It was another dominating season for the Manasquan boys lacrosse team. The Warriors won their second straight Shore Conference Tournament title in a convincing 11-3 win over Christian Brothers Academy. Ryan Anderson scored four goals, Canyon Birch and Casey Mulligan scored two goals, while James Mele, James Pendergist, and Mike Page scored one each. Manasquan ended the season at 20-3.
The Warriors fell to Mountain Lakes in the Group 1 state championship.
Birch made history by becoming the only Shore Conference player to ever score 100 goals in a season, finishing the season with 123 goals. The junior has 261 for his career, to go with 93 assists. He is committed to play collegiately at Army West Point, but he will certainly add to his already remarkable high school career as a senior next season.
Two more Shore Conference teams advanced to the state finals. Rumson fell, 9-1, to Summit in the Group 2 state championship, while Christian Brothers advanced to the semifinals of the Non-Public A Tournament, falling to Seton Hall Prep.
Rumson shined in girls lacrosse, defeating Manasquan, 11-7, to win their sixth straight Shore Conference Tournament title. Gill Curran scored a hat trick with three goals and Chase Boyle scored two. Kate Caruso, Mel Guido, Cassie James, Grace Jamin, Jordan Johnson, and Meg MacGillis all scored one goal each. The Bulldogs fell to eventual state champion Haddonfield, 12-9, in the Group 2 semifinals and finished the season with a 22-4 record.
In boys golf, Christian Brothers Academy captured its second consecutive Tournament of Champions win. Ranked No. 1 in the NJ.com top 20, the Colts carded 297, 14 shots better than Old Tappan and Watchung Hills, who tied for second. Jack Wall led CBA with a 68, good for four-under par. Brendan Hansen shot a 75 and Randall Lazzaro and Michael Paduano each shot a 77 for the Colts. CBA also won the Non-Public A title, beating out Bergen Catholic, 297-314.
In girls golf, Holmdel placed eighth in the Tournament of Champions with a score of 376. As a team, the Hornets finished 6-1 and won their second straight team title in the Monmouth County Tournament. Sophia Taverna shot a 75, just five- over-par, to lead the Hornets and win the individual title. Red Bank Catholic finished second at 384; Wall came in third with a 405; Marlboro got fourth with a 412; and Rumson-Fair Haven rounded out the top five after carding a 413.
Holmdel shined in boys tennis, winning their fourth straight Group 2 title over Haddonfield, 4-1. Alex Tsai (6-1, 6-1) and Brian Chu (6-1, 6-0) earned singles wins for the Hornets. Krishna Kallakuri and Arjun Menon (7-5, 7-5) and Allen Lu and Jason Yan (6-4, 6-2) won doubles.
Holmdel also won the Shore Conference Tournament 3-2 over Christian Brothers Academy. Justin Wain (6-2, 7-5) and Alex Tsai (6-3, 7-5) earned singles wins for the Hornets, while Allen Lu and Jason Yan won doubles (6-4, 6-2). Holmdel finished the season at 21-4.
Christian Brothers Academy advanced to the Non-Public A championship, where they fell, 3-2, to Delbarton.
Saint John Vianney and Donovan Catholic softball and Toms River North baseball all had memorable seasons on the diamond. They each have extensive stories in this issue.
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