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Morris/Sussex boys lacrosse teams brought home championship trophies galore this spring. And there were plenty to go around.
Sparta earned its first ever Group title, upending first West Morris in the sectional final and then Ocean City, 9-5, to win it all. The Spartans had already captured the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex title.
Delbarton sometimes seemed shaky, losing its first game to a New Jersey public school since April 2024. Chatham outlasted the Green Wave, 12-7, to win its first Morris County Tournament title.
But Delbarton rebounded, capturing its first Non-Public championship since 2023 and avenging a regular-season loss to Seton Hall Prep in the process. Mountain Lakes won its 13th straight Group 1 North title – every one since the tournament was split into sections – and then beat Rumson-Fair Haven for its first Group 1 title since 2022.
Do Group titles equal top spots in the final Morris/Sussex Top 10? Read on and find out.
Senior Ryan Conlon (45g, 22a, 57gb) and sophomore Jack Green (42g, 25a, 52gb) earned 67 points apiece. Montville finished tied with Voorhees atop the Rizk with one division loss apiece, and had six wins in the last seven games.
One of four Waterman teams in the Top 10, Morris Knolls struggled for consistency this spring. Junior Dylan Ralston had 36 goals and 29 assists as the Golden Eagles reached MCT and Group 3 North quarterfinals.
Seniors Sam Conetta (29g, 59a, 63gb) and Jack Gallucci (50g, 38a, 12gb) finished with 88 points apiece. Junior goalie Anthony Klimczuk had a 68 save percentage. The Lions had a rough transition to the Fitch-Pitt, winning only one division game – and that by one goal. They also stumbled in a HWS quarterfinal by one goal against North Hunterdon, and reached the Non-Public second round.
Juniors Ryan Barnett (62g, 27a, 57gb) and Anthony Santoro (43g, 37a, 20gb) and senior Mark Manolis (44g, 37a, 39gb) each finished with at least 80 points. The Rams fell to West Morris in a MCT quarterfinal and Chatham in a Group 3 North semi.
Tied atop the Bianchi with Glen Ridge, Madison was tripped up by large and small schools alike. The Dodgers beat Group 4 Morristown, Parsippany Regional and Livingston, but lost to Mountain Lakes in the MCT and were knocked out of Group 1 South by Bernards, 7-6 in a quarterfinal. Senior Matt Lutz was the leading scorer with 52 goals and 42 assists.
Sparta might need a bigger banner – or trophy case – after taking home HWS and Group 2 championships in the same season. Sophomore Jace Stiansen (42g, 4a, 19gb) had a game-high four goals in the state final. Mercyhurst-bound senior Eddie Brown (55g, 22a, 20gb), the Spartans' leading scorer in three straight seasons, had three goals and two assists.
More: Sparta boys' lacrosse team makes history with championship
The Wolfpack had a breakthrough season, with more wins than any season since 2016 – also 19 – and the fewest losses since going 17-3 in 2019. Maryland-bound Luke Gouse (55g, 38a, 60gb) won 84% of faceoffs, and also had a team high in points. Senior attack Jake Garofalo (57g, 30a, 38gb), who is headed to Vassar, was the top goal scorer.
More: Morris County lacrosse teams fired up by pregame playlists, goal songs
The Lakers got picked on by larger schools, but rolled to the Group 1 title, 10-7, against Rumson-Fair Haven on June 12. Senior Holden Gillespie (67g, 26a) scored a game-high five goals in the final. Junior Lawson Fagan (38g, 69a) had a fourth-quarter hat trick, and was the Lakers' leading scorer in back-to-back seasons. Sophomore Jayden Hernando, the third in his family to take faceoffs for Mountain Lakes, finished with a 73% success rate.
More: Mountain Lakes lacrosse family rallies to another title
The Cougars' dream of a Group 3 North title slipped away as they allowed four fourth-quarter goals and fell to Summit, 8-6, on June 9. It was a disappointing ending to Chatham's season, which peaked with a 12-7 victory against Delbarton in the MCT final. Junior Nick Lagunowich (45g, 37a, 35gb) and seniors Shep Boyd (47g, 40a, 75g) and Kyle Gibney (53g, 17a) were the offensive leaders. Sophomore Christian Cicola won 78% of faceoffs.
More: Chatham tops Delbarton for Morris County Tournament boys lacrosse title
The Green Wave ended the season on top, coming from behind to edge Summit, 10-9 in the Kirst Cup final on June 18 – the coach-led event which replaced the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions. Delbarton rebounded from its first in-state public-school loss with wins in five of its last official games, recapturing the Non-Public trophy for the first time since 2023. High Point-bound attack Chase Houser (52g, 35a) had two goals and an assist in the final. Junior Brandon Fodor, who scored the goal which boosted Delbarton to its first Kirst Cup, was the leading scorer this spring with 45 goals and 50 assists. Juniors Jesse DeNegri and Kane Quenault took big steps forward at the faceoff X, combining to win 73%.
More: Delbarton outlasts Seton Hall Prep to return to pinnacle of lacrosse
Also considered: Jefferson (13-8), Mendham (9-7)
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Final 2026 Morris/Sussex boys lacrosse rankings
Continue reading...
Sparta earned its first ever Group title, upending first West Morris in the sectional final and then Ocean City, 9-5, to win it all. The Spartans had already captured the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex title.
