Colleyville boys lacrosse sets new standard, reaching state title game
Colleyville lacrosse finished its season recently only after making it to the Division II state finals game.
Although the team fell short of bringing home a state title, the Colleyville crew had plenty to be proud of in its deepest run and most successful season since moving up to Division II.
Colleyville lost in the state finals to Highland Park, 15-10, in Round Rock but finished with a 19-3 record.
Regardless of the state finals outcome, head coach Gary Dennington said he’d take this team over any other.
“We didn’t play our best game in the finals,” Dennington said, noting the grind of the playoffs became tiring for the entire contingent. “But I’ve coached for a long time and winning or losing, I’d want this team. This is a game of battle, like hockey, where the players have sticks in their hands. And if you have to go into battle, I’m glad I’m with these guys. They’re good people and they’ve worked harder than any other group I’ve had.”
Colleyville had beaten Highland Park earlier in the season during tournament play, but the season in retrospect was still the best Dennington can recall since the move to the higher division about five years ago.
In the playoff run, Colleyville disposed of Hillcrest, Klein, McNeil and Flower Mound before the Highland Park finals matchup.
Even with the stellar season behind them, Dennington feels the mold has been set for future standout teams.
With some 45 players returning to the program next year, several with all-state and all-district honors, Colleyville should stand to be a force next year.
They will miss the ten seniors graduating from this year’s squad, including two of the team’s most effective players.
Michael Ferrer and Jake Moore were two of the top players but for different reasons, Dennington said.
The two players have already played in a state all-star game.
At the team’s recent team banquet, Ferrer was tabbed as the team’s MVP while Moore was noted as the defensive MVP.
Ferrer took home the Darrell Barabash Award, in honor of one of the Colleyville program’s instrumental founders.
The defensive depth can be demonstrated by the fact that Tanner Wallace, who returned to the lineup after a dislocated shoulder in the semifinals, received the defensive MVP of the finals game.
Girls program collects honors
The girls in the Colleyville program are excelling, too. Four Colleyville girls players received special honors and became the program’s first girls to do so.
Named to the all-state team were Samantha Miocic and Coleen Hamway.
All-district team members are Maura McGregor and Hannah Critchfield.
The sport of lacrosse will likely have the foundation needed to feed the high school girls program now.
The Colleyville Parks & Recreation Department is now offering a full lacrosse program, including boys and girls programs for grades 1-12.
This story was originally published May 27, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Colleyville boys lacrosse sets new standard, reaching state title game."