Waterloo Builds New Foundation

Program Outlook

Waterloo enters the 2026 season in Class D following a rebuilding year in 2025. The team finished 1–14, but the roster composition points toward growth, with a large portion of the lineup returning and a sizable group of underclassmen gaining varsity experience. With improved continuity and a new coaching staff in place, this season represents a reset for the program.

New Leadership

Matt VanDamme begins his first season as head coach at Waterloo. His boys scholastic record stands at 0–0, marking a fresh start for both coach and program.He was previously the girls lacrosse coach at Waterloo and played high school lacrosse at Midlakes, bringing firsthand experience at the varsity level as he steps into the role. This season will focus on establishing structure and developing a young roster.

Roster Overview

Waterloo graduated three seniors from last year’s team, all from the midfield. In their place, the Tigers return five rising seniors, five juniors, and 12 sophomores. The distribution highlights a youthful roster with increasing varsity exposure, particularly among the sophomore class that logged minutes during the 2025 season.

Returning Production

Despite last season’s record, Waterloo brings back a significant share of its offensive output. The team returns 37 goals, accounting for 65 percent of last year’s total, and 29 assists, representing 81 percent of the assists recorded in 2025. That returning production provides a measurable base as the team looks to improve consistency and execution.

Statistical Overview

In 2025, Waterloo scored 57 goals and allowed 230, averaging 3.8 goals per game while giving up 15.3 goals against. The team recorded one win by five or more goals and played one game decided within five goals. While margins were often wide, the statistical return on offense suggests an opportunity for incremental improvement as experience grows.

Games This Year

Waterloo’s 2026 schedule includes a mix of league and non-league contests. League games, designated as FLW matchups, include games against Bloomfield-Honeoye, Gananda, Midlakes, Marcus Whitman, and Mynderse-Romulus. These contests will be central to measuring progress within league play. The remaining schedule consists of NL games against opponents such as Geneva, Pal-Mac, Newark, Wayne, and Livonia-Avon-Geneseo, offering additional chances to evaluate development across the season.

Season Focus

With a first-year head coach and a roster heavy with returning underclassmen, Waterloo enters the season focused on building habits and experience. The emphasis in 2026 will be on growth, cohesion, and establishing a foundation for future seasons.

Preseason stories are based on information from SportsFive.NET databases and coaches.

Stories are planned for each of the teams in Section V and will be released, a few at a time, between now and the start of the playing season. The stories will remain on the front page for about one week and then will be available in the NEWS archive. There will be links for all the published stories HERE and a link will also be available on each TEAM PAGE.