Gainesville Sun All-Area: Who made the 2023 all-area high school boys lacrosse team?

When Oak Hall senior Luke Staab was in third grade, a friend of his encouraged him to join the local club lacrosse team, the Florida Generals.

Despite being unfamiliar with the sport, Staab obliged.

"I kind of bought in with all my friends," said Staab. "I played other sports like basketball and stuff, but I just loved lacrosse more than all the others... It was so different than all the other sports.”

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The same friend that introduced Staab to the sport ended up walking away from lacrosse. But for Staab, who had fostered relationships with his club coach Jonathan Montes and the rest of the local lacrosse community, walking away wasn't an option.

Come middle school, Staab went to Queen of Peace Academy, which had just launched a middle school lacrosse team. Around that time is when Staab knew the sport was something he intended to pursue long term. He also realized there was only one option for him when it came time to pick a high school to attend.

"I definitely knew I wanted to go to Oak Hall," said Staab.

Playing for Oak Hall, which has historically fielded strong lacrosse programs, meant reuniting with Montes, who serves as the Eagles' head coach.

"I ended up going there, and I loved it a lot. The team itself is just bonded so well and it’s more than just on the field. Off the field we know each other," Staab said. "We all just push each other and make each other love lacrosse even more."

For four seasons, Staab has been a staple within the Eagles' lacrosse program. And after the senior campaign he threw together this spring, he's bound to be talked about for a long time.

While Oak Hall went 19-2 this season, which featured its fifth consecutive district title and a trip to the region final game, Staab put together a combined 140 points — the most in a single season in school history. In his high school career, Staab tallied 163 career goals, making for a mark that also sits atop the Oak Hall record book.

"It's definitely something that I'll remember for a long time," Staab said. "When I was little I would always go to the Oak Hall lacrosse games and watch all the high school kids play. And I thought it was so cool seeing them on the field playing for Coach Montes. Being there and ending up beating all those kids I watched in goals and stuff is something I won't forget."

Looking ahead, Staab will continue his lacrosse career at Belmont Abbey, a Division II program in Belmont, N.C.

Gainesville Sun 2023 All-Area Boys Lacrosse First Team

Carter Dykes, Oak Hall, junior – 23 goals, 13 assists, 64 ground balls, 12 forced turnovers

Ben Ellis, Oak Hall, senior – 114 ground balls, 55 forced turnovers, 182 faceoff wins

Alex Gutenmann, Buchholz, senior -- 27 goals, 4 assists, 54 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers

Pierce Montes, Oak Hall, sophomore – 68 goals, 67 assists, 19 ground balls

Dominic Moreschi, Oak Hall, 8^th – 36 goals, 11 assists, 23 ground balls, 10 forced turnovers

Jacob Quigley, Oak Hall, junior – 83 ground balls, 46 forced turnovers, 3 goals, 2 assists

Miles Sims, Oak Hall, sophomore – 46 ground balls, 27 turnovers, 3 goals

Luke Staab, Oak Hall, senior – 76 goals, 64 assists, 32 ground balls

Tyler Trefzger, Oak Hall, sophomore – 101 saves, 75 goals against, 57.4% save percentage

Tommy Weber, Oak Hall, senior – 74 ground balls, 35 forced turnovers

Gainesville Sun 2023 All-Area Boys Lacrosse Second Team

Brandon Cox, Santa Fe, senior

Jeremiah Dowling, Newberry, senior

John Haugh, Buchholz, senior

Jackson Collins, Buchholz, freshman

Karl Johnson, Santa Fe, senior

Parker Kohlhaas, Oak Hall, freshman

Liam McSwain, Santa Fe, junior

Steven Rubert, Newberry, junior

James Smith, Santa Fe, senior

Reid Wagner, Buchholz, senior

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Meet the Gainesville Sun 2023 All-Area boys lacrosse team