Postseason Honors Pour In for WTHS Boys Lacrosse Following First Winning Campaign Since 2011
Washington Township High School head boys lacrosse coach Josh Hanlon doesn’t like to live in the land of “what if,” though his mind does occasionally go to the COVID-canceled 2020 season and the unrealized potential of that talented Minutemen squad.
Thankfully, his 2021 squad rebounded from the lost season, tallying a 10-8 record for its first winning season since 2011. The success brought with it a handful of postseason honors, including South Jersey Times Coach of the Year honors for Hanlon, who took over the program in 2017.
“Missing the 2020 season was the hardest thing I have gone through as a coach,” Hanlon said, “especially because I will never know how good that team could have been. But that’s why I was so excited about the 2021 season, because, in spite of so much uncertainty with COVID, my guys responded in a big way. We were so fortunate to play a full season, uninterrupted. A lot of people worked hard to get this season in. There were procedures and protocols in place leading up to the season, and we received great support from the athletic training staff (Dr. Eric Schwartz and Stephanie Mroz Mosiondz) and athletic director Kevin Murphy. We had great communication between our kids and their families, and it was great that the kids got a chance to play and compete at a high level. They just have a love of the game, and that’s what makes coaching fun for me.”
Hanlon attributes the growth of the program and its recent uptick to his players’ commitment to club and offseason development.
“Our overall game play showed the time and effort that the guys devoted to improving their games,” he said. “It is great for our players and program to get positive recognition.”
Among those garnering individual recognition, senior midfielder Richie Hughes, junior midfielder Alex Kunicki, junior face-off specialist Guiseppe Morici and senior defender Kane Giloley were named to the South Jersey Times All-Area team. Kunicki and Morici both earned Group 4 Olympic Conference First Team distinction. Hughes and Giloley were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
“Besides these four standouts, we have a lot of other talented players,” Hanlon said. “We put all of our guys through a lot of leadership workshops to give players a different perspective. My coaching staff and I want them to know that you do not have to be the most gifted player or the team captain to do the right thing and to care about the program and the school and community that it represents.
“My goal when I took the program over was to provide every player in our program a great experience playing lacrosse,” he said. “We want our alumni to be proud. We want to build a culture of winning. We have had a lot of talented players the last several years and some great leaders. That’s what I’ve enjoyed most, watching players play to their potential.”
WTHS junior midfielder Alex Kunicki, a Group 4 All-Olympic Conference First Team selection, was a big contributor to the team’s breakout season.
Senior defender Kane Giloley led the team’s defensive efforts.
Junior face-off specialist Guiseppe Morici joined teammate Alex Kunicki on the First Team All- Conference squad.
Senior midfielder Richie Hughes will join Gwynedd Mercy’s lacrosse program in the fall.
Fifth-year head coach Josh Hanlon was named head coach Josh Hanlon was named South Jersey Times Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to its first winning record in a decade.