Cherry Hill East off to its best start
The players look back now and laugh about it. Their alarms would go off about 4 a.m. It was dark and cold, and still hours before school started.
The players look back now and laugh about it.
Their alarms would go off about 4 a.m. It was dark and cold, and still hours before school started.
"That was the hardest part, hearing the alarm and having to actually get out of bed," senior attack Brandon Stern said with a smile. "But we did it, we even did it during spring break."
Three days per week starting in December and lasting almost until the start of the season, the Cherry Hill East boys' lacrosse team could be found in the bowels of their high school, holding 5 a.m. workouts that were as much about team bonding as conditioning.
Sometimes it seems crazy when they think about it, but the Cougars look back with pride because there couldn't be a better illustration of the dedication that led the them to the best start in school history.
"Those workouts brought us together - all of our hard work has brought us together," Stern said. "Now it's paying off on the field."
At 8-1, Cherry Hill East already has two more wins than it had all of last season. The Cougars dispatched visiting Northern Burlington, 16-3, on Friday afternoon. Ian Sheekey scored six goals, Josh Cohen had four, and Evan Campbell set a program record with six assists.
The program, which started in 2005, is on the way to just its second winning season since ever, and first since going 9-8 in 2012.
And that's not owed to any lack of strength in its schedule.
Cherry Hill East has already knocked off top Group 4 teams Lenape, Washington Township and Eastern.
Its only loss was a 6-4 setback against area juggernaut Shawnee.
The offense looks disciplined, the defense is physical and tough.
It's a striking turnaround at first glance.
But for Cougars coach Eric Wood, this is the season he's been waiting for, one he envisioned when his current seniors were a group freshman with raw talent.
"We knew if the kids kept working, this is what we were capable of," he said. "The kids have jelled together. Lacrosse became their sport - everything else became secondary. And with that kind of attitude, you almost can't go wrong."
Cherry Hill East is an example of the blueprint many South Jersey programs try to follow.
The same year the team's varsity program started in 2005, the town started the Cherry Hill Youth Lacrosse Club (nicknamed the Chilax program). Wood, who has coached the team since its inception, said this is the first time he's had four classes stocked with kids who grew up playing lacrosse and consider it their primary sport.
"You can see the difference," he said. "So much of the sport at this level comes down to how long you've had the stick in your hands."
That experience not only bred a higher skill level, it helped build chemistry. The team - featuring five senior starters - is filled with players who are best friends. And a love of the sport helped them persevere through two straight losing seasons. It motivated them to come to school at 5 a.m. even when they hadn't yet seen their hard work pay off on the field.
"We've had a chip on our shoulder, and we used those losing seasons to build up a fire in our team - we want a winning season," said senior midfielder Chris Hammerquist.
Added senior defender Mitch Finkelstein: "It's been a growing process. Every year there's been improvement. Every year we've worked harder in the offseason and gotten better. And it's amazing how it's finally coming together."
At the midpoint of the regular season, the Cougars are confident and hungry.
They have never won a postseason game, but that might be the least of what they can accomplish this season.
"It's going to take continued hard work," Stern said. "We believe in ourselves. But we have to keep that fire every day."
Northern Burlington 0 0 0 3 - 3
Cherry Hill East 4 6 5 1 - 16
Goals: NB-Tyler Bellanova 1, Kyle Matthews 1, Jeff Ricciani 1; CHE- Eric Sherman 1, Ian Sheekey 6, Josh Cohen 4, Brandon Stern 2, Chris Hammerquist 2, Cade Zaris 1.
Saves: NB-Brandon Edelschein 19; CHE-Jesse Viggiano 9.