Remembering the pioneers behind NJ's unique lacrosse division names
Discover the stories behind the names of North Jersey lacrosse divisions from Cullen to Curcio and more.
What’s in a name? In North Jersey boys lacrosse, more than most people realize. Across high school sports, divisions are often wrapped in broad, patriotic themes – Freedom, Liberty, American – with teams from nearby towns.
But boys lacrosse does something different. Each division is named for a person who shaped the sport’s rise in New Jersey. A coach who built a powerhouse.
An official who shaped the rulebook. A founder who planted the sport in new soil. Below are the people behind the divisions and the teams that now carry their names into every season.
Their names – from Curcio to Cullen and many more – appear on schedules every spring, often unknown by the players competing beneath them. Gibbs Division Current members: Bergen Catholic, Chatham, Don Bosco, Mountain Lakes, Northern Highlands, Ridgewood The region’s top flight is named for Gil Gibbs, the legendary Montclair coach who built one of the most dominant dynasties New Jersey has ever seen. Gibbs took over the Mounties in 1966 – the program’s third varsity season – and immediately transformed his alma mater.
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