Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse: Dream comeback for Ponte Vedra’s Baylor Vu

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lacrosse was gone and Baylor Vu wasn’t sure when it was coming back.

That absence fueled a final season for the books for the Ponte Vedra senior midfielder and Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse player of the year. Vu squeezed every bit of joy he could from a sensational final season, capped by a starring role in just the second boys championship ever for an area team. Vu loved lacrosse before this year but felt far more pull for it after spending a year away from it.

A torn knee ligament before his junior season ended Vu’s year before it even began. It was the first significant injury of his varsity career, and Vu was devastated. The worst part about the injury was feeling like a bystander and not being able to contribute.

“Just normal coming off a pick, made contact with my buddy Carson and just felt my knee pop,” Vu said. “Ten months of recovery.”

Vu had to watch from the sidelines as the Sharks reached the state championship game. Vu said head coach Chris Polanski allowed him to stay involved, letting him run segments of drills in practice. As much as that allowed Vu to be around the team, not being on the field and in action was the worst lacrosse experience of his life.

“It was very hard to sit on the sideline. And as much as I was trying to help in the box … it felt like I couldn’t help on the field,” he said. “So being able to actually contribute to the team on the field and make a difference with the ball in my hand, it meant a lot. It meant a lot, especially after coming off that injury.”

Off to the side, Vu was determined to return and make up for lost time. He spent time during his injured season shooting at goalies Charlie Nolan and Jackson Hume, picking his spots and working on his placement.

“When you sit there and all you can do is just stick tricks and shoot on your goalies, it was good training,” he said.

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse top players

Once Vu returned to action, he was elite.

The velocity on Vu’s shots from sophomore season to his senior year was turned up to another level. He cut sharper and passed quicker. Vu racked up 54 goals against elite state and national competition, the biggest coming against Winter Park in the state semifinals. Vu had the winner in a 6-5 slugfest. One game later, the Sharks clipped St. Thomas Aquinas 9-8 for just the second state championship in area boys lacrosse history.

“It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. To actually make it there, it truly felt surreal,” Vu said. “It felt like a dream. But then as we, when that final clock rang, when the game was over, it was like, we just won. Like it was unbelievable. I don’t know, but there’s no words I can describe to be honest. I felt like I was going to throw up. I’m at a loss for words right now because of how special that moment was.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse team

Player, school, class, notable

Robert Adams, Episcopal, Sr.

Attacker is a two-time All-News4JAX selection. Had 38 goals and eight assists in his final season for 12-5 Eagles. Scored 108 goals over final two seasons.

Austin Azotea, Nease, Jr.

Mentioned by three coaches as best goalie in the area and could come out of the net and contribute on defense, too. Helped Panthers go 13-5, with only local losses coming to Bolles and Ponte Vedra. Committed to Florida Tech.

William Barakat, Bolles, Sr.

Defender and LSM is headed to Sewanee after helping Bulldogs post 23-1 season.

Greer Boree, Bolles, Sr.

Foundational player for the 23-1 Bulldogs. The FOGO set a state record for career face-off wins (1,298). Added eight goals in final season. Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Headed to Yale.

JP Dolan, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Mid is in the conversation as the area’s best player. Had 23 goals, 16 assists in helping push to elite status outside of Florida. Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Had 63 goals in last two seasons.

Sean Doyle, Bolles, Sr.

USA Lacrosse Academic All-American mid had 21 goals and 11 assists in final season for final four Bulldogs. Scored 34 goals in past two seasons.

Carson Gunnell, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

LSM had a goal in his final season. Forced 45 groundballs for Class 2A state champs.

Preston Hager, Bolles, So.

Attacker was leading scorer for the final four Bulldogs. Had 54 goals and 10 assists. Up to 92 career goals.

Hudson Hauseman, Ponte Vedra, So.

Attacking underclassmen had 33 goals and 15 assists for Class 2A state champions.

Charlie Nolan, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Made 90 saves and had 54% save percentage for Committed to Salisbury University.

Matthias Schulz, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Attacker had 33 goals, 19 assists against elite schedule packed with heavyweight teams.

Tate Smith, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Stout defensive player and Jacksonville University signee. Forced 42 groundballs and had five assists for state champion Sharks.

Baylor Vu, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX player of the year. Elite final season included 54 goals and 13 assists to lead Sharks to 21-2 mark and Class 2A state championship.

Cam Zielinski, Bolles, Sr.

Defender and LSM is headed to Embry-Riddle. Had career-best 17 goals and six assists. On defense, forced 72 ground balls.

Honorable mention

Player, school, class

Barrett Brown, Bolles, So.

Myles Buckley, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Aiden Commendatore, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

Bennett Cornelison, Menendez, Sr.

Max Coulter, Bolles, Jr.

Brody Gotham, Nease, Sr.

Luke Greco, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Mason Gridley, Creekside, Jr.

Liam Hladun, Bartram Trail, Jr.

Jaden Jablonski, Providence, Sr.

Jude Kobrin, Episcopal, Sr.

Will Larkin, Fleming Island, Sr.

Gunner Lee, Creekside, So.

Caden Lopez, Fleming Island, Jr.

Will Martell, Bolles, Sr.

Cooper Matson, Bolles, Sr.

Jake McAlister, Fletcher, Sr.

Ben McGuire, Menendez, Sr.

Connor Murkerson, Fleming Island, Sr.

Wilder Naughton, St. Augustine, So.

Sam Ogletree, Episcopal, Sr.

Roman Penland, Episcopal, Sr.

Nolan Preston, Bolles, Jr.

Rylan Provenzo, Bartram Trail, Jr.

Carter Schultz, Nease, Sr.

Braydon Scott, Creekside, Jr.

Brayden Sims, Menendez, Jr.

Dominik Szuksztul, Creekside, Sr.

Bennett Speeg, Fletcher, Fr.

Bryden Speeg, Fletcher, Sr.

Carson Stoudt, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Ty Teschner, Bolles, Sr.

Tucker Thompson, Episcopal, Sr.

Matthew Weidle, Fletcher, Sr.

Teddy Wingard, Episcopal, Sr.