Delbarton sometimes seemed shaky, losing its first game to a New Jersey public school since April 2024. Chatham outlasted the Green Wave, 12-7, to win its first Morris County Tournament title.
But Delbarton rebounded, capturing its first Non-Public championship since 2023 and avenging a regular-season loss to Seton Hall Prep in the process. Mountain Lakes won its 13th straight Group 1 North title – every one since the tournament was split into sections – and then beat Rumson-Fair Haven for its first Group 1 title since 2022.
Do Group titles equal top spots in the final Morris/Sussex Top 10? Read on and find out.
10. Montville (14-6)
Senior Ryan Conlon (45g, 22a, 57gb) and sophomore Jack Green (42g, 25a, 52gb) earned 67 points apiece. Montville finished tied with Voorhees atop the Rizk with one division loss apiece, and had six wins in the last seven games.
9. Morris Knolls (11-10)
One of four Waterman teams in the Top 10, Morris Knolls struggled for consistency this spring. Junior Dylan Ralston had 36 goals and 29 assists as the Golden Eagles reached MCT and Group 3 North quarterfinals.
8. Pope John (12-9)
Seniors Sam Conetta (29g, 59a, 63gb) and Jack Gallucci (50g, 38a, 12gb) finished with 88 points apiece. Junior goalie Anthony Klimczuk had a 68 save percentage. The Lions had a rough transition to the Fitch-Pitt, winning only one division game – and that by one goal. They also stumbled in a HWS quarterfinal by one goal against North Hunterdon, and reached the Non-Public second round.
7. Randolph (16-7)
Juniors Ryan Barnett (62g, 27a, 57gb) and Anthony Santoro (43g, 37a, 20gb) and senior Mark Manolis (44g, 37a, 39gb) each finished with at least 80 points. The Rams fell to West Morris in a MCT quarterfinal and Chatham in a Group 3 North semi.
6. Madison (14-7)
Tied atop the Bianchi with Glen Ridge, Madison was tripped up by large and small schools alike. The Dodgers beat Group 4 Morristown, Parsippany Regional and Livingston, but lost to Mountain Lakes in the MCT and were knocked out of Group 1 South by Bernards, 7-6 in a quarterfinal. Senior Matt Lutz was the leading scorer with 52 goals and 42 assists.
5. Sparta (16-5)
Sparta might need a bigger banner – or trophy case – after taking home HWS and Group 2 championships in the same season. Sophomore Jace Stiansen (42g, 4a, 19gb) had a game-high four goals in the state final. Mercyhurst-bound senior Eddie Brown (55g, 22a, 20gb), the Spartans' leading scorer in three straight seasons, had three goals and two assists.
More: Sparta boys' lacrosse team makes history with championship
4. West Morris (19-4)
The Wolfpack had a breakthrough season, with more wins than any season since 2016 – also 19 – and the fewest losses since going 17-3 in 2019. Maryland-bound Luke Gouse (55g, 38a, 60gb) won 84% of faceoffs, and also had a team high in points. Senior attack Jake Garofalo (57g, 30a, 38gb), who is headed to Vassar, was the top goal scorer.
More: Morris County lacrosse teams fired up by pregame playlists, goal songs
3. Mountain Lakes (14-8)
The Lakers got picked on by larger schools, but rolled to the Group 1 title, 10-7, against Rumson-Fair Haven on June 12. Senior Holden Gillespie (67g, 26a) scored a game-high five goals in the final. Junior Lawson Fagan (38g, 69a) had a fourth-quarter hat trick, and was the Lakers' leading scorer in back-to-back seasons. Sophomore Jayden Hernando, the third in his family to take faceoffs for Mountain Lakes, finished with a 73% success rate.
More: Mountain Lakes lacrosse family rallies to another title
2. Chatham (17-4)
The Cougars' dream of a Group 3 North title slipped away as they allowed four fourth-quarter goals and fell to Summit, 8-6, on June 9. It was a disappointing ending to Chatham's season, which peaked with a 12-7 victory against Delbarton in the MCT final. Junior Nick Lagunowich (45g, 37a, 35gb) and seniors Shep Boyd (47g, 40a, 75g) and Kyle Gibney (53g, 17a) were the offensive leaders. Sophomore Christian Cicola won 78% of faceoffs.
More: Chatham tops Delbarton for Morris County Tournament boys lacrosse title
1. Delbarton (20-6)
The Green Wave ended the season on top, coming from behind to edge Summit, 10-9 in the Kirst Cup final on June 18 – the coach-led event which replaced the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions. Delbarton rebounded from its first in-state public-school loss with wins in five of its last official games, recapturing the Non-Public trophy for the first time since 2023. High Point-bound attack Chase Houser (52g, 35a) had two goals and an assist in the final. Junior Brandon Fodor, who scored the goal which boosted Delbarton to its first Kirst Cup, was the leading scorer this spring with 45 goals and 50 assists. Juniors Jesse DeNegri and Kane Quenault took big steps forward at the faceoff X, combining to win 73%.
More: Delbarton outlasts Seton Hall Prep to return to pinnacle of lacrosse
Also considered: Jefferson (13-8), Mendham (9-7)
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Final 2026 Morris/Sussex boys lacrosse rankings
Continue reading...
