Aquinas’ Crowley, Pine Crest’s Cook are Broward Lacrosse Coaches of the Year
Terry Crowley has built Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas boys’ lacrosse team into a state and national powerhouse.
Despite coming up one win short of back-to-back state championships, the Raiders remained among the strongest teams in the country this season.
And on the girls’ side, Pine Crest has remained among the most successful and consistent programs in the state under the leadership of coach Demmianne Cook.
Crowley and Cook are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Lacrosse Coaches of the Year.
Crowley is the Boys’ Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders back to the state finals. Aquinas went 17-4 and unbeaten against Broward County teams, winning district and regional titles along the way. The Raiders’ bid for back-to-back state titles ended with a 9-8 loss to Ponte Vedra in the Class 2A final.
But Crowley directed another talented squad led by four USA Lacrosse All-Americans, including Miami Herald Player of the Year James Finch, who is headed to Ohio State.
Cook led a talented girls’ team to the Class 1A regional semifinals and a 14-3 record. The Panthers won a district championship and advanced further than any other Broward team in Class 1A.
Pine Crest was led by a young breakout star in eight-grader Julia Hlatki, who scored 82 goals to spearhead the Panthers’ playoff push.
