BOYS Top 20 Preview: #6 Bloomington Jefferson

The Jags came out of the gate swinging last season and looked like the best team in April. They are the owners of the only blemish on the State Champion, BSM Red Knights, record and were a balanced team in all phases of the game. Loaded with talent and athletes, they spent most of the season in the top 5. Unfortunately, the magic ran out in the playoffs as they had to navigate their way through an extremely tough section, eventually losing in the section semi-finals to Edina.

“Tale of the Tape”

*according to LaxNumbers

**according to MN Lax Hub

• 2024 Record: 12-2

• Strength of Schedule: 74.91 (10th in MSHSL)*

• Team Offense: Averaged 9.71 Goals For per game (34th in MSHSL)**

  • Graduated Senior Production: 18.2%

• Team Defense: Averaged 3.79 Goals Against per game (1st in MSHSL)**

  • Graduated Defensive Personnel: Bennett Lindman (Goalie), Owen Baker (Pole), Jordan Wang (Pole)

Offense Returning

• Kevin Graff (33/19)

• Mason Van Brunt (18/11) also 66.5% FO

• Lukas Wammer (15/13)

• Jay Howat (13/8)

• Troy Stanton (13/3)

• Nathan Morrow (7/5)

• Charlie Bartsh (3/2)

Defense Returning

Alex Liu (LSM)

Jack Schwalbach (LSM)

Eric Johns (Pole)

2025 Schedule

Metro West conference will have ranked games against BSM (#1) and Chanhassen (#15). The rest of the metro west isn’t too formidable, however, Orono and New Prague feel like they are on the come up and could be better this year.

Jefferson has scheduled well Out of Conference over the last few years. They will have Rosemount (#17), Shakopee, The Valley (#14), Prior Lake (#2), Minnetonka (#16) and Holy Angels. Overall a very strong schedule that should test the Jags and prepare them for the gauntlet in sections. I am bummed they dropped the Edina game. Not only would that be a clash of two great programs, it has been a mainstay OOC matchup for years (since I was in high school!). Both programs have strong 2025/2026 classes so that would have been fun, but, we could most certainly see that matchup come to fruition in June during Section 6 Playoffs.

Final Thoughts

The Jaguars get nearly their entire offense back with 7 regulars and a few more guys who saw varsity minutes last year. They have a division 1 committed FO/M in Mason Van Brunt that will get their offense the ball… a lot. However, they will need to do more with their possessions this year because I don’t think they can replicate that #1 Ranked defense from a year ago. Not because they aren’t good (they will be good on defense) but they lost an all-American pole (Owen Baker) and all-American goalie (Bennett Lineman). Two guys who have been mainstays on that defense for 4 years. Replacing those two will be mission objective #1 for the staff.