Spring Sports Preview: Boys Lacrosse

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Senior, Kyle Janks, who recorded 244 saves while playing goalie in every game for the team last year, defends the cage.

BY GABY MALANGA AND FRANK PAPEO 

Assistant Sports Editors 

            Coming off a 9-10 season where they went 3-1 in the GMC last spring, the boy’s lacrosse team returns eager to get back on the field. The young players on the team will need to step up after losing top scorers, Ryan Christensen and Jayden Basaltan to graduation. 

            An impressive senior lineup, including Kyle Janks, Jake Vislocky, and Daniel Hennessey move into leadership positions for the inexperienced team. “It certainly is a big role I’m going to fill,” Vislocky stated. “It certainly feels great for my teammates to look up to me as a leader, and I will lead the team to success anyway I can,”   

            The senior leadership on the team has impressed head coach Anthony Rybek.“Our seniors have done an amazing job this off-season leading the newcomers and getting them to buy into the program,” Rybek stated.  

            The junior class returns key varsity players including Luke Kennedy, Jason Testa, Christopher Fortunes, and Gavin Giles. Kennedy, a strong midfielder for the Knights who had eight assists last season, stated, “The boys are pumped to get going and looking forward to a winning season.” 

Junior midfielder Luke Kennedy, who was third on the team in assists passes the ball upfield to an open teammate.

            Like last year, the team will face off against some of the top competition in the state. “Just got to take it game by game,” Kennedy said, “We have to do the little things right and play hard.”  

            Senior goalie Kyle Janks, who recorded 244 saves last spring, returns for his third season in arguably the most demanding position in the game, Janks explained, “Being a goalie is all about keeping your composure, and if I do that, we should be fine.”  

            Coach Rybek wants the team to play to their best potential. “Ever since I became the head coach back in 2019, I wanted to take this Old Bridge Lacrosse program to a new level and that involves playing the best of the best each day of the year,” Rybek exclaimed. “Our boys know to just do what they are coached to do and everything else will take care of itself.” 

            The boys’ lacrosse team prepares to dominate the competition this season. Come out and watch the boys as they take on Red Bank Regional on April 4th at 4:00 at Geick Park for their season opener.  

  • Senior midfielder Jake Vislocky, who had 26 points last spring, dodges past the defender to bring the ball up the field.
  • Junior attacker Jason Testa, who put up 15 points last season on eight goals and seven assists, scans the field to set up a play for the offense.

Posted on 3/29/23

Photos by Tim O’Neill

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