RBHS boys lacrosse builds on historic strides of 2025 

Senior Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus and his Riverside Brookfield High School boys lacrosse teammates enjoyed one giant step for the program in 2025. The Bulldogs won their first postseason game in the program’s four-year varsity history by beating Brother Rice 19-0. 

“It gave all of us a ton of confidence coming into the season,” said Mrozik-DeJesus, a 2025 honorable mention all-stater who will play Division I lacrosse at Mercyhurst (Erie, Pa.). “(Now) we want to make a run in sectionals. I hope to lead by example and show the team that we can still fight with some of the best teams in the area.”

The Bulldogs are 3-3 with an enthusiastic lineup led by 14 seniors and new head coach Justin Headley, who grew up with the sport in Maryland and played lacrosse locally at Concordia. Richard Dosek and Jason Kaumeyer are assistant coaches. 

The degree of the Bulldogs’ B.I.T.E. (Belief, Integrity, Togetherness, Effort) will set the tone.

“(Team goals are) define a new culture under a new head coach, set the standard for the younger players and have a successful enough regular season to earn a first-round playoff bye,” Headley said.

“(Our keys are) working through adversity, understanding that losses do not define us, striving to be 1 percent better lacrosse players every day and having fun and making lifetime memories. You play relaxed, you play well.” 

The Bulldogs have won their last two, beating St. Francis 17-8, April 8, and Brother Rice 10-7, March 28. After an 0-2 start, the Bulldogs beat Oswego 19-1, March 25.

Other seniors include Troy Alvarez, Benjamin Buoscio, John Evans, Luke Ferguson, goalie Patrick Galloway, Andres Gasca, Peter Laube, Ayden Lumsden, Warren Mason, Damian Nieves, Jacob Retana and Eddie Schook. Mrozik-DeJesus, Ferguson and Galloway are team captains.

“Grit and physicality (are strengths). We know how to win and what a great team is supposed to look like,” said Ferguson, a short-stick defensive midfielder. “Staying together and not losing focus (will be keys).” 

After beating Brother Rice, RBHS lost to Downers Grove co-op 18-1 in the 2025 sectional quarterfinals and finished 11-7 against more competitive opponents to build upon their program-best 11-6 record of 2024.

Mrozik-DeJesus was second on the Bulldogs in goals (37) and assists (9), caused a team-best 21 turnovers and was third in ground balls (43). He was honorable mention all-sectional after being all-sectional in 2024, his first season at RBHS after transferring from Fenwick.

Other 2025 statistical leaders included Galloway (145 saves, .686 save percentage), Nieves (15 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers), Mason (21 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers), Schook (5 assists, 21 ground balls) and Retana (28 ground balls). 

“Team chemistry is a strong suit for us because we have been playing together for so long,” Mrozik-DeJesus said.

“Discipline and consistency (will be keys) because those two will keep us fighting through the lows and keep us soaring at the highs.” 

LTHS boys lacrosse

The Lions captured their second sectional title ever last season but also graduated eight starters. This year’s group hasn’t missed a beat. LTHS is 6-0 after beating Wheaton North 13-8 Saturday.

“Last season helped us understand each player’s strengths better. We’ve carried that into this year by focusing on playing to those strengths and building stronger chemistry,” said senior and fourth-year varsity player Tavis Seger. 

“We’re a well-rounded team with strong depth and talent across every position, making it difficult for opponents to attack a specific weakness.”

The 2025 Lions finished 17-4 and came one victory from the state semifinals, losing to Neuqua Valley 10-8 at the super-sectional. The Lions won both the sectional final and semifinal by one goal.

Seger was named the Lions’ offensive Most Valuable Player and to the All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division team after collecting 19 goals and 13 assists, which shared the team lead.

Other standouts included senior faceoff/midfielder Xaedon Giannotti-Frye (127 won faceoffs, 53 winning percentage) and all-conference sophomore midfielder Danny Brooks (23 goals, 7 assists), who is injured this season.

Also returning from the 2025 roster for third-year head coach Charlie Kidder are seniors Quinn Conniff, Henry Gale, Ian Guerrero, Max Hartford, Lawson Krueger, Jonas Magpayo, Jack McKerr, Nathan McMullen, Charlie Nederhouser, Aidan Possley and Joey Newcomb, juniors Conor Carolan and Charlie Remus and sophomore Caleb Strnic. 

Seger and McMullen are co-captains. Brooks and returning senior Michael Aylesworth will be managers.

“It’s a well-rounded athletic team that excels in all aspects of the game with a willingness to go the extra mile to win,” McMullen said. 

“We have retained a lot of guys from our state run last year that have stepped up as leaders and also guys that didn’t play wanting to meet the expectations. I hope to be a leader on the defense and shut down the other team’s No. 1 guy in order to give my team an edge over the competition.” 

The Lions opened by Lockport 8-6 March 19 followed by victories over Neuqua Valley 11-5 March 21, Marist 14-13 in overtime March 24, Waubonsie Valley 8-1 April 7 and Maine South 11-9 Thursday.

“Staying disciplined, playing together, and maintaining a high level of effort every day will be key. For me personally, being a reliable leader and contributing consistently on both ends will define a successful season,” Seger said. 

“I think the key is all about determination and not getting settled after a win and looking forward and not backwards,” McMullen added. “As an individual, I think staying at the top of my game and handling injury and weaknesses can be the deciding factor on how I perform.”