Daily Record from Morristown, New Jersey • 46

EO Daily Record. Morris County. N.J. ALL DAILY RECORD Sunday. June 21.

2009 GiRLS LACROSSE TEAM OF THE YEAR BOYS LACROSSE TEAM OF THE YEAR ik tabes' Immw paid at mi wm ft i went end offs and super sophomore Grace Newfrock improved with each game, providing scoring and quick transitions. Jordan Renna, Alex Mintz, Hallie Walker, 10 Final Top Kylie Walsh, the Fitzgerald sisters all picked up 1. Mountain Lakes 18-5 2. Mendham 19-1 3. Chatham 15-4 4.

Madison 16-4 STAFF PHOTO: ELBAUZ MENDEZ Delbarton head coach Chuck Ruebling had much to be1 proud of when it came to his Green Wave. Although it didn't win the Tournament of Champions, Delbarton found a way into the title game again. Delbarton advanced to of final again By MARK KITCHIN STAFF WRITER Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy season to the Lakers, and a state title, too. On the days of some of their biggest state tournament wins, members of the Mountain Lakes girls lacrosse team celebrated birthdays, including coach Jen Munday. None of those wins were gifts, though.

The Lakers earned every one of them. It was a rocky road for Mountain Lakes, but 2009 All Daily Record Girls Lacrosse Team of the Year improved over the course of the season and gathered titles along the way. After a shaky start, the Lakers (18-5) tightened up on the defensive end, put in some offensive wrinkles and got tremendous play from goalkeeper Britt Dignes. The result was the first Group I championship in the history of the school the Morris County Tournament final was disappointing, but it taught the team lessons in defense and transition play. Mountain Lakes rebounded to win its next six games.

It earned early wins against Glen Rock and Kinnelon. The Lakers repeated their efforts of 2007 when they toppled Glen Ridge for a sectional title. The defense paid off in a 6-3 triumph over Shore Regional win their Group I title. They shocked rival West Essex, 18-9, setting up their title game with Moorestown. In that contest, the Lakers fought proudly and the game was in doubt until about 12 minutes left when the champion Quakers took control.

The final score was 11-8 and the Lakers showed they could be competitive with the best in the state. "We were proud of ourselves for what we had done," Renna said. "We gave it all on the field. Even though we, didn't win, we still played awesome." Mark Kitchin: 973-428-6677; mkitchingannett.com slO their offensive play. Then the defense stepped up.

Ashley Rick-ert, Gretchen Boehmcke, Casey Drollinger, Erin Turkot and Kristen Geis-chen became key cogs in the defense. Down the stretch, Dignes stepped up to make some spectacular saves. Too many others to mention contributed to the Lakers' success. Their rewards were state sectional and Group I titles. At one point, the Lakers' record was 4-3, losing to Yorktown (N.Y.) and suffering back-to-back losses to Mendham and Ridgewood.

Then they went on an eight-game winning streak which included county tournament victories against Randolph, Kinnelon and Chatham and an important regular-season triumph against West Essex. Their loss to Mendham in 5. Kinnelon 10-7 6. Morris Knolls 11-8 7. Morris Catholic 14-5 8.

West Morris 8-10 9. Roxbury 12-8 10. 11-10 Other teams considered: Hanover Regional 9-9, Montville 8-7, Pope John 10-7. of the year was to get them to believe in themselves," Munday said. "Once we got to state tournament time, that's what they started to do.

They believed they were good players. They believed they were a good team and that they could play with Moorestown." Mountain Lakes enjoyed some terrific performances along the way. Meagan Stickle provided plenty of scoring and face- 1. Delbarton 19-3 2. Kinnelon 16-6 3.

Mountain Lakes 14-5 4. Mendham 12-6 5. Chatham 13-6 6. West Morris 15-5 and a trip to the Tournament of Champions final. "Our message to them from the very beginning By MARK KITCHIN Staff Writer It's not easy being a target year after year.

