ethan Covey, Chapin; Chris Moore, Spring Valley; Will Perkins, Blythewood; Sadler Pollok, Chapin; Julian Schumacher, AC Flora; Dawson Williams, Chapin; Micah Wilson, Gilbert
