On June 9, the WHS boys lacrosse team wrapped up yet another season, ending with a 13-8 record. The reigning Group 4 State Champions fell short to Ridgewood this year, losing in the North Group 4 Final. While this season has been a bumpy road for the Blue Devils on the field, veteran leadership and young talent helped the team stay grounded and overcome challenges.
The Blue Devils got off to a shaky start losing 12-9 and 9-8 in the first two games to Chatham and Scotch Plains-Fanwood, respectively. However, they bounced right back with an important win against nationally ranked Seton Hall Prep, where they won 11-10 after a late, fourth quarter goal.
During the 2024-25 season, the team took down Summit to win the Union County Tournament. However, they were unable to repeat this year after falling short to SPF in the semifinal game. While this loss was costly, it also fueled the team and gave them momentum heading into the state tournament.
Senior Kevin Reynders said, “We were playing the Scotch Plains [in the UCT semifinal] and we had already lost to them [earlier this season]. I think we just overthought the game, and we didn’t take it as it came, so we just over-prepared a little bit.”
Following the UCT semifinal, the Blue Devils went on a run in preparation for the state tournament, winning against Haddonfield, St. Joes Metuchen and Caldwell. This string of wins put the team into a rhythm as they were able to shut out West Orange 17-0 in the first round of the North Jersey Group 4 tournament.
Ultimately, the season ended for the Blue Devils after losing to Ridgewood 10-6 in the final. While the season ended earlier than expected for the team, there was still more to take away on and off the field. The Blue Devils faced many injuries across the board as key players like sophomore Patrick Smith and junior captain Koby Waldman were sidelined for some time.
The Blue Devils did not back down from this challenge as many underclassmen were forced to step up. Head coach William Wertheimer said, “They’re a great group. I think from the seniors all the way down to the freshmen that we brought up, they did a fantastic job.”
Throughout the season, the seniors have made an unforgettable impact. Wertheimer shared, “The leadership stands out most. The kids who came in as seniors did a great job, during the off season and in season with keeping the guys focused. They are going to be a missed group and I did not really want it to end.”
Senior Cooper Richman agreed, “It’s a really close group of guys. We’ve all been playing high school there for a long time and we had a bunch of new sophomores and juniors, but they fit on the team really well. It didn’t really matter if you were a sophomore, junior or senior this year, everyone was being a leader on and off the field.”
Looking ahead, there are aspects of the game that the group will focus on during the off season, but with all of the young talent that this team holds, they show great promise. Reynders said, “I see tons of success. I think players are gonna keep developing, and it’s gonna be a dangerous squad next year.”
