Mountain Lakes
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Chase Winter and Jake Tripucka have pretty much known where they were going to end up going to college for about a year now, and their Mountain Lakes High School teammate Greg DeLuca for at least six months or so, but their decisions weren’t made known except on an occasional Internet forum or perhaps a friend of a friend heard something.
Recently, the Lakers lacrosse trio put the whispers to rest and signed their National Letters of Intent. Winter is going to be attending Johns Hopkins University while Tripucka and DeLuca are looking forward to their futures as Duke Blue Devils.
All three along with UMass bound girls lacrosse standout Jordan Renna were recognized for their achievement during a gathering at Mountain Lakes High School in late November.
The boys are members of back-to-back state champion boys lacrosse teams and will be playing for the most prestigious and successful college lacrosse teams in the country. Both Duke and Johns Hopkins competed in last year’s NCAA Division I Final Four which was won by Syracuse University.
The chance to potentially compete with and against each other for national titles and also get a quality education in the bargain is something that doesn’t happen every day for one of the smallest public schools in Morris County.
“It’s cool to finally have something in writing and actually see it,” DeLuca said. “It’s pretty exciting. It also goes a long way in the national reputation of Mountain Lakes. You have all these kids going to DI schools. Not only are they making an impact in college but it also gives our high school national respect.”
All three were junior midfielders and strong contributors in the success of last year’s 22-1 boys lacrosse state championship team. Chase Winter (6-foot, 165) finished with 29 goals and 11 assists including four goals in a dramatic Group final against Chatham. Jake Tripucka (6-foot-1,195) finished with 15 goals and 13 assists and Greg DeLuca (6-foot, 190) played more of a defensive role and wasn’t needed to score as much but still contributed six goals and four assists.
“Jake and I had a good showing at the Blue Chip (summer) camp and that helped us,” Winter said. “But with the tradition here at Mountain Lakes with what Coach (Tim) Flynn has started. When I was little I looked up to (Joe) Cinosky who went to Maryland. We have a lot of top guys going to top programs.”
The Lakers have not sent a lacrosse player to JHU since Rich Schwester played in the mid 90’s. Winter is well aware of the school’s reputation in lacrosse circles.
“The coaching is great and the kids are great,” Winter said. “They have the same ideas. They always go out together. It’s similar to what we have at Mountain Lakes.”
Lacrosse is still in the background for now as all three of them are working to continue the Lakers football success. Mountain Lakes will play in a Group I state tournament sectional final on Friday at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.
Jordan Renna also signed her National Letter of Intent to go to the University of Massachusetts. Renna was a standout midfielder for the Mountain Lakes girls team that had a solid Group I state tournament run and finished at 17-4.
This item was adapted from a published report.
Posted by njlax 
Posted by njlax 