Mountain Lakes Herd

August 2, 2026

2025: 

• 7-3 
• Lost to Cedar Grove in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 1 semifinals and beat Brearley in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Madison, Newton, Lenape Valley, and Boonton 
• Their losses were to Hanover Park and Weequahic 
• Scored 327 points for a 32.7 average 
• Allowed 180 points for an 18.0 average 

Graduation: 

• RB Billy Barrett – Boston College as a walk-on 
• WR/DB Vincent Cina – Grove City (Pa.) 
• OL/DL Holden Gillespie – Bucknell for lacrosse 
• RB Carson Fitch – Denison (Oh.) for lacrosse 
• RB/DB Massimo Corvelli – Denison (Oh.) for lacrosse 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Lawson Fagan, Senior, 6-5, 185 – returning starter; passed for 435 yards and 7 touchdowns 

Running Back:  

• Jack Bronico, Senior, 6-0, 165 – projected starter at fullback; saw action, rushing for 203 yards and 4 touchdowns; started on defense   
• Ethan Smith, Senior, 5-11, 165 – provides depth at fullback 
• Colton Borie, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at halfback 
• Dylan Gambuti, Senior, 5-8, 185 – part of the rotation at the other halfback 
• Jayden Hernando, Junior, 5-8, 150 – part of the rotation at the other halfback 
• Josh Helmy, Senior, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation at the other halfback 
• CJ Holbig, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – part of the rotation at the other halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Ty Plotts, Senior, 6-1, 175 – projected starter who was in last year’s rotation; started on defense  
• Brendan Tucker, Senior, 6-0, 155 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Vance Fusco, Senior, 6-0, 225 – projected starter; started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

• Dustin Gabriel, Senior, 6-1, 240 – projected starter at left tackle; started on defense  
• Jack Brown, Senior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter at left guard 
• Jeffrey Higgins, Senior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter at center 
• Reid Samson, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter at right guard; saw action 
• Andre Kuchavik, Junior, 6-0, 220 – competing at right tackle 
• Daniel Rajchel, Junior, 6-0, 240 – competing at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: 3-4 base with 3-5 looks 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Dustin Gabriel, Senior, 6-1, 240 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Vance Fusco, Senior, 6-0, 225 – returning starter at end 
• Jeffrey Higgins, Senior, 6-0, 220 – projected starter at the opposite end 
• Aaron Ulan, Sophomore, 5-10, 220 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Jack Bronico, Senior, 6-0, 165 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• Dylan Gambuti, Senior, 5-8, 185 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jack Brown, Senior, 6-0, 205 – 3-year starter on the outside 
• Colton Borie, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the outside  
• CJ Holbig, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Ty Plotts, Senior, 6-1, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Tyler Kaplan, Senior, 6-2, 185 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Jayden Hernando, Junior, 5-8, 150 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Will Oliver, Junior, 5-9, 160 – competing at safety 
• Anthony Pietranera, Senior, 5-9, 160 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Lawson Fagan returns as the punter, and the kicker will be either sophomore Gunnar Hulse or senior Adem Eren 
• Holbig, Hernando, and Helmy are the return men 
• Senior Ty Plotts returns as the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, Jefferson at West Orange, 4:00 
• Friday, 9/4, at Madison, 4:30 
• Thursday, 9/10, Lenape Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/18, at Ramsey 
• Friday, 9/25, Caldwell at home 
• Friday, 10/2, at Pequannock 
• Friday, 10/9, Cedar Grove at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Hanover Park 
• Friday, 10/23, Boonton at home 

Concerns:  

• Can they stay healthy? 
• Can they hold up physically? 

Recruiting: 

• Fagan has a verbal commitment to Dartmouth for lacrosse 
• Plotts has a verbal commitment to St. John’s for lacrosse 
• Brown has an offer from — and will play at a high academic school, possibly at a NESCAC school 
• Bronico, Fusco, and Gabriel will play at a high academic school, possibly in the NESCAC 
• Underclassmen: 
• Holbig is a sophomore to watch 

Coach’s Comments:   

“The kids have been working, and some seniors have sparked this group. We have a chip on our shoulder after not having won a championship in three years. We will be competitive in Group 1.” – Head Coach Darrell Fusco