There are words used so often in athletics that they start to lose their meaning. Team. Culture. Brotherhood. They end up on walls, printed on gear, repeated in pregame speeches until they become background noise.

For Thayer's boys varsity lacrosse program, this spring is different.

This year's roster includes four sets of brothers, and what that creates runs far deeper than a feel-good storyline. It shapes how they compete, hold each other accountable, and show up every single day. The word “family” isn't a decoration here. It's on the back neck of their warm-up shirts, displayed throughout the locker room, and more importantly, it's being lived out on the field in a way that feels both authentic and rare.

The Moore twins, Gabe and Ethan, both seniors, have spent their entire Thayer careers growing alongside one another as teammates and competitors. When Ethan went down with an injury earlier this season, Gabe didn't waver. He stepped up in a major way, posting 25 goals and 29 total points over eight games. When Ethan returned to the lineup, there was no adjustment period, no ego. Just two brothers slipping back into rhythm. Both are committed to play Division I lacrosse together at Colgate University next year, making this final chapter at Thayer all the more meaningful for the two of them.

The Lally brothers, Ryan ’26 and Tommy ’28, bring a different kind of depth to the program's foundation. Their father, Greg ’92, wore the Thayer uniform. Their brother Teddy ’25 now competes at Notre Dame. What Ryan and Tommy are doing this spring isn't just playing lacrosse. They're part of something their family has been building across generations, a tradition that reinforces the idea that Thayer lacrosse extends far beyond any single season.

Greyson '27 and Archer '29 Liebsch bring their own dynamic to the mix. Greyson plays in goal while Archer pushes him hard in practice, creating a built-in competitive edge that sharpens them both. Their impact stretches beyond the field as well. Their father, Dan, is a member of the Middle School faculty and serves as an assistant varsity football coach, making the Liebsch family a steady presence across Thayer's campus and athletics programs throughout the year.

Then there are Quinn and Shane Devin, who represent the idea of family showing up in a less expected way. Shane competes on the field while his brother Quinn has taken on the role of team manager, a behind-the-scenes presence the team leans on more than most people realize. The two have shared a varsity roster before, skating together on the boys varsity hockey team, and that familiarity carries naturally into the spring. It's another example of how this program stays tight in ways that go well beyond playing time.

And then there is Vin Curran.

His father, Stew Curran, coached this program from 2011 to 2018 and led Thayer to its only ISL Championship in 2014. Stew passed away in 2021, and his presence, his belief in this program, and his investment in these young men still lives here in a very real way. Having Vin on the sideline as an assistant coach these last few seasons isn't just a coaching addition. It's a continuation. It's a son carrying forward what his father built, with the kind of quiet integrity that doesn't need to announce itself.

Head coach Bill Daye P ’27 has seen firsthand what that continuity means to the program. “Stu was a good friend and a well respected member of the coaching community,” he said. “Having Vin as a part of the staff the last few years has added another level to the meaning of family.” In a season where we talk a lot about what family means, there is no more honest example than that.

Daye sees the broader picture just as clearly. “The culture we've established since I've been here is based on family: how we treat each other, respect one another, hold ourselves accountable, and genuinely love each other,” he said. “These young men display this every day and add another level of authenticity to what we're building here.”

As the season unfolds, the results will speak for themselves. But what defines this group goes well beyond the scoreboard. It's the shared moments between brothers, the connections that stretch across families and generations, and the intentional culture that has been built around one simple idea.

Some teams talk about family. This one just is.