Senior Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus made quite an impact on the Riverside Brookfield High School boys lacrosse program upon transferring as a sophomore from Fenwick. Mrozik-DeJesus took another big step in his final season. He earned second-team all-state honors after being honorable mention all-state in 2025 and all-sectional as a sophomore and all-conference with Fenwick.
Lyons Township senior midfielder Tavis Seger and senior defender/long-stick midfielder Nate McMullen were honorable mention all-state.
“(First-year RBHS coach Justin Headley) called me that I had gotten one better. This year I got second team all-state,” Mrozik-DeJesus said. “I’m super-pumped about that. I’m glad that I can use that and use the accolades I collected to shine the light of there being hope in the program. You can find success playing RB lacrosse.”
Mrozik-DeJesus increased his offensive production to 62 goals and 18 assists after being second on the Bulldogs in 2025 in goals (37) and assists (9) while causing a team-best 21 turnovers and being third in ground balls (43). His tenure included the Bulldogs’ first postseason victories in 2025 and this past season 8-7 over Whitney Young on his goal only seconds into sudden-victory overtime. Mrozik-DeJesus will continue playing at Mercyhurst (Erie, Pa.).
“(Beating Whitney Young) was just a fun game to be a part of. (That was) the second playoff win in school history so it was pretty important to us,” Xavier-Mrozik said. “This program can be a lacrosse team. Since we’re a very new program, we’re trying to find our identity but between last season and this season, we showed we can do something.”
Seger, McMullen, midfielders Jonas Magpayo and Aidan Possley and defender Owen Kachmarik were the Lions’ selections to the All-West Suburban Conference Team. Seger will be playing at Colorado State. McMullen will play at Centre College (Danville, Ky.).
Softball
Riverside Brookfield High School sophomore Mia Melendez added to her honors by being named second team all-state by the Illinois Coaches Association.
RBHS senior shortstop Trinity Stevenson was named third-team all-state.
This was the first all-state honors for both players. The 4A first-team all-staters consisted of 15 seniors and three juniors.
Melendez already had been named the Upstate Eight Conference East Division Player of the Year and was among five all-conference players the Bulldogs, who won the UEC East and reached the Class 4A Marist Sectional final.
“I was really excited about (all-state) and overall happy. That was something I had made a goal for myself early on the in the season,” Melendez said. “When I found out, I was proud of the work that I put in and that the coaches of the Illinois association recognized me and the work I put in. I feel like with my hitting that I got stronger and not only physically but mentally, too.”
The first baseman/pitcher tied the single-season school record with 15 home runs and had a .447 batting average along with 44 runs batted in. In 2025, Melendez was the only All-UEC East freshman after hitting .458 with team highs of 11 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Joining the Sparks 18-and-under Premier Tholl traveling team during the winter with help from RBHS coach Emma Jarrell and assistant coach Paul Jarrell has helped. Melendez already has played tournaments in Colorado and Kansas City and leaves for California later this week.
“I feel like overall I’m more confident and just (thinking), ‘I want this and I’m going to get it.’ That was my mindset and I think overall that helped a lot,” Melendez said.
“Working a lot in the offseason helped a lot. I was lifting a lot more, working out more, more plyometrics, and also mentally training as well.”
Stevenson (.480, 5 HR, 34 RBIs) also was All-UEC East along with junior catcher Alexis Busse, sophomore outfielder Braylin Naylor and sophomore pitcher Amelia Pytel. Junior outfielder/pitcher Reese Milchhoefer was honorable mention all-conference.
This was the third all-conference honors for Stevenson. Pytel was honorable mention All-UEC in 2025.
Lyons Township’s All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division players were senior shortstop Ava Jacklin, senior second baseman Madeline Luciano, junior first baseman Mary Sandman and freshman pitcher Sofia Kettaneh. A four-year starter, Jacklin was all-conference twice and 4A third-team all-state in 2025.
Nazareth Academy’s All-East Suburban Catholic Conference players were senior Ellie Stratis and freshman Ari Gonzalez and freshman Brooklyn Barnish was honorable mention All-ESCC. Stratis also was named the Roadrunners’ Most Valuable Player.
RBHS/LTHS girls lacrosse
Riverside Brookfield sophomore midfielder Cora Rosenfeld and Lyons Township senior midfielder Lauren Zulanas and junior midfielder Peyton Johnson were all-sectional. Zulanas, Johnson, junior defender Amelia Chomiak and sophomore attack Chloe DeNaut were the Lions’ members of the All-WSC Team.