Eleven Boothbay Region High School athletes have joined the co-op boys lacrosse team this spring at Morse High School in Bath.

Participating are seniors Lucas Hardwick and Sam Page, juniors Ryan Amaral, Drew Meader, Dylan Plummer and Connor Wenners, sophomores William Clifford and Duncan Hardwick, and freshmen Braden Davis, Tyson French and Spencer Wenners.

Coaching the team is Jay Paulus.

“I've been coaching lacrosse in the Bath area for the past 20 years. Moved up from Maryland, having played lax at all levels in Baltimore,” said Paulus via email. “The level of lacrosse in Maine was quite an adjustment for me, building a lax culture continues to be a work in progress.”

Paulus said the co-op with Morse and Boothbay started last year between two parents.

“The Boothbay players lost their season in 2021, and I was approached by a parent asking if they could come out to only practice, and they did with much success. The conversations started and continued off-season. My AD and Boothbay's AD spoke and ran it up the flagpole with the MPA last year in hopes to help Boothbay. I believe Boothbay had tried CoOps with other schools unsuccessfully in the past. This is our first time attending a collaboration and we plan to do everything possible to make this a great experience for the Boothbay Seahawks.”

Morse Shipbuilder lacrosse has been a varsity sport that dates back to the early 1990s, said Paulus.

“I'm totally excited to have 11 additional players from Boothbay to join our Shipbuilders. With only a week under our belt, the squad has a lot of potential. I'll have a full two squads. It may be fun to have a 'SeaBuilders' or 'Shiphawks' theme,” said Paulus.

The addition of 11 BRHS players brings the program’s total to 32, with a junior varsity schedule also available.

“These dedicated players committing to come down to Morse to practice and play are an important part of our team,” said Paulus.