West Milford’s lacrosse team was formed only four years ago. As a fledgling JV only team, the inexperience was obvious.  One look and today and skill and maturity shine through; this no longer a novice team, due in part to the new Highlander in town, varsity coach Gary Stoll.

Coach Stoll has brought loads of experience and knowledge of the game to West Milford’s program this year.  He has already helped coach the football and wrestling teams this year, but lacrosse is his true domain when it comes to coaching.  He has had previous experience coaching junior varsity at Vernon HS, which is a state powerhouse year after year.  Under Stoll, varsity and junior varsity alike have gained a great deal of knowledge about the game.  It is not only proper formations and plays that have been taught, but also simply how to play the game of lacrosse the way it should be played.  Along with Stoll, Maz has headed up the JV and coaches alongside Stoll during varsity events.  Maz is able to bring a level of intensity and flare that has sparked the team throughout the entire season.  The coaching duo has brought improvements to the teams.  Though this is only their first year, the future is looking bright for the program.

The senior players have also stepped up and taken on major leadership roles.  Brendan Pick, Andrew Vigorita, Thomas Gillespie, Tyler Horner and Richie Dizenzo are leading the pack this year with outstanding charisma and raw emotion.  Coach Stoll has put pressure on all of them to take control of the team and they have met the challenge eagerly.  This is something they all have dreamed of since their freshman year.  This group of seniors were freshman when lacrosse came to the school and many of them have been playing for multiple years starting in the youth league.  It is a dream come true for all of them.  

As for their future plans all of them are moving onto secondary school.  Brendan Pick will be attending Montclair State and plans on playing for their varsity lacrosse program.  Tyler Horner will be going down south to play club lacrosse at NC State University and Thomas Gillespie and Andrew Vigorita will  to the University at Albany in up-state New York where they plan on playing club lacrosse. Richie Dizenzo will be attending PCCC and will not be continuing his lacrosse career, but hopes to pick it up once again after college.

West Milford has produced a super-star lacrosse player in Brendan Pick, who just recently scored 100^th overall point and, just a few days ago, against High Point Regional, scored his 100^th goal.  This is an amazing accomplishment for a player who only has two varsity seasons under his belt.  He has been a key factor to the success of the team and will be greatly missed after this year.  Brendan has been selected by MaxPreps as the player of the game four times this season.  Last season he was awarded with 1^st team all-county and all-conference honors and was 15^th in the state in total goals.  He also received honorable mention from the MSG Varsity All-New Jersey team.

[slideshow id=78]It is not only the upperclassmen who do the work though; the underclassmen have had big shoes to fill and a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.  Eric Rudden, a sophomore, took on the role of goalie.  After losing Dan Stitt to graduation, Rudden was the only goalie with high school experience and took the job this year  This is without a doubt one of the most demanding positions in the game and with this being his first year varsity he has stepped up to the plate. At times, it has been a hard transition for him but, he always continues to bounce back and impress his team with his abilities.  As for other notable underclassmen, Corey Curran and Bobby Wolfe have displayed talent beyond their years.  Wolfe has been working the Long Stick Midfield position for the past two years, while Curran has been working behind the cage with incredible finesse.  Jared Calise has just returned to the field as well, after coming off an ACL injury and suspension due to a transfer.  His work on the face-off and constant movement around the field makes him a dangerous weapon.

The program looks to only become even more successful for next year as the class of 2017 enters high school and brings along with it experienced lacrosse players.  This will be the first grade to have moved completely go through the lacrosse program.  Most of these kids have been playing since 3^rd grade and possess all the tools needed to play on the next level.  Notable players are Kyle Little, Drew Kagdis and Zach Starr.  With this new crop of talent coming, the years to come can only be better.

The competition this year has been tough, but no loses have been worse than those versus Lakelandand Newton, games that have been decided in the late 4^th quarter, but did not end in West Milford’s favor.  The relentless drive and motivation from the team has kept them going though, and they look to take home a victory against a state powerhouse.  The Highlanders lost to Pequannock High School 9-1, but the team was able to walk off the field with their heads held up.  Pequannock, who is one of the only undefeated teams left in the state, walked off the field baffled at how a team like West Milford could give them such a run.  The team knows they have the potential to defeat top teams but luck has just not been on their side.

Redemption can be achieved though as the Highlanders take on Lakeland once again in the first round of the county tournament.  There is no doubt that this will be a heated and emotional contest to the very end.  This may be the spark the team needs to start a run and go deep into the state tournament later this month.