Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/14/26
Staff Report
Penncrest coach Evan Pettit, who guided the Lions to the PIAA 2A title game in his second year at the helm, was named the 2025-2026 NFHS/Pennsylvania Boys’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Pettit’s Lions went 17-7 in 2026, winning the District 1 championship and claiming a memorable 5-overtime marathon over Twin Valley to reach the PIAA finals. They fell to Mars, 14-13, in the championship. Pettit was a long-time Penncrest assistant who took over for the retiring Wayne Matsinger in 2025. Penncrest was 11-8 in Pettit’s first season.
“I’m very humbled; the 2026 season was an incredibly memorable one,” said Pettit. “Our success was not a result of me but the collective work of the players, coaches, community, and my family. Everyone in our little bubble of Penncrest/Rose Tree Media Optimist should share the same feeling of accomplishment.”
Pettit credited his staff of Eric Poole, Jeff R. Pettit, Kyle O’Connor, Ryan Matsinger, Brian Swierczek, Christian Mayer and Andrew Wickman.
