Spring All-County: Which boys lacrosse players had the best seasons in Palm Beach County?

Welcome to the 2024 Palm Beach Post High School Sports Awards, where we will be announcing nominations and winners for Player of the Year in each of our sports.

At the live show for this spring's Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards on Wednesday, June 5, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the boys lacrosse Player of the Year will be announced along with the teams, coaches, and athletes of the year, as well as a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes can look for their name to register very soon at this link: Nominee Registration for the 2024 Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards

The show is produced with support from Baptist Health Orthopedic Care.

The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

State champs: Benjamin boys lacrosse wins state title in thriller over Community School of Naples

2024 Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards
2024 Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards

Player of the Year Nominees

Jack Kelleher, freshman, Benjamin

Cal Wyatt of the Community School of Naples pushes through the defense of Jack Kelleher, left, and Ford Cash of The Benjamin School in their Class 1A state championship game in Naples on Saturday evening, May 11, 2024. Photo by Darron R. Silva
Cal Wyatt of the Community School of Naples pushes through the defense of Jack Kelleher, left, and Ford Cash of The Benjamin School in their Class 1A state championship game in Naples on Saturday evening, May 11, 2024. Photo by Darron R. Silva

What a freshman year to remember. The Buccaneers had youth up and down the roster, but Kelleher had perhaps the biggest offensive year as a freshman that head coach Peter Cordrey has witnessed in his time at the Bucs' helm. Kelleher led the Benjamin offense in the regular season and finished the year with 116 points, including a team-high 75 goals scored.

Alex Ponchock, junior, Benjamin

Benjamin's Alex Ponchock rushes upfield into the attacking zone during a regular season game against St. John Paul II on Mar. 8, 2024.
Benjamin's Alex Ponchock rushes upfield into the attacking zone during a regular season game against St. John Paul II on Mar. 8, 2024.

While freshman Jack Kelleher led the Bucs' offense in the regular season, Ponchock turned on the jets in the postseason. The junior had several impressive, athletic goals in the first half of the state championship to cap a postseason run that saw Ponchock bring his point total to 116, sharing the team lead. His 61 goals were second-highest on the team, giving him a great shooting percentage with 89 shots on goal.

Dylan Faison, sophomore, St. Andrew’s

Dylan Faison scans the field looking to pass the ball during their game with Community School of Naples in a state lacrosse semifinal matchup on May 9 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.
Dylan Faison scans the field looking to pass the ball during their game with Community School of Naples in a state lacrosse semifinal matchup on May 9 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.

Hailed as the best player head coach Tony Seaman has ever coached, Faison demonstrated all the skills of a player well beyond his age and experience this season. Faison tallied team highs with 142 points and 97 goals scored, adding 63 groundballs won for good measure. He was an elite finisher for the Scots, propelling them to a state semifinal appearance.

Dylan Furshman, junior, Jupiter

Jupiter's Dylan Furshman comes off the field following a faceoff during a regular season game against Oxbridge Academy on Mar. 26, 2024.
Jupiter's Dylan Furshman comes off the field following a faceoff during a regular season game against Oxbridge Academy on Mar. 26, 2024.

The Ohio State commit posted a dominant 86% faceoff win percentage this season, adding his contributions on offense with 16 goals and four assists for the Warriors. Furshman also won 148 groundballs to help Jupiter reach the regional finals.

Nick Testa, sophomore, St. Andrew’s

St. Andrew's Nick Testa cuts the net for remembrance as a senior in a regional final game against St. John Paul II on May 4, 2024.
St. Andrew's Nick Testa cuts the net for remembrance as a senior in a regional final game against St. John Paul II on May 4, 2024.

Testa may be just a sophomore but he's continued to prove he's among the top players in the country. Though the Scots came up a game short of reaching the state finals, Testa still led the team to a 22-2 record with 133 points, including a team-leading 79 assists. The sophomore was an elite distributor for St. Andrew's, adding dimension and vision to an uber-talented Scots offense.

Mason LeLack, senior, St. Andrew’s

St. Andrew's Mason LeLack looks on from the sideline after helping his team to a big first-half lead in the Scots' district semifinals game against Calvary Christian on April 11, 2024.
St. Andrew's Mason LeLack looks on from the sideline after helping his team to a big first-half lead in the Scots' district semifinals game against Calvary Christian on April 11, 2024.

Much of the experience for St. Andrew's this year fell on a few senior defensive players, LeLack chief among them. The defender excelled in holding opposing offenses to fewer than six goals per game, despite a grueling schedule facing some of the best the nation had to offer this year. His 39 groundballs won and 23 takeaways helped control possession and set up transitional play for the Scots all year.

Connor Hofbauer, senior, St. Andrew's

Connor Hofbauer, St. Andrew's
Connor Hofbauer, St. Andrew's

Hofbauer was a do-it-all player for the Scots this year, tallying 34 goals, 16 assists, and 47 groundballs won. The senior provided leadership and talent in the middle of the field for the Scots, helping St. Andrew's claim the title of the nation's best team for much of the year.

Tatum Little, Sophomore, Benjamin

Benjamin's goalie Tatum Little (26) makes a save against St. Edwards during a district championship on April 17, 2024.
Benjamin's goalie Tatum Little (26) makes a save against St. Edwards during a district championship on April 17, 2024.

