Sports
Boys Lax Sets State Record with 45 Consecutive Wins
Hilltoppers increased their winning streak to 45 games by winning the 2010 TOC title.
With a 6-1 victory in the 2010 Tournament of Champions final, the Hilltoppers not only raised their second consecutive TOC trophy, but also set a New Jersey state record with 45 consecutive wins.
Ridgewood High School held the previous record by winning 44 straight games during the 1990-1992 seasons.
"As a team, it's a great accomplishment," Summit senior Danny Feeney said. "We'd worked for it all year. It means a lot."
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Summit last tasted defeat over one year ago, on April 1, 2009, when they suffered a 10-6 loss to nationally-ranked Delbarton in the season opener. Following the loss, the Hilltoppers rallied to win their remaining 22 games of the season, culminating in a 2009 Tournament of Champions title (where they avenged the previous Delbarton loss with an 8-4 victory over the Green Wave). The Hilltoppers (22-1) finished the 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 9 in the nation, according to LaxPower.com
This season, Summit went undefeated, winning all 23 games and holding opponents to an average of just 2.30 goals per game. They finished the season ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 6 nationally.
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"So many people talked about the record all season, but we didn't want to focus on it," Summit head coach Jim Davidson said. "We just felt as though we needed to keep playing our game. But setting the record does feel great. I'm proud of our guys."
Although the Hilltoppers will graduate several talented seniors this year, the team will return the services of multiple players next season, many of whom saw significant minutes (and a few starting positions) this year. Returning players will include juniors Peter Badgley, Michael Ford, Jules Godino, Nick Kitsos, Terry McKenna, Sonny Round, Michael Tsiang, and Tim Yager, as well as sophomores Nick Kilkowski, Tommy Celmer, and David Kalin.
"Setting a new state record feels amazing," Summit junior Terry McKenna said. "We didn't want to think about it all year, but now that we've done it, we can celebrate. I hope that next year, we can add to it and be right back in the (Tournament of Champions) final."
