Oak Park varsity boys lacrosse is built on a strong foundation of building character on the field, and strengthening resilience of the field. Amid a year with multiple highs and strong team chemistry, the undefeated league champions ended the season with an overall record of 17-5. The season concluded in a 10-3 loss against San Clemente in the second round of CIF Division II playoffs.
“This season was unforgettable. What stood out the most was how close this group became. It felt like a true family, and that bond showed up every time we stepped on the field,” head coach Max Luchs said. “Wins are great, but it was the relationships, the growth, and the joy these guys brought to each other that made this year so special.”
Their seniors worked towards establishing a culture that would last for years to come.
“These 13 seniors helped shape the culture we have now. They led by example every single day, and their impact goes way beyond the scoreboard,” Luchs said. “They showed what it means to lead with heart, and they’ve left a permanent mark on this program.”
While they have many seniors graduating, there are plenty of players ready to step into a more prominent role.
“We’ve got some younger guys who’ve been learning from great leaders, and now it’s their time. We’ll lean into development, both skill-wise and leadership-wise,” Luchs said. “The culture these seniors built is strong–we’re going to keep building on it.”
The team is talented, and they work hard on and off the field to hone their skills.
“We plan to work hard in the offseason and support each other so we can keep the momentum going next season,” junior Jayden Mehta said. “Many of the players for the upcoming season’s starting lineup will be from JV, so we are going to focus on building team chemistry.”
The bump from JV to varsity is a tough one, and essential to the player’s growth.
“Over the years playing on a varsity team has contributed to making me a better person overall when it comes to working on a team or just meeting new people,” senior Colton Winsick said. “It has given me a lot of confidence and boosted my leadership abilities.”
The boys faced tough opponents throughout the season. According to the team, they always had the skills but lacked confidence to face the best teams in the southern section. This all changed after a very important game.
“One moment from this season that I will never forget is beating Crespi 12-1 when the expected score for that game was essentially reversed,” senior Grey Stevens said. “That game, we proved to ourselves that we can not only hang, but succeed at that next level.”
The confidence that was gained from the big win led to tremendous growth.
“Throughout the season as the win started to stack up, that confidence came in the dozens,” Stevens said. “Some highlights would include beating Agoura for the first time in years during the season opener, or beating Crespi, which has a similar matchup history.”
The team fought hard in Round 2 of CIF, and was able to churn in an incredibly productive season that set up the foundation for years to come.
