Yorktown's Ranagan Thriving At Hopkins

By Zach Smart

 

Entering his freshman season at Johns Hopkins University, Yorktown native John Ranagan figured there would be lofty expectations and hype to answer.

 Several powerhouse programs along the eastern seaboard have become standard household NCAA recruiting profile names.

 No Section I program’s historic or current dominance, however, tells quite like Yorktown’s. The program has been given the torch to carry proudly for Westchester County, producing a steady wave of Division-I players on a yearly basis.

 A buffet-line of Yorktown alums are spread across the county, serving as coaches. They’ve helped revitalize ailing programs while simultaneously expanding the lacrosse culture throughout the region.

 Lacrosse at Yorktown is akin to basketball at Mount Vernon or baseball at Lakeland.

 There are no extended water breaks, equal opportunity playing time rules, or parents/alumni boosters whose favorable recommendation will guarantee your starting spot. In-house politics, the kid who is a babied “legacy” or the cliquey buddy circles stemming from youth lacrosse are non-existent.

 Entering his freshman season at Hopkins, Ranagan knew nothing is ever gift-wrapped for you. A dodging midfielder, Ranagan credits much of his transition from high school to college to the long, exhausting practices and the potency of schedule at Yorktown.

 “One of the great things about growing up in Yorktown is that even before you reach high school, you’re extremely excited about playing varsity lacrosse,” said the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Ranagan, now a senior and vital piece for the Blue Jays (7-4).

 “When you really pour your heart and soul into everything as a high school athlete, it really pays off in college. You keep your commitment, keep a great work ethic and you know you have to keeping working hard no matter what.”

 Once strictly dodger, Ranagan has evolved into a purified scorer. He’s ripped shots on the fly, barreled through a mountain of traffic to create shooting space. He’s been the beneficiary of several top-tier setup men. Ranagan said his teammates have helped empower his scoring.

 “In high school, I would bully my way to the cage,” Ranagan explained.

“In college, since you’re playing against such bigger and stronger players, you really have to work more on beating your man. It’s been a luxury to have played with some of the best college players. Kyle Wharton, he was a big time shooter. Zach Palmer, he’s a big time Canadian player so he’s very good with his left hand and can create. There have been so many versatile scorers who play many different roles. Mike Kimmel, he was a great facilitator. I’ve learned a bit from everyone while remaining true to who I am as a dodger.”

Playing team lacrosse has helped shape the Blue Jays into a more finely oiled machine, according to Ranagan.

“(Offensive Coordinator) Bobby Benson really preaches that we play team offense,” said Ranagan, who drilled an eight-yarder before burying a left-handed pop off an ally dodge during the Blue Jays’ recent 7-4 win against top-ranked Maryland.

“The whole always beats the sum of the parts. At the end of the day, if you’re not playing team ball, you’ll find yourself on the bench. You have to buy in wholeheartedly at this level.”

Ranagan has popped 12 goals, peddled out eight assists, and scooped up 18 groundballs while playing a supplementary role this season. He’s come a long way since his rookie season.

 Though he found his way to the starting lineup—finishing as a scorer alongside the high-scoring quartet of Kyle Wharton, Micheal Kimmel, Steven Boyle, and Sam DeVore—freshman year was a bumpy ride at best for Ranagan.

 The frustrating first round flameout, a humiliating18-5 walloping at the hands of then-No.5 Duke, was a rough finish to a dismal down year.

 "The Duke game feels like yesterday almost,” Ranagan said.

 

"Our senior class has played a lot since our freshman year. We had about six of us starting as freshmen. We’ve been through the good times and obviously the bad times.”

Ranagan was called up from the second line in Hopkins' 11-7 home loss to North Carolina back on April 3 of 2010. He learned the niceties of the system from guys such as Kimmel. This year, Ranagan has adapted into more of a leadership role.

 Ranagan first played the game as a sports-crazed third grader on a Yorktown Athletic Club lacrosse team.

His father, John Ranagan Sr. (who played football and lacrosse at Towson), was his coach. Ranagan, a psychology major with a minor in entrepreneurship and management, may not hang up the helmet after he graduates in May.

 Selected by the Rochester Rattlers as the 17^th pick in the 2013 MLL draft, he may soon find himself weighing his professional stock. Though he’s prohibited from contacting the team due to NCAA and professional rules, Ranagan said he'd consider a potential MLL career down the road.

 “Right now, my focus is on playing for one team and that’s Johns Hopkins,” said Ranagan.

Yorktown has evolved into a Hopkins pipeline. Yorktown High coach Dave Marr, a 1996 Hopkins graduate, is the program’s second all-time leader in assists. Ranagan’s best friend since childhood and former high school teammate is Blue Jays attackman Kevin Interlicchio.

Ranagan grew up watching Yorktown product Chris Watson and followed the bruising defensemen as he helped propel Hopkins to a national championship (ending a significant dry spell) over Duke in 2005.

“Seeing all the guys who had success at both Yorktown and Hopkins, it made it an easy decision to go here,” Ranagan said.

“The end goal is to go out with a national championship.One of the main reasons you come to a place like Johns Hopkins is because there is a standard you are always held to. That doesn’t change no matter how good or bad the team is, no matter how highly ranked or how under the radar. The standard is to win a national title.”