Lacrosse

The early history of the Jesuits in North America is intertwined with the development of lacrosse. Originated by native North Americans, in 1636 the French Jesuit missionary St. Jean de Brebeuf, S.J. adapted lacrosse for French pioneers in Canada.

A few centuries later, in the spring of 2012, after several years as a club team, Jesuit High School lacrosse began FHSAA play as a Varsity sport.

The Tigers entered a new era in 2025, with Noah Menendez '14 taking over as head coach and leading the Tigers to another District title. Entering 2026, Jesuit has earned 7 straight District crowns (there was no District Tournament in 2020) and 10 District titles in the 13 years since the program's inception.

The past three seasons the Tigers have earned bragging rights for local lacrosse supremacy, earning back-to-back-to-back victories over Plant in the annual Ihrig-Shaler Cup. Established in 2021 (Jesuit won 11-5 in 2025), the Ihrig-Shaler Cup has quickly established itself as perhaps the premier trophy game in all sports in the Tampa Bay area.

Jesuit was 16-3 in 2025 and reached the Region Semifinal. Among the top players were: Cole Peck '26 (team-high 58g, 37a - Michigan signee - pictured); Jackson Jimenez '26 (49g, 22a - Catholic Univ. signee); Aiden Eriksen '25 (54gb, team-high 31 ta - Providence College signee); Preston Shuster '26 (54gb, 24ta); Sam Schroeder '26 (44 gb, 17 ta - Robert Morris signee); Logan Hardin '25 (62% faceoffs, 102 gb); Logan Eriksen '28 (31g, 18a); and Wesley Garcia '27 (29g, 22a).

Many Tigers have gone on to play in college. The school's first Division I lacrosse player was Evan Olsen '08, who walked on at Providence College, and the first DI signee was Stephano Mastro '15 (Mount St. Mary's). Among the many college signees since then are Lleyton Hall '24 (Iona), Colin Kruger '23 (Boston University), S.K. Moore '23 (High Point University), Antonin Hoppman-Salario '22 (Haverford College), Jake Lemon '18 (Canisius College), and Brad Baker '17 (Holy Cross). See a more complete list of Jesuit lacrosse signees below.

FOLLOW JESUIT LACROSSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram: @jesuit_tigers_lacrosse
X/Twitter: @TampaJesuit
    

2026 COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH  Noah Menendez '14, 2nd season

VARSITY ASSISTANTS  Sebastian Rivers '16, Stephano Mastro '15, Shawn Needham, Terry Yarbrough, Phil Bardsley, Charlie Cummins

JUNIOR VARSITY  Kyle Renz (head coach), Nick Mastro '17, Ryan Cox '17, James Bencivenga '19

2026 ROSTER

JESUIT LACROSSE ALUMNI - COLLEGE PLAYERS

2025: Aiden Eriksen '25 - Providence College; Rocco Ruffalo '25 - Flagler College 
2024: Lleyton Hall '24 - Iona College
2023: Colin Kruger '23 - Boston University; Brian Kubiak '23 - Florida Southern; S.K. Moore '23 - High Point University
2022: Antonin Hoppman-Salario '22 - Haverford College
2019: Kenneth Lane '19 - Salisbury University
2018: Seth Cashen '18 - Bellarmine University; Chris Jennings '18 - Lynchburg University; Jake Lemon '18 - Canisius College
2017: Brad Baker '17 - Holy Cross College; Thomas Chadwick '17 - University of Dallas; Ian Knott '17 - Rosemont College; Nick Mastro '17 - Marymount University
2016: Christopher Conn '16 - Rhodes College
2015: Stephano Mastro '15 - Mount St. Mary's Univ.
2014: Peyton Elliott '14 - John Carroll University; Noah Menendez '14 - University of Tampa
2013: Cole Fox '13 - Swarthmore College
2012: Andrew Scarpinato '12 - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2008: Evan Olsen '08 - Providence College

JESUIT VARSITY LACROSSE - Year-by-Year

YEAR  -  COACH  -  RECORD  -  TITLES
2025 -   Menendez - 16-3 - District (10), Ihrig-Shaler Cup (3)
2024  -  Cummins  -  14-5  -  District (9), Ihrig-Shaler Cup (2)
2023  -  Cummins  -  17-4  -  District (8), Region (2) (lost State Semi to Bolles 13-10), Ihrig-Shaler Cup (1)
2022  -  Cummins  -  16-3  -  District (7), Region (1) (lost State Semi to St. Andrew's 11-3)
2021  -  Cummins  -  14-3  -  District (6)
2020  -  Cummins  -  4-3  -  season cut short by COVID-19 pandemic
2019  -  Henry  -  14-8  -  District (5)
2018  -  Henry  -  20-3  -  District (4)
2017  -  Henry  -  15-4  -  none
2016  -  Lemon  -  13-11  -  none
2015  -  Lemon  -  11-7*  -  District (3)
2014  -  Lemon  -  8-4*  -  none
2013  -  Matzke  -  14-5*  -  District (2)
2012  -  Matzke  -  6-3*  -  District (1)

* there are some unreported game results from 2012-15

JESUIT CLUB LACROSSE - Year-by-Year
YEAR  -  RECORD 
2011  -  16-5*
2010  -  15-2*
2009  -  8-8*
2008  -  8-2*
* there are some unreported game results from 2008-12

IHRIG-SHALER CUP

Since its inception in 2021, the Ihrig-Shaler Cup has been contested annually by Jesuit and Plant, the premier lacrosse programs in the Tampa Bay area. In that time it has become arguably the top trophy game in Tampa Bay-area sports. In the spring of 2026, Jesuit captured the Cup for the 4th straight time and earned a 4-2 lead in the Cup series.

CUP RESULTS (4-2 Jesuit)
YEAR  -  SITE  -  WINNER  -  SCORE
2026  -  at Plant  -  Jesuit  -  15-7
2025  -  at Jesuit  -  Jesuit  -  11-5 
2024  -  at Plant  -  Jesuit  -  14-13
2023  -  UTampa  -  Jesuit  -  12-11
2022  -  at Plant  -  Plant  -  8-4
2021  -  at Jesuit  -  Plant  -  9-8

PRE-CUP RESULTS (10-10 series tied)
YEAR  -  WINNER  -  SCORE
2020  -  Not Played/COVID-19
2019  -  Jesuit  -  10-5  -  District Semifinal
2019  -  Jesuit  -  12-6  
2018  -  Jesuit  -  9-5  -  District Final
2018  -  Plant  -  7-5
2017  -  Plant  - 13-12 (OT)  -  District Semifinal
2017  -  Jesuit  -  7-6 
2016  -  N/A
2016  -  Plant  -  17-5
2015  -  Jesuit  -  8-7  -  District Semifinal
2015  -  Jesuit  -  18-8
2014  -  Plant  -  13-7  -  District Final
2014  -  Jesuit  -  14-5
2013  -  DNP
2012  -  DNP
2011  -  Plant  -  11-8
2011  -  Jesuit  -  11-5
2010  -  Jesuit  -  10-4
2010  -   Plant  -  8-5 
2010  -  Jesuit  -  10-4
2009  -  Plant  -  11-6 
2009  -  Plant  -  11-9 
2008  -  Plant  -  11-2 
2008  -  Plant  -  11-8