Romar Dennis looking for redemption at 2026 Championship Series

Romar Dennis remembers opening an email from the PLL three years ago. It contained information, including rules, for the first-ever Championship Series.

He couldn’t believe what he read.

“There’s no way there’s a 13-yard two-point line. That’s insane,” he said to himself. “This is awesome. That’s not really fair to goalies, but sure.”

Dennis took advantage of the opportunity, securing the inaugural Golden Stick Award by scoring 34 points, including a record 15 two-pointers, in the 2023 Championship Series. In the first three years of the event, no other player has even scored 10 two-pointers. That year, teams were game-planning for Dennis and covering him as soon as Atlas goalie Jack Concannon touched the ball.

Despite his individual success, the Atlas lost to the Chrome in the championship game. Caring more about winning than scoring goals, Dennis said it felt “brutal” accepting the Golden Stick Award next to the Chrome players as they celebrated their victory.

In 2026, with the California Redwoods, he’ll get another shot at that title that has eluded him.

“Any time you put on a uniform and have some pride in it like I do, like my teammates do with the Redwoods, you get so competitive that it could be a PLL cornhole tournament and we would all have the same kind of intensity,” the veteran midfielder said. “You don’t want to see other guys hoist any kind of trophy, and I’m excited to compete and hopefully win.”

Going into the inaugural Championship Series, Dennis wasn’t even sure he would make the Atlas roster after his role with the team diminished during the summer. Then he saw the rules and shortened two-point arc. Knowing his strengths – Dennis ranks eighth all-time in two-point goals – he believed he could excel at the Championship Series, even if others did not.

He also had a bitter taste in his mouth from how the team’s season had ended, with a 19-14 loss to the Waterdogs in the quarterfinals. Dennis took very little time off, opting to channel his disappointment from the season into his training for the Championship Series.

“My shot felt amazing going into that week,” Dennis said. “I was the most powerful and best shooting shape I’ve ever been in.”

For all that Dennis accomplished in the 2023 Championship Series, it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory – a win that came at a devastating cost. Because he shot so much in such a short timeframe – the Atlas played five games in five days – he created stress fractures in his L4 and L5 vertebrae.

“I haven’t been able to get healthy or be the same since,” Dennis admitted. “It’s been a battle ever since then to find some consistency. That was the best I ever felt playing lacrosse as a pro, but also, it was part of my downfall.”

Dennis was traded to the Redwoods during the 2023 season and got the opportunity to return to the Championship Series in 2024. He took the opposite approach to that tournament; he stopped shooting from September through February, and he had minor surgery, undergoing a nerve ablation on both sides in an attempt to stop the pain. He underwhelmed in the Championship Series compared to the hype, totaling just 12 points in four games.

Now, he is back for redemption. Dennis said he has been smarter about how he trains and prepares, and he believes he’s as close to that 2023 version of himself as he’s ever been. He also thinks the new Championship Series schedule, which spreads the games over two weekends, will allow for more rest and help him physically.

Redwoods head coach Anthony Kelly is very excited to see Dennis perform at the Championship Series.

“He adds another layer to our offense where guys have to respect him and get out and play on him,” Kelly said. “When that happens, you pull the defense out. That’s what creates some layups on the other side for some of the other guys. I’m really looking forward to what Romar can do.”

“We’ve had some talks in the offseason about adding another layer to his game about getting inside the first layer of the defense and getting to tough spots on the field,” Kelly added. “If he has the ability to do that, that’s going to create layups for us in the Sixes format.”

Dennis is grateful to the PLL medical staff who have helped him take care of his body over the past three years; he said he wouldn’t be able to play without them.

Now, he’s excited to spend more time with his Redwoods teammates — and hopefully enjoy more team success this time around.

“I like our odds,” he said. “I think we’ll have a great crew. I trust our coaches to put us in a great position to win.”