About Us
The Mountain Lakes Lacrosse Alumni Foundation’s mission is to foster the growth and development of lacrosse in our community. We are dedicated to promoting the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth through the sport of lacrosse. Our commitment extends beyond the field as we strive to empower individuals to become responsible, respectful, and engaged community members.
Our Commitments
Our Commitments
Player Development
We are committed to providing world-class lacrosse programs that prioritize players’ growth and skill development at every level. We aim to create an environment where every player can reach their full potential through coaching excellence, player clinics, and access to top-tier facilities.
Alumni Community Engagement
Our foundation strives to build a sense of community for our alumni by organizing events, communicating, streaming live games, and outreach programs that strengthen bonds among players, families, and supporters.
Sustain the Tradition
We strive to ensure the enduring legacy of lacrosse in Mountain Lakes. By building solid foundations, fostering partnerships, and managing resources responsibly, we aim to guarantee lacrosse’s continued growth and success for generations to come.
Excellence in Coaching
We invest in the development of knowledgeable and dedicated coaches who not only teach the skills of lacrosse but also serve as positive role models and mentors for our players.
Safety and Well-being
We prioritize the health and safety of our athletes and participants. We continuously educate ourselves on best practices and implement safety measures to minimize the risk of injuries and ensure a secure playing environment.
Support Youth Lacrosse Development
We are committed to supporting our feeder system to help ensure our JV and Varsity have a continuous source of talented and committed lacrosse players.
Embrace Innovation
We continually seek to improve and evolve, embracing innovative coaching techniques, equipment, and technology to provide our participants with the best possible lacrosse experience.
The Mountain Lakes Lacrosse Alumni Foundation is dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their full potential, both as lacrosse players and as members of our community. We envision a future where the values learned on the lacrosse field contribute to a stronger, more vibrant Mountain Lakes.
This mission statement reflects our dedication to the sport of lacrosse and our commitment to the holistic development of individuals within the community.
Mountain Lakes Lacrosse History
Mountain Lakes Lacrosse History
The Mountain Lakes Lacrosse Program started at the grade school level in 1973. Mountain Lakes resident Dick Shriver started a recreation club lacrosse program for grade school boys. When Dick moved from town, John Walters took over the fledgling group and developed grade-level teams from grades 4-8. John, an All-American at Dartmouth in 1962, squired the program with great caring, expertise, and passion. John and Nancy Walters’ home on Lake Drive housed sticks and equipment for any players who wanted to give lacrosse a try. John became the “Pied Piper” of ML LAX, bringing players and families into the fold and building a tremendous, robust, and enthusiastic foundation for lacrosse in town.
John coached the 8th grade team and ran the entire junior program for over 20 years. He was instrumental in getting the Mountain Lakes Board of Education to adopt Boy’s Lacrosse as a varsity high school sport in 1979. Mountain Lakes High School hired Tim Flynn as their first varsity lacrosse head coach in 1979. Flynn and assistant Bill Dwyre coached the first-year varsity team to an 11-7 record and a Garden State League Tournament Championship. Another Walters family note…in 1980, Mark Walters, a sophomore attackman, scored the very first goal in Mountain Lakes High School history in a season-opening loss to Edison High School. During the tournament run later that spring, the Lakers defeated three teams that had beaten them during the regular season. The first-year Lakers defeated Edison 6-5 in overtime to win their division championship in its very first year of existence. Flynn credited the senior class, who had six years of playing experience thanks to John Walters, for the historic run that allowed Mountain Lakes to begin competition with a championship.
The youth and high school programs remain extremely close to this day. The lacrosse season starts each year with a FUN RUN and ALL TOGETHER practice where players in grades 2 through 12 can run, play, learn, and have fun together. The Mountain Lakes High School boy’s team, coming from a small Group 1 public school, has posted an 82.5% winning percentage and won 9 overall New Jersey state championships, 14 Morris County titles, and 24 division titles versus the top programs in New Jersey and beyond. This has been made possible by a town-wide effort of parents, players, and coaches buying into a program where excellence and high standards are upheld by all involved. John Walters set the table by establishing a feeder program that allows the high school team to compete with the best private and public schools. That junior program has continued to be one of the strongest and best in NJ due to volunteer coaches and administrators who sacrifice untold hours to uphold the Lakers Lacrosse tradition of excellence. The high school program is recognized nationwide for developing strong, smart, tough players who know how to win and excel at the college level. Over the years, 30 Mountain Lakes Lacrosse alumni have been named college All-Americans.