With a new coach and their eyes on the OAA White title, Oxford boys lacrosse is back at it with big dreams this spring.

“My boys are very competent, hardworking, good students, good student athletes,” Head Coach Shawn Regan said. “They seem to really have a good progression building from the last few weeks. It seems like, as I’m getting to know them, they have a bond outside of lacrosse, which helps.”

Regan is an Oxford guy through and through. He grew up playing Wildcat football and basketball, teaches in the district and coaches a few other sports. Because of that, he’s hoping to teach the boys the same lessons he learned when he was in their shoes.

“My biggest goal going into the season was to be a positive influence on the student athletes and bring an enthusiastic attitude toward the program,” he said.

To get there, the team is working on putting the team first. The Wildcats have a lot of talented underclassmen this season, so Regan and his assistants are working on reminding the boys that the whole team contributes to a win.

“Our biggest strength will be as we progress through the season is that we have a ‘team first’ attitude,” Regan said. “Oxford’s athletic programs are using to the motto ‘All In.’ We use that as well and then as a separate program, our ‘team first’ attitude has been our mantra.”

Aside from the coaches, the team’s four senior captains, Sam Barrott, Seth Grove, Collin Grzanka and Thomas Wandrie, are leading the way with their attitudes.

“Seniors need to learn to be leaders. When you have senior leadership, the rest follows… Seniors just have something unique about themselves and the younger kids tend to look up to them,” Regan said. “All four of them have totally different personalities and three of the four of them play different sports and were captains for their different sports. The personalities are different, but they all bring something to the table.”

Currently with a 1-2 overall record, the boys are looking forward to hosting tough schools like Rochester and Gabriel Richard in their ambitions for the OAA White championship this spring.

The boys hosted Lapeer on April 9 after the Leader went to press. They will play again on April 11 when they host Farmington at the Oxford Elementary Stadium.