Boys Lax Names Captains

Clare and DePeters Set to Lead Taft Lacrosse in 2009

1/28/2009
This coming spring will be the 49th for the Taft Varsity Lacrosse team, and leading the charge will be two young men that bring a variety of strengths to a program that is on the cusp of turning the corner and restoring a winning tradition in Watertown. Senior Defenseman Pat Clare and Senior Attackman Johnny DePeters will captain a team full of seniors and returning lettermen that is hungry for success.

Senior Pat Clare is one of two seniors that will be entering his fourth season with the varsity lacrosse team. A leader by example, Clare is an incredibly hardworking young man that has spearheaded the off-season strength and conditioning program this winter, and led both seniors and underclassmen in daily lifting and running exercises. Clare has started at close defense since his tenth grade season and is a smart position defender that will lead a deep group of defensemen this spring. Clare’s smarts transcend the field and into the classroom where he is also very accomplished. Next year, Clare will continue his lacrosse career at Tufts University where he will play for a program that has consistently been ranked in the top 15 in the country at the DIII level.

Senior Johnny DePeters is unquestionably the leader of the offense. DePeters returns as the team’s high scorer from 2008 where he tallied 36 goals and 42 points in just 13 games. He always drew the opposition’s top defenseman, and many times, got the better of him. At 6’4”, 205 pounds, DePeters is a load for opposing defenses to handle; and not only is he a large body, but he is also an athletic player – as is exemplified by the three varsity letters he earned for the soccer team. A starter since the first day he arrived as a tenth grader, DePeters will be counted on to score goals, but also improve his assist numbers from ’08. Off the field, DePeters is a member of both the Oriocos and Collegium – two very prestigious singing groups on campus. Next year, he will attend Brown University and continue to play lacrosse for a school that starts their 2009 campaign ranked #13 in the country.


Coaches Casey D’Annolfo, Rob Madden ’03, and Chris Dietrich look forward to this group of captains leading a deep Taft team to a successful campaign in 2009. 

THE TAFT SCHOOL  | 110 Woodbury Road | Watertown, Connecticut 06795 | 860-945-7777 | Info@TaftSchool.org