It seems that no matter what team wins the state boys lacrosse title the previous season, the ones that hope to earn the honor the following year always circle Delbarton on their calendar when they get their annual schedule. It's because the Green Wave returns to the Tournament of Champions final year after year. They don't always win it all, but the quality of teams that they produce each season is at the highest level. The Green Wave, traditionally sends some of the best players in North Jersey to top-notch colleges. This season was no exception.

Delbarton finished with the best record in the area with an 19-3 mark and did not lose to a New Jersey team until they fell to an outstanding Summit team, 8-4, in the Tournament of Champions final. "I couldn't be more proud of this group," Delbarton coach Chuck Ruebling said. "We had a tremendous senior class who were very determined to make the most of the opportunity provided for them. We felt blessed to be here. We were disappointed in the outcome but it was a great season." What probably distinguishes the Green Wave squads more than any other team in the county is their depth.

Delbarton had plenty of capable and talented players who filled in for each other and did a solid job. For example, when goalkeeper Billy Hurley suffered a concussion mid-season, teammates Andrew Sawyer and Andrew DeRenzi stepped up to keep the Green Wave machine rolling. Or when attackmen Ryan Foley and Nick Do-herty were heavily covered, Mike Marone stepped up and had some exceptional games. "That's one of the great 7. Madison 11-10 8.

Randolph 12-8 9. Jefferson 10-10 10. Montville 15-5 Other teams considered: Boonton 9-9, Morris Knolls 10-9. Morristown 9-8, Mor-ristown-Beard 9-9, Mount Olive 9-11, Pope John 1 1 -6, Roxbury 11-6. conference play to earn the Gibbs Division title against some public school heavyweights like Ridgewood and Mountain Lakes.

Their losses were to New York squads St. Anthony's and Chaminade. The Green Wave played well during the Morris County Tournament. They pounded Morris Knolls (13-3), Madison (18-10) and worked past a game Chatham team (8-6). Attackman Nick Doherty scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds of an exciting 12-11 MCT title contest against rival Mountain Lakes in front of a capacity crowd at FDU-Florham.

The Green Wave had plenty of success in state play. They dominated Don Bosco Prep (17-5) and Bergen Catholic (11-4) in the early rounds. They were severely tested but came through a tough St. Jor seph's (Metuchen) team td earn a 6-5 victory and a Non-Public A title. Delbarton looked to be in fine form when it downed Bridgewater-Rari-tan 13-3 in the Tournament of Champions semifinals, However, Summit, which had lost to the Green Wave, 10-6, on opening day; was waiting.

Although disappointed afterward, the Delbarton players eventually recog- nized the hard work and effort it took to get to the championship game. They were proud to earn honors and awards and reach heights that most of their opponents will never attain. Mark Kitchin: 973-428-6677; mkitchingannett.com GIRLS LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR Munday has her alma mater shining By MARK KITCHIN and wanting to be the best that they reer is still a work in progress. The staff writer can be." fourth-grade teacher at the Wild- nro oifs wood School learns more and more There was a moment about six Munday was a terrific high school years ago when Jen Munday was athlete and she comes from a com- not planning on teaching and coach- Petltlve fmA- "er sister Lindsey if there was one thing that I ing in Mountain Lakes. The Lakers on lacrosse at learned this year, it was that you alum had her bags packed and was Northwestern University as a don't need fancy things in order to preparing to teach and coach in Pyer and is currently an assistant be successful," Munday said "You Australia coach for the Wlldcats' Her brother, need basic things.

The simpler the Paul, just completed his lacrosse better. "I was ready to go but I guess the season at Muhlenberg College. im Jw eiiv who was enim? tn arrant mv "Before we played Moorestown, guy wno was going to arrange my Munday was a three-sport athlete we talked to the kids You don't Work Visa didn't know enough," tn hirxh srhnnl pnmnptim. in cnrr Mundav said "Mike Killinesworth a competing soccer need fancy busses, or fancy bags, or Munody sam. miKe mmngsworm and basketball as well as two years fancv uniforms You iust need vour called me the next day and I thought of lacrosse.

Collegiately, she played eammates that maybe it was best if I stayed on some very good The College of home." New Jersey teams and still has a Or as they would say down under, The Lakers are glad she did. In 8od relationship with Hall of Fame "That's Fair Dinkum" the truth, her second year as head coach the coacn Sharon Pfluger. Mark Kitchin: 973-428-6677; Mountain Lakes alum finished 18-5 "Sharon is a supporter," Munday mkitchingannett.com and helped the program to its first said. "I learned so much from her in Group I state title and a trip to the college. She is so much more than a Scoring leaders Tournament of Champions final coach.

You can call her on the Name, Team c-A-Pt where the Lakers gave traditional phone and talk for three hours be- Moiiie Shipley, Morris Catholic 94-77-171 powerhouse Moorestown a scare. fore we would get to lacrosse." Meghan Murray, Chatham 72-30-102 0 Megan Kelly, Mendham 83-13-96 "It was a really good year," said She also counts Killings worth, for Katie Le'0' Chatham 42-53-95 Munday, the 2009 All Daily Record whom she played basketball, among 1 Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year, her coaching role models. Emily Leahy, "It wasn't easy, but if the kids didn't rpat whpn it rnrnp Kim Armbruster, Montville 60-15-75 makp lis null nnr hair nut nnr-P in a comes to Erjn Graziano, Mendham 67-6-73 3 COach-tO-player relationships," Kaitlyn Leidl, West Morris 28-44-72 wnue, we woumn nave our jobs. Munday said. "A lot of those things Meagan stickle, Mountain Lakes 62-9-71 Munday acknowledged it is a big I ask him about player-to-coach, Challenge tO get players With SO COach-tO-COach.

Carly Eskanazi, Kinnelon 49-18-67 many different personalities and Munday credits her assistants for rXXrZn talent levels to work together How- heiping with the team's success. Jen XCffi, toZIIZill ever, it wasn long ago that she was Reid, a former standout at Roanoke, Jennie Jones, St. Elizabeth 55-7-62 one of those girls wearing orange was invaluable in helping the team Diana D'Achiiie, Morris Knolls 52-10-62 and blue and she is familiar with 0n both a physical and emotional S'T 46 their problems. The team finally level. Meredith Dietrick coached the Emily Pinnes, Hanover 42-16-58 began clicking midseason when junior varsity team and also worked Gina Carmina, Mt.

Olive 44-14-58 they began focusing on working to- with the goalies. Volunteer coach Ali Madison 47-10-57 Sether- Paul Larsen was so dedicated that "It was mnrp than inot lnrrncsp ne came to tne BameS even While re- Evan Foulsham, Madison 40-16-56 Mundlv sad "It was a crouo of C0Vering fr0m knee SUT- Leslie Connolly, West Morris 43-10-53 ftiunaay saia. II was a group 01 Lisa Duckies Lenape Valley 44-8-52 girls putting aside their differences Munday knows her coaching ca- Katie McMahon, Morris Knolls 29-22-51 est things about our team," midfielder Alex White said. "We're so dynamic and we have so many kids who can score, you can't focus on any one person." Delbarton went unbeaten in regular-season BOYS LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR Kelly's quick study has been his Kinnelon players' gain Kelly is a Kinnelon alumnus but he did not play lacrosse when he was going to school in the early 80s even though the sport was of-and basketball Kevin Kelly fered. Football were his activities After high school graduation, he went on to be play football at Kutztown State in mid-July you can find him relaxing with his wife Nicole and sons, 6-year-old Brendan and 3-year-old Connor.

