The 2025 season was a huge turnaround year for the Durango High School boys lacrosse team, and second-year head coach Valeria Skarbek wants to make sure it’s the standard.
Before Skarbek, the program struggled mightily, winning five games from 2021-2024. Last season, Skarbek came in and instilled a more disciplined culture, leading to a 6-9 overall record, 4-6 record in the 4A Mountain League and a trip to the 4A state playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Now, the Demons and Skarbek are ready for Year 2, with a lot of players in new roles after Durango lost three key seniors. However, the goal of getting to the state playoffs remains the same as the Demons open the season at Chaparral on Friday.
“I’m very excited,” Skarbek said. “I feel more confident, and we feel more organized … We’ve got nearly 50 kids registered.”
The Demons had to have some varsity players swing down and play junior varsity last season, but that shouldn’t be a problem this year with the increase in players on the squads. Skarbek said there’s nearly 30 kids on the varsity squad this season, which will help with keeping kids fresh during the games in a fast-paced sport.
Skarbek brings back a fantastic support staff. She’s very excited to have former Fort Lewis College club boys lacrosse coach Tom Mudrak back. He came on during the season last year, but has been with the team and Skarbek since the preseason, taking advantage of a warm winter in Durango.
“It would take me like two hours to put together a two-hour practice, and Tom can do it in five minutes,” Skarbek said. “He has so much experience, so much knowledge, and he’s great with the guys … Having Tom this whole time, it’s taken a load off; it’s made it so much easier. I do a lot of the managerial things, and he does a lot of the X’s and O’s. It’s a really good dynamic between the two of us.”
Also back on the coaching staff is Doug Geygan. Skarbek has also brought in Aaron McQuade, a former lacrosse player who has really helped out with the defense and with the JV squad.
The coaching staff has had a lot of work to do replacing the production of three crucial seniors, JT Munger, Owen Muraro and Alex Gnehm. Munger and Muraro combined for 68% of Durango’s points, with Munger being an impressive outside shooter and passer, and Muraro being on the end of a lot of those passes around the crease. Gnehm was a great goalie who consistently made up for defensive shortcomings with good saves and clears.
On offense, Skarbek expects senior Henry Huff to step up. He was third in points with 17 goals and 15 assists, scoring in every game last season. Skarbek complimented how fast, but accurately, Huff can shoot it. She remembered stepping into the cage to play goalie in the fall, and she had to double-check to see if she saved some of his shots since they were coming at her so quickly.
Seniors Sawyer Jones, Wynn Daniels, Bennett Sheer and junior Logan Muraro are expected to step up on the offensive end. Jones and Daniels are coming off their hockey seasons, while Sheer is very motivated after missing most of last season with a concussion. Skarbek is also excited about her large group of freshman who have honed their skills playing in the local rec programs.
Replacing Gnehm in goal is a big task, but sophomore Mason Philpott is ready to try and fill those large shoes as this year’s starter.
“He’s more of a quiet leader,” Skarbek said about Philpott. “'I’d like to hear his voice more this year. That's what I'm excited about. He's got great clears, great stops … there's a lot of lot of opportunity for him to shine.”
On defense, junior Dante Devitre, senior Alex Davis and senior Grady Hooten will be the Demons’ top long stick players, with Hooten as the primary long stick midfielder. Grant Ward and Austin Blake will take a lot of faceoffs.
The Demons open up their season with two winnable road games at Chaparral and at Summit before returning home to begin league play against Telluride on March 12.
Other than making the playoffs again, Skarbek’s big goal for the team is to beat Telluride after losing two tough games to them last season. The Demons are trying to catch Telluride after finishing behind them, Fruita Monument and Grand Junction in the league standings last season.
“These seniors are hungry,” Skarbek said. “They have been motivated. They have been on each other to do really well and to work really hard. It's really great to see them take a lot of leadership positions and step up.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
