Right before the boys lacrosse season, Riverside Brookfield High School junior Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus felt great about his verbal commitment to NCAA Division I Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pennsylvania). He was just as ecstatic after the season ended. Following the postseason, Mrozik-DeJesus found out from RBHS coach Joe Urbanski that he had been named honorable mention all-state. 

“I was at my house with my family and a friend. I got the call. It was a little unexpected,” Mrozik-DeJesus said. “I couldn’t stop pacing around my house. A surreal experience. I’m really excited and thankful I got it.” 

This was Mrozik-DeJesus’ second season with the Bulldogs after one varsity all-conference season at Fenwick. He was all-sectional in 2024 and honorable mention all-sectional this past season after being second on the Bulldogs in goals (37) and assists (9), causing a team-best 21 turnovers and being third in ground balls (43).

All-sectional senior Ben Lupfer was the Bulldogs’ offensive leader with 42 goals and 11 assists and was second in ground balls (50) with 15 caused turnovers.

Senior Max Strong was academic all-sectional. Senior Tommy Kos was sportsmanship all-sectional. 

Many from the strong senior class were freshmen on the Bulldogs’ first varsity team in 2022. This season, the Bulldogs achieved their first postseason victory.  

Strong had team highs of 102 ground balls and 128 won draws along with 28 goals and 18 caused turnovers. Other statistical standouts included seniors Jack Duffy (20 goals, 3 assists, 29 ground balls), Jimmy Faletti (36 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers) and Angel Salazar (27 ground balls, 23 won faceoffs), junior goalie Pat Galloway (145 saves, .686 save percentage) and juniors Joey Zimmerman (43 ground balls, 20 caused turnovers), Damian Nieves (15 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers), Warren Mason (21 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers), Eddie Schook (5 assists, 21 ground balls), Charlie Sloan (5 goals, 5 assists, 19 ground balls) and Jacob Retana (28 ground balls). 

This summer, Mrozik-DeJesus is busy playing with his True Illinois Premier AAA club team. Just before the Bulldogs’ season opener in mid-March, he verbally committed to play lacrosse at Mercyhurst following an official visit. He plans to major in biology or human sciences. He would like to be a chiropractor.

“It was one of those schools where you just visit and when you first see it, you fall in love,” Mrozik-DeJesus said. 

“I didn’t know until I visited that what I wanted was a small-school experience. The familiarity with everybody there was what I wanted. They take academics and athletics very seriously.”

Just like RBHS, the Lakers are a building program. This spring marked their first season in NCAA Division I, going 2-11 and 1-6 in the Northeast Conference. Other True teammates also have shown interest in the program.  

“That was another thing. I get to be part of a growing program,” Mrozik-DeJesus said.

Nazareth Academy seniors John Hughes and Luke Neri were named to the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team.

Girls lacrosse

Lyons Township High School senior Emma Dwyer was named second-team all-state. 

Nazareth Academy freshman Kathleen Hardy was honorable mention all-state, the first all-stater in program history.

All-sectional honors went to Dwyer, Hardy, RBHS junior Tali Schultz, LTHS seniors Ashley Culin and Grainne Kristufek and Nazareth freshman Eve Bedford and senior Olivia Mowrer.

Culin, Dwyer and Kristufek were members of the All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division team. The trio also were invited to the Illinois senior all- star game. Kristufek was unable to attend.

Hardy also was named the East Suburban Catholic Conference Newcomer of the Year after collecting 137 goals, 29 assists, 62 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers.

Culin surpassed 100 goals for her career. Other statistical standouts included sophomore Peyton Johnson (36 goals, 6 assists, 39 ground balls, 103 draw attempts, 83 draw controls), Kristufek (47 goals, 14 assists) and Dwyer (57 ground balls, 53 caused turnovers, assist).

Nazareth junior Morgan Fantozzi and sophomore Finley Gorman joined Hardy and Bedford on the All-ESCC team.