Follow the NLF on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
A dozen Division I commits in October would be impressive for any club, but the numbers only tell part of the story. More than hype, MadLax 2027 is a story punctuated with balance, loyalty, and chemistry—variables with the power to turn a deep roster into one of the most complete groups in the country.
Led by head coach Coleman Walsh and program director Cabell Maddux, MadLax is a tight-knit squad less interested in five-star labels and more focused on playing end to end with a shared mission to make each other better.
“These kids have been together for years,” Maddux said. “No five-stars, no superstars. What we have here is a roster full of college-caliber athletes who all contribute. Balance makes them different.”
Run DMV
MadLax has long been a staple of DMV lacrosse. Founded in 1996, the program has produced hundreds of college players. Recent alums include Virginia All-American and 2025 PLL MVP Connor Shellenberger, Army All-American and Tewaaraton finalist Jackson Eicher, Maryland All-American SSDM and current Miami Dolphins safety Dante Trader, among others. The club boasts a reputation for combining structure with swagger. This 2027 group is a class loaded with grit, versatility, and a deep understanding of what it means to play as one.
Walsh sees it every day. MadLax practices don’t resemble typical club tune-ups. They run closer to college sessions, fast and loud and built on constant pressure. Every ground ball is contested, every drill feels like a playoff shift.
“They play furious,” he said. “Between the lines, it’s chaos. They make it miserable for the other team to breathe.”
13 Commits and Counting
On-field chaos starts with defensive stalwart Will Klauder, an LSM from St. John’s (D.C.) committed to Villanova. He thrives on disruption, the kind of player who turns loose balls into transition chances and momentum swings.
“I want to make the other team uncomfortable,” Klauder said. “Ground balls, turnovers, and pushing transition. That’s when I’m at my best. Every time I step on the field, I’m trying to make a play.”
One of the original four MadLax players, Klauder has grown up inside the program. He’s watched it evolve from a small DMV outfit into a nationally recognized pipeline.
“It’s the same culture it’s always been,” he said. “Discipline, hard work, and having fun while competing. Everyone’s close and we play so well together.”
Will Ackerly adds his own brand of defensive intensity. The Bucknell-bound LSM out of St. Christopher’s (Va.) boasts elite speed, a blur in transition with the motor to match.
“I’ve always been a smaller guy, so I play as hard as I can every shift,” Ackerly said. “You can’t fake effort. You either bring it or you don’t.”
Play as One
Relentlessness defines Madlax’s defensive identity. When the whistle blows, the team’s midfield monsters swarm. Ackerly’s speed, Klauder’s disruption, and their shared ability to turn defense into offense have made MadLax’s ride one of the toughest in the game.
“It’s chaos between the lines and discipline below the restrainer,” Walsh said. “That’s who we are.”
Speed carries to the offensive side of the field, where Jack Borg, a Michigan commit from Deerfield (Mass.), runs the offense like a conductor. The No. 73 ’27 a product of the program’s “positionless lacrosse” philosophy, capable of playing anywhere on the offensive end.
“The coaches taught us to play anywhere on the field,” Borg said. “Attack, midfield, behind the cage, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to be ready to dodge or feed from every spot.”
Versatility makes Borg difficult to pin down. His box lacrosse background gave him the hands and patience to finish through traffic, and his control near the crease turns broken plays into goals.
“Box made me use control instead of strength,” he said. “It’s all touch and composure.”
Borg’s adaptability mirrors Nate Randles, a Penn State commit from Yorktown (Va.) whose on-field personality is equal parts scorer and facilitator. The No. 39 junior nationally, Randles is a lefty who can initiate, finish, or swing the ball depending on what the defense gives him.
“A lot of us have played together since fourth grade,” Randles said. “We trust each other. Nobody has to force shots or take over a game. Every guy can make the right play.”
Randles fits perfectly into the Madlax rhythm: move the ball, move your feet, play unselfishly. For a team loaded with players who could lead elsewhere, chemistry stands out most.
Talent at Every Level
At midfield, Dylan Behrens brings a different kind of energy. The Princeton commit and Georgetown Prep (Md.) football standout adds muscle and grit to the group.
“Football made me more physical,” said Behrens, tabbed as the No. 75 player in the class. “I’m never afraid of contact. It keeps me sharp all year.”
He’s a true two-way midfielder, the kind every college program wants. He defends, clears, scores, and does the dirty work that rarely shows up in box scores.
“I care more about assists than goals,” he said. “Helping my teammates succeed matters most.”
Behrens’ selfless attitude runs through the roster. Nobody hunts stats, nobody freelances for attention. They win because they move as one.
“We’re all friends off the field,” Klauder said. “That’s what builds chemistry. You play harder when you’re playing for your friends.”
Connection drives the program. While other clubs cycle through rosters, this group stays intact. It’s not just about exposure or tournament banners, it’s about building something lasting.
“There’s no hero on this team,” Maddux said. “Every guy can score, every guy can defend. College coaches love them because they see a complete unit.”
“Set the Bar”
The players know it, too. Most of them are already committed, but that hasn’t changed the way they practice or compete. The focus now shifts to representing the MadLax name and keeping the standard high for the younger teams coming behind them.
“This team set the bar for how to handle recruiting,” Maddux said. “They trained the right way, played in the right tournaments, and did all the little things right. That example will carry forward.”
Commitments keep coming, but the 2027s stay locked on what got them here. They’ve built a game rooted in trust and fueled by pride. It’s fast, it’s fierce, and it never lets up.
“Madlax is family,” Randles said. “Years from now, I’ll remember the practices, the hotels, the tournaments, all of it. We’ve been through everything together. That’s what makes it special.”
MadLax 2027 Commitments
Will Ackerly, LSM, St. Christopher’s (Va.) – Bucknell
Jack Ambrose, SSDM, Gonzaga (D.C.) – Providence
NLF No. 75 Dylan Behrens, M, Georgetown Prep (Md.) – Princeton
NLF No. 73 Jack Borg, A/M, Deerfield (Mass.) – Michigan
NLF No. 72 Wyatt Douglas, M, St. John’s (D.C.) – Penn State
Cole Guckenberger, D, St. John’s (D.C.) – Air Force
Will Klauder, LSM, St. John’s (D.C.) – Villanova
Owen Laszewski, FO/M, Highland Park (Texas) – Army
NLF No. 99 Tommy Leland, FO/M, Gonzaga (D.C.) – Colgate
Henry Oakey, A, Taft (Conn.) – Ohio State
Ben Phillips, D, St. John’s (D.C.) – Bucknell
NLF No. 39 Nate Randles, A, Yorktown (Va.) – Penn State
Cooper Sinclair, D, Good Counsel (Md.) – Delaware