As the Fuquay-Varina High School mens lacrosse season came to an end, three seniors, Connor Castle, Ben Thrift, and Nick Ratnesar finished their high school careers as record-breakers and team leaders, leaving behind unforgettable memories.
Connor Castle, the Bengals’ top scorer and offensive leader, ended his career with an incredible 215 goals, 184 assists, and 399 total points across 74 games averaging 5.4 points per game, the most in school history.
Castle was awarded conference offensive player of the year, team offensive player of the year and all conference at the lacrosse banquet.
“I’ve been playing since I was five years old,” Castle said. “Knowing the game helps me stay consistent.”
Even with all the goals he scored, Castle said it was the assists he was most proud of.
“I take more pride in the assists because it meant I was making my teammates around me better,” said Castle.
One moment stands out among many.
“My favorite memory was scoring the overtime game-winner against Cleveland last year,” Castle said. “We, as a team, did not play very well, and we battled through adversity and showed that when we are not our best that we can still find a way to win.”
Goalie Ben Thrift finished his FVHS career with 2,485 minutes played, 621 saves, a .528 save percentage, and 34 wins in 68 games making his place in the record books.
At the lacrosse banquet, Thrift was awarded all conference and defensive player of the year.
“My skills didn’t change much,” Thrift said. “It was my mentality that did. Once that flipped, it was night and day.”
Instead of focusing on a single big moment, Thrift said his success came from consistent effort over time.
“It was everything coming together,” Thrift said. “My favorite games were always against Willow Springs.”
Faceoff specialist Nick Ratnesar was a key part of the Bengals’ success. Over 61 games, he won 740 of 1,101 faceoffs, a 67.2% success rate, and added 39 points.
“Winning faceoffs gives us fast offensive chances,” Ratnesar said. “If we play it right, we should score almost every time.”
Despite his record-setting performance, Ratnesar said he wasn’t thinking about stats.
“It honestly feels no different,” he said. “The record wasn’t on my mind, I just wanted to help the team.”
At the lacrosse banquet, he was awarded Most Valued Player (MVP) and honorable mention for all state.
His advice for younger players: “Start early and work hard in the off-season. That’s how you earn varsity time.”
Together, Castle, Thrift, and Ratnesar didn’t just break records, they showed what dedication, teamwork, and love for the game can accomplish. Their legacy will inspire the next generation of Bengals.
