This was a season of redemption and satisfaction. That made the 2024 season important for Cathedral High School boys lacrosse as the program turned in a successful season to again be one of the state’s elite teams. That was the goal, and the goal was achieved. “There’s a lot of determination,” Irish boys lacrosse coach Andy Gruber said early in the 2024 season. The Irish, long one of the top high school boys lacrosse programs in Indiana and the Midwest, turned in a strong season in ’24 – a turnaround season in which they started the season 10-2 and moved to No. 1 in the state in Class 2A by late April. They finished the season 14-7, beating Zionsville 13-5 early in the postseason. They then lost, 13-8, to Hamilton Southeastern in the state semifinal on May 25. “We’re a much-improved team from last year,” Gruber said. “We played really well.” The Irish, after an injury-plagued 2023 season in which they finished 6-13 against one of the state’s toughest schedules, lost to three Indiana teams in 2024: 12-11 to Culver Military Academy, 6-4 to Carmel and the state semifinal to HSE. Their other losses were to out-of-state programs – 13-10 to MICDS of Missouri, 13-5 to St. Xavier of Ohio, 10-9 to Detroit Country Day and 8-7 to College (Ohio) St. Francis de Sales. The Irish – Indiana state champions in 2005, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019 – also in 2024 beat multiple teams to which it lost in 2023, including Cincinnati Moeller (10-9), Zionsville (15-3) and Center Grove (19-3). “We have been able to redeem ourselves against some tough losses from last year,” Gruber said during the season. “We had some uncharacteristic losses last year. Last year's team was a rebuilding year. We had a lot of youth on it. The guys being a year older are much more focused, more experienced, bigger, stronger, better. “As they say, ‘the rumors of our demise were greatly exaggerated,’ so to speak.” Gruber called the Center Grove victory “indicative” of the season. “Center Grove beat us last year,” he said. “I think they thought that they had turned a corner above us. They were having a good season. I think we sent a message to everyone that that’s how we're going to approach the season.” The Irish in 2024 were a balanced team with a strong senior class and significant contributions from underclassmen. Leaders included: *Senior defender Joe Konesco, a three-year starter who will play collegiately at Quinnipiac University: 17 goals and an assist in 21 games. *Senior defender Campbell Reid, who will play collegiately at New Jersey Institute Technology: 41 goals and 10 assists in 20 games. *Senior attacker Jack Bedich, who had 24 goals and 29 assists in 21 games. *Senior attacker Ian Bonacuse, who had 36 goals and 11 assists in 21 games. *Junior captain/defender Jake Mayer, a three-year starter. *Sophomore attacker Gus Art, who led the Irish with 39 goals and 26 assists in 21 games. *Sophomore faceoff specialist Trigg Lee. Also key for the Irish in 2024: Junior goaltender Brien Panzer, junior defender Jake Sedoris, senior midfielder Nick Cochrane, senior short stick midfielder Danny Hall, senior midfielder Robbie Rapp, junior m Austin Clark, sophomore attacker Owen Pac, senior longstick midfielder Paul Sheddy, junior defender Andrew Pac, junior midfielder Patrick Crisp, sophomore midfielder Ford Lee and freshman midfielder Dixon Hornsby.