County lax players honored

Staley, a four-year varsity short stick defensive midfielder (SSDM), was a second-team, all-West Catholic Athletic League selection, who earned several school awards. He was given the Spirit of Sacred Heart Award, SHP’s Distinguished Athlete Award and the SHP Albie Romero Award “for community commitment and academic excellence.”

Two other Gators — John Barnds, Hampton Galletti — were named All-Americans, along with Menlo-Atherton’s Colin Kryger. Barnds, a first-team WCAL selection, finished the year with 58 goals and 24 assists and was SHP’s Offensive Player of the Year.

A rising senior, Barnds has already committed to continue playing collegiately at Princeton University.

Galleti, a senior goalie, was named the WCAL second team, as he helped anchor the defense to a 19-2 record. His save percentage of 61.3 was the third-best in school history. Hampton will play at the Air Force Academy next season.

Kryger, a recent graduate, becomes just the third player in Menlo-Atherton