The 2026 varsity boys’ lacrosse team. Photo by David Fenner. 

By J. Murrer and S.Quinn DeJoy

June 10, 2026: After capturing the Section 1 Class D championship with a victory over Pleasantville, the Broncos advanced to regionals this past weekend, where they cruised past Section 9’s Rondout Valley, 19-4. Next up is the state semifinals, where the Broncos will face Section 8 powerhouse Cold Spring Harbor. The game is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Middletown High School. 

The Broncos' postseason run is especially impressive considering the challenges they faced during the regular season. Bronxville, the defending Section 1 Class D champion, finished 10-6 with one of the toughest schedules in the state while battling injuries to many key players. By the time the sectional championship game against Pleasantville arrived, however, the team was finally healthy and playing at full strength.

The rivalry between Bronxville and Pleasantville has defined Section 1 Class D lacrosse in recent years.  The Panthers captured sectional titles in 2023 and 2024 before the Broncos had their turn in 2025.  For the players who have been on varsity for four years– Nick Martinelli, Brian Formato, Thomas Freeman, Desi Heathwood, Fletcher Van Tienhoven, Theo McMurray, and Brady Dolan–meeting Pleasantville in the playoffs has become an annual event. 

This group of players lost to Pleasantville in the sectional semifinals as freshmen. As sophomores, they suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss in the sectional finals, and last year, they finally turned the tables and captured the sectional title. 

Bronxville and Pleasantville met once during the regular season this spring with the Panthers coming out on top. In that game, the Broncos took an early 5-1 lead but came up short in the end, falling 11-8.

“That loss was what we needed–a big wake-up call,” said Martinelli.  “We knew we would have a rematch and were super excited for the opportunity.”

When that rematch arrived in the sectional championship game, the Broncos left little doubt, defeating Pleasantville 14-6 to claim their second consecutive Class D title and the program’s seventh sectional championship. 

“Going up against Pleasantville, we were not sure what to expect,” said captain Brady Dolan.   “With a full roster and everyone back on the field, we knew that if we played together, we could win.” 

The Broncos celebrate the Section 1 Class C Championship win over Pleasantville. Photo by David Fenner. 

In the regional final against Rondout Valley, Bronxville quickly seized control, building a 9-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. With such a large lead, the coaching staff was able to give valuable playing time to many younger players.

“We pulled up a lot of guys from the JV team, including both of my younger brothers,” said captain Nick Martinelli. “They got into the regional final, so it was fun for me and fun for my parents.”

Bronco Head Coach Patrick Henderson and offensive coordinator Mark Haliman have been with the team for two years and have done a great job with the program. New this year is specialist coach Ryan Resnick.

“We have never had a face-off coach, and this year we have had much success,” said captain Thomas Freeman who is one of the face-off specialists on the team. “Coach Resnick also helps out wherever he can and runs the box–which is a tough job with 39 players on the postseason roster.”

The state semifinal matchup between Bronxville and Cold Spring Harbor features the top two Class D programs in New York according to the New York State Sportswriters Association. Cold Spring Harbor enters the game ranked No. 1 in Class D and No. 2 nationally in the USA Lacrosse Public School rankings, while Bronxville is ranked No. 2 in Class D and has captured back-to-back Section 1 championships.

Cold Spring Harbor has established itself as one of the premier lacrosse programs in New York, winning state championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Broncos lost to the Seahawks in the regional final last year and are more than ready to take them on once again. 

“We have been looking at Cold Spring all year after suffering a 7-3 loss in the regional final last year,” said Martinelli. “It was a tough game. Our defense played well, but our offense was not humming the way it usually does.”

“I feel we have a team to compete,” said Dolan. “Cold Spring is a big and physical team, but we match well body-for-body and size-for-size.”

Theo McMurray, also a team captain, believes the Broncos are ready for the challenge.

“Cold Spring Harbor is a very talented team. If we play a really good game and leave it out there, we will have no regrets.”

While this Bronxville team is loaded with talent, its success this season has also been built on resilience.  The Broncos persevered through a challenging regular season in which some of their key players missed significant time with injuries. 

“We are a super-resilient group,” said McMurray. “Four out of the five captains were injured this season, and we needed other players to step up. We have to thank the younger guys and the kids who don’t play as much. They stepped up and took on that responsibility.”

Freeman agreed that maintaining the team's focus during those difficult stretches was one of the season's biggest challenges.

“It’s hard when the captains are injured–hard to stay focused during practice when you are hurt, and hard to keep the intensity up,” said Freeman. “But the captains came together and found a way to keep the mindset.”

That perseverance helped carry the Broncos through the regular season and into the state semifinals, but the team's success is also rooted in the relationships that have been built over years of playing together. Many of the juniors and seniors have been teammates since elementary school.

“It is a special class and you don’t often have guys who have played together for 13 years,” said Martinelli.  “The bonds that are built and the friendships are going to last a lifetime.” 

The Broncos are also no stranger to high-pressure postseason competition. Bronxville reached the lacrosse state quarterfinals last year, and more than half the players on the lacrosse roster were also members of the 2025 football team that won the New York State Class C Championship.

Now, the Broncos will draw on that experience when they face Cold Spring Harbor tomorrow evening in the state semifinals.

“Everyone says they are one of the better lacrosse teams in the country, but I feel we have a team that can compete,” said Dolan. “Hopefully we get these last two games. It would be nice to have a championship in two different sports, but if you told me last September that this was possible, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Martinelli echoed that confidence.

“I know the guys on our team, and I think we have the ability to beat anyone. We are two teams going out and playing the sport we love. Anything can happen.”

The Broncos will get that opportunity Thursday evening when they take the field at Middletown High School with a trip to the state championship game on the line.

Go Broncos.