For all of the Benedictine’s success as the dominant lacrosse program in the Savannah area, head coach Dustin White is keenly aware that the Cadets’ goals each season extend well beyond the Coastal Empire.
If they’re going to make a deep run in the GHSA playoffs, the Cadets will have to test themselves against talented teams such as from the Atlanta area in addition to scheduling local schools with burgeoning programs.
“We’re not the baddest people on the block because we can beat a team that isn’t very experienced by a lot of goals because there’s somebody out there that’s always better than us,” White said Tuesday.
One night earlier, Benedictine (10-1) had suffered its first loss, 10-5, against visiting Greater Atlanta Christian (10-4), which competes in Class 5A-6A. For Benedictine, which is 4-0 in 1A-4A Area 8, it was a good loss, a needed experience, White said.
“We need to see those types of games before we head to the playoffs,” said White, whose team has outscored foes 149-45. “One important thing to note: BC since joining GHSA in 2014 has never won a second-round playoff game. The reason is, and it’s not an excuse, we always get matched up against an Atlanta school. Historically, they’re very, very good programs. We can be the biggest, baddest team in Savannah, but they’ve played a totally different level of lacrosse up there.”
He said that BC, which started lacrosse in 2009, has had a leg up on area school whose programs are still maturing, some fielding teams
only in the past few years.
White, 27, is well-versed in this recent history, having enrolled at Benedictine as a sophomore in 2011 and been part of spring 2012 and 2013 championship squads in the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League.
There weren’t enough Georgia teams within a reasonable drive, so Benedictine turned to the Palmetto State to fill out a limited schedule. BC lacrosse joined the GHSA in White’s senior season of 2014.
He played at Mercer University as younger brother Dylan White (Class of 2018) was on the BC team. Dustin White -- who had played for BC standout coaches Dick McAllaster and Dennis Daly -- in 2021 became an assistant for another in that line of successful leaders in Peter Newman.
White was promoted when Newman stepped down in 2022. The squad went 15-2 overall and 8-0 in its region, outscoring opponents 209-105 but falling to Atlanta's Westminster 21-1 in the second round of the playoffs.
White credits theses coaches as mentors and for traditions that built the program. He said it’s “kind of cool” that assistant Liam Cunningham and he were senior co-captains on the 2014 squad and now are coaches.
“I think the biggest point is we’ve established a culture and we’ve kept that culture,” White said.
Traditions include selecting a senior to wear No. 10 in memory of former Cadets lacrosse player Ricky McAllaster, who died in a car accident in 2010.
White wore No. 10 in 2014, and senior captain Charlie Iannone, a defenseman, wears it this season. Iannone called it “a very humbling
feeling.”
“It feels great knowing how that’s how people view you and trust you,” he said. “It’s also realizing you did great before, but you need to step it up even more as a leader.”
Iannone, who played for BC’s back-to-back Class 4A state championship football teams the past two seasons, said the lacrosse program has a similar culture.
“Everyone always points to the football program for its tradition, how things are done,” Iannone said. “But every sport (at BC) is kind of the same. Everyone’s competing with each other, trying to push each other as hard as you can go. It’s always competing and working on getting each other better.”
That follows White’s strategy to schedule tough games, like a spring break contest at Chapel Hill (N.C.) High on April 13. Even better is seeing local teams improve, make BC better and eventually beat the Cadets.
“I don’t think it’s going to be the end of the world,” White said. “That’s a good day for us, in a way, because that means everybody’s getting competitive. That’s the reason the Atlanta teams are so good because every game they play is a competitive dogfight.”
FACTBOX
Ranked #2 in Georgia High School School Class 1-4A Rankings
Benedictine lacrosse statistical leaders
Nick Hall, sophomore goalie, 70 percent save percentage;
Trey Zanone, junior attackman, 21 goals and 23 assists;
Calvin Rose, junior midfielder, 37 goals and five assists;
Liam Hogan, junior midfielder, 20 goals and nine assists;
Riley Wilson, junior faceoff/attackman, 72 percent faceoff-win percentage, 70 ground balls and just over 40 points.
PHOTO CREDIT: Benedictine Military School and Just Shoot Sports
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