Mark Kitchin: 973-428-6677; mkitchingannett.com Final scoring leaders Name, Team G-A-Ptt Alex Martello, Montville 77-39-1 1 6 Preston Naslonski, Randolph 63-33-96 Nick Mayse, Montville 54-39-93 Pat Wehring, Morris Catholic 51-34-85 Charlie Oldendorp, Madison 48-34-82 Chris Biank, Roxbury 43-35-78 James Reale, Randolph 32-44-76 Kevin Murphy, Jefferson 44-30-74 Nick DePaolera, Kinnelon 34-40-74 Joe Burek, Kinnelon 53-20-73 Sam Morrissey, W. Morris 42-30-72 Mike Crampton, Kinnelon 58-13-71 Peter Donnally, Morristown-Beard. 50-20-70 Steve Grembowiec, Kinnelon 42-27-69 Pat Laconl, Morristown 35-34-69 Tyler Berntsen, W. Morris 36-31 -67 Christian Saley, Montville 38-28-66 Connor Rich, Roxbury 43-20-63 Justin Meeth, Roxbury 40-22-62 Brett Bonanno, W. Morris 35-26-61 Austin Lein, Madison 33-27-60 Kevin McCann, Boonton 45-11-56 Chase Winter, Mt.

Lakes 24-32-56 Nick Doherty, Delbarton 35-20-55 Pat Hodapp, Jefferson 42-1 2-54 Chris Olsen, Boonton 33-18-5TI Nick Gulda, Chatham 34-1 7-5 1 Zach Johannes, Pope John 24-26-50 from his friend and former teammate Dave Gigante. "(Former Kinnelon athletic director) John ByDook approached me," Kelly said. "He talked me into it. He said, 'You'd be good at it. The kids know you.

I want you to be the head Kelly sought as much advice as possible in the offseason and discovered that summer months were a great time for learning. While coaching in the Garden State Lacrosse Challenge, he rubbed elbows with some lacrosse coaching legends. Former Ridgewood coach Steve Jacobson and former Kinnelon coach Bob Turco, were extremely knowledgeable long-time coaches. He gathered as much information from them as possible. Then Kelly found that one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience was to get involved in summer camps and clinics.

Kinnelon would attend several of them as a team. While his players were learning, Kelly was picking up information, too. Experienced college coaches like Johns Hop kins' Dave Pietramala and former Rutgers coach Bill Dirrgl would teach him concepts that influenced his thinking. "I kept on going and doing what I was doing," Kelly said. "I traveled and learned.

"At the camps I wouldn't coach my team I would coach other people's teams and have other coaches take my guys." The experience also taught Kelly to surround himself with good assistants that he can trust. He gives tremendous credit to his staff. Nino Capra has been running the freshman team for years. Two of his assistants are former players. Brian Gallagher ran the Colts' defense and Sean Pasiecka controlled substitutions.

Former Hanover Regional coach Anthony Mosca helped the offense run smoothly. The formula provided results that have improved with every season. Kelly's teams have posted a 140-113 record overall and over the last three seasons the Kinnelon teams have been 42-20. Once the camp work is finished By MARK KITCHIN SWF WRITER There are two very important things that Kinnelon coach Kevin Kelly tries to instill in the players on his boys lacrosse teams. "Have pride in where you are from," Kelly said.

"And have passion for what you are doing." The Colts usually have little problem fulfilling both requirements. This year, both qualities were on dynamic display. Like his players, the 2009 All Daily Record Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year worked extremely hard to make this season's success possible. Kinnelon finished with a 16-6 record and captured its first Group I title. "This year the reason they became a success is that they learned how to work as a team," Kelly said.

"They found out that they didn't need the best guys to be successful. They stuck together. "Our lacrosse IQ has gotten a lot better. The kids bought into their roles. They understood what it means to be leaders." 1 as a defensive back.

"I watched lacrosse and enjoyed it and watched a lot of my friends play," Kelly said. "After college I came back and I was coaching the youth football program. (Former high school teammate) Don Niehoff was running the youth lacrosse. He approached me. He knew I didn't know much about lacrosse but he knew I could coach." It was ironic that the eighth-grade youth team he would coach became the seniors on the first varsity team he took over in 1998.