Little had a "big" year for the state-champion Bucs this season. Benjamin's struggles at face-off led to a lot of saves in net by the young sophomore, but Little stood his ground against some of the best offenses in the state. The Bucs allowed fewer than seven goals per game, and Little had a 53.3 save percentage. Not to be ignored, Little's tremendous fourth quarter in the state championship played a significant role in holding off the Community School of Naples' comeback bid.

Jake Ivancevic, sophomore, Benjamin

Jake Ivancevic, Benjamin
Jake Ivancevic, Benjamin

Ivancevic scored nine goals and three assists on offense, but he was a constant presence on defense, leading the team with 76 groundballs won. He was an integral part of a defensive squad that allowed fewer than seven goals scored per game by the opposition, allowing the state champion Bucs to go on a 17-game win streak to finalize the season.

Jayden Vega, junior, Benjamin

The Benjamin Buccaneers Jayden Vega (3) scores a goal during their game with Bolles Bulldogs in a State Lacrosse Semifinal matchup on Thursday May, 9, 2024 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples. Photo By Chris Tilley
The Benjamin Buccaneers Jayden Vega (3) scores a goal during their game with Bolles Bulldogs in a State Lacrosse Semifinal matchup on Thursday May, 9, 2024 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples. Photo By Chris Tilley

After scoring nine goals prior to coming off injured in the fourth quarter of a regular-season game against St. John Paul II, Vega returned with a vengeance. The junior's biggest performances came on the biggest stage, with noteworthy performances around the crease in both the state semifinals and finals. Vega finished the year with 83 points, including 55 goals scored for the state-champion Bucs.

Michael Evans, senior, St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II's Michael Evans unleashes a shot on goal during the second half of Tuesday's district final against Oxbridge Academy on April 16, 2024.
St. John Paul II's Michael Evans unleashes a shot on goal during the second half of Tuesday's district final against Oxbridge Academy on April 16, 2024.

Evans had a dominant year for the Eagles with a 101-point season, which included 57 goals scored. Under his senior leadership, St. John Paul II was a regional finalist after besting Belen Jesuit and Gulliver Prep. The Eagles finished the year 16-6 and also won back-to-back district championships for the first time in head coach Andrew Bolger's career.

Ryan Stowell, senior, Oxbridge Academy

The Jupiter Community High School Warriors hosted the Oxbridge Academy Thunderwolves in a Florida High School Athletic Association boys high school lacrosse game at the school in Jupiter, Fla., on March 26, 2024. The Warriors won 12-5 over the Thunderwolves. Ryan Stowell (4) carries the ball during the game.
The Jupiter Community High School Warriors hosted the Oxbridge Academy Thunderwolves in a Florida High School Athletic Association boys high school lacrosse game at the school in Jupiter, Fla., on March 26, 2024. The Warriors won 12-5 over the Thunderwolves. Ryan Stowell (4) carries the ball during the game.

Stowell had a commanding year for the ThunderWolves' offense, finishing his senior season with 89 points, which included a team-high 41 goals. Though his squad fell in a hard-fought district championship against St. John Paul II, they rebounded with a win over Pine Crest to reach the regional semifinals. The ThunderWolves finished 13-7 on the year.

Coach of the Year

Peter Cordrey, Benjamin

Head Coach Peter Cordrey of The Benjamin School is doused with gatorade as his team celebrates with after winning the Class 1A state championship game over Community School of Naples in Naples on Saturday evening, May 11, 2024. Photo by Darron R. Silva
Head Coach Peter Cordrey of The Benjamin School is doused with gatorade as his team celebrates with after winning the Class 1A state championship game over Community School of Naples in Naples on Saturday evening, May 11, 2024. Photo by Darron R. Silva

Cordrey led Benjamin to its first-ever state-sanctioned state championship title this year. Under his wing, a very young Buccaneers squad went 22-1 on the season, defeating Bolles 19-7 in the state semifinals before besting the Community School of Naples in an 11-10 nail-biter for the title.

Honorable Mentions

Trevor Buffone, senior, Boca Raton

Aidan Caffrey, senior, Boca Raton

Dustin Sluszka, junior, Jupiter

Dom Deering, senior, St. Andrew's

Matthew Sofarelli, senior, Jupiter

Hutch Gumbinner, junior, Benjamin

Ethan Friesel, junior, St. Andrew's

JD Ross, senior, Oxbridge Academy

Connor O'Brien, junior, Jupiter

Anthony Hicks, junior, Boca Raton

Kaden Creps, senior, Jupiter

Cain DuBois, freshman, St. John Paul II

Aiden Emerick, junior, Palm Beach Central

Andrew Pozo, junior, St. Andrew's

Matthew Evans, senior, St. John Paul II

Leyton Zorumski, senior, St. Andrew's

Luke Benstein, senior, Boca Raton

Jackson Miller, sophomore, Wellington

Miller Dickenson, junior, Boca Raton

Campbell Hogan, sophomore, Benjamin

Sean Sheehan, junior, Benjamin

Cameron Romano, senior, Wellington

Caden Hayes, junior, Benjamin

Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: See which boys lacrosse players made spring All-County selections

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