Lacrosse season in Palm Beach County means a really big spring made for even bigger rings.

Since 2021, local high school teams have earned six state championships in the wildly growing sport. One went to Jupiter, three went to St. Andrew's, and two to the American Heritage-Delray girls.

Far, far greater than the number of trips to the state tournament and beyond are the number of area athletes who've taken their titles and talents to collegiate teams across the country.

Check in on your reigning state champions and some more teams primed for deep postseason runs in 2024 below.

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Checking in on Palm Beach County's state champions

American Heritage-Delray girls

The Stallions are hoping to stampede toward another state championship in 2024 after clinching their third title in program history last spring. Heritage-Delray coach John McClain's crew finished 22-1 in 2023, falling only to North Carolina state champion Cardinal Gibbons, based out of Raleigh. While the Stallions lost senior Peyton Bezjak to Virginia Tech, along with Dakota Riggio, another attack, and speedy draw control specialist Alex Dorr to the University of Denver, Heritage is coming back to the field with 10 Division I commits − five to Power 5 squads − and counting.

Starting the season with an 18-3 win over Community School of Naples and a 17-6 win against Ponte Vedra, it appears that Heritage is managing well without the presence of three-year team member Brianna Valdivieso at goalkeeper. New sophomore starter Ashley Egbert entered the season ranked 30th in the nation among players in the class of 2026 after saving 54.1 percent of shots on goal in 375 minutes for the Stallions last year.

Player to know: Brooke Goldstein, Sr., Attack/DC Specialist − Accounted for team-high 69 goals in 2023, averaging three per game, and led roster with 41 assists. Defensively, picked up 20 groundballs and forced 10 turnovers. Committed to Clemson University.

Saint Andrew's boys

Can the Scots clinch a fourth consecutive state title? St. Andrew's did lose some critical senior talent in top scorers like Jack Schulte and Eric Stiefel, or middie Zach Brent, but the roster coach Tony Seaman returns is plenty enough to bring another championship back to Boca Raton.

Although the Scots introduce another new face in the net this year following outgoing senior Ryan Kaplan's rise from backup to starter after inheriting the role from an All-American, St. Andrew's can feel confident with Beck Trafton, a Babson commit, controlling the game at faceoff. The loaded squad is already building on its 19-3 run last spring with two wins in 2024, a 19-4 win at Oxbridge and a 19-10 win over Saint John Paul II.

Player to know: Nick Testa, So., Attack/Middie − Freshman campaign included 39 goals and team-high 75 assists, averaging 3.4 per game, to lead roster with 114 points. Defensively, accounted for 46 groundballs.

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More girls teams to know

Benjamin

The Bucs are better known as the "upset queens" after reaching region finals against Heritage-Delray as the seventh-seed last spring. Of 31 players on that roster, just seven were seniors, and although the efforts of attack Nicole Nicklaus and middie Grace Tighe will be missed, this young crew is bringing back a lot to be excited about in 2024.

Player to know: Ava Schulties, Sr., Attack/Middie − Led Bucs with 42 goals, 25 assists, and 67 points heading into season finale at Heritage. Defensively, fielded 25 groundballs and caused 9 turnovers. Committed to Lehigh University.

Boca Raton

It was no easy road to being first in the region last spring, but Boca's seeding was well-earned. Coach Richard Dugdale started the season with no goalie, lost the team's top defender by the fourth game of the year and best scorer by the year's end. In turn, Saint Thomas Aquinas ultimately surprised the Bobcats in the championship game with an upset, halting their season at 15-4, but Boca's ability to recover from adversity and adjust to new positions on the fly could see the team go deep again in 2024.

Player to know: Katie Ward, Sr., Defender − Caused six turnovers and came second on roster behind senior Gwenyth Amelung with 51 groundballs last spring. Offensively, won 34 draw controls and recorded 22 goals and 31 assists.

More boys teams to know

Benjamin

There's a big gap to be filled on Benjamin's roster without star senior and program staple Brady Quinn, now navigating his freshman season at Loyola. However, junior Alex Ponchock appears to be sliding into Quinn's role with ease, already leading the Bucs with 8 assists over a 21-2 win against North Broward Prep and a 21-1 win over Pine Crest this spring.

In 2023, the Bucs came just a few goals shy of returning to the Class 1A state semifinal, falling to Lake Highland Prep, 12-9, in the region championship. Benjamin finished 16-5.

Player to know: Jack Kelleher, Fr., Attack − As an 8th grader, completed 55 percent of shots with 33 goals. Leading team with 12 goals early in 2024. Defensively in 2023, contributed 23 groundballs.

Jupiter

It was just three years ago that Jupiter won a state title. Another squad just a few points short of the final four with a 7-4 region final loss to Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Warriors are back with a vengeance in hopes of getting to make the trip to Naples this season. Coach Matt Sofarelli was treated to a talented group of seniors. However, the youngest members of the roster, like then-sophomore middie Dustin Sluszka and freshman Gavin Meyers − the younger brother of 2023 senior top scorer Sean Meyers − solidified its future was full of shining stars.

Player to know: Dylan Furshman, Jr., FOGO/Middie − Ranked No. 24 in the nation with 197 groundballs, averaging 9.4 per game. Ranked No. 21 in the nation winning 82.3 percent of faceoffs. Committed to Ohio State University.

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County lacrosse: State champ check-in and more teams to know in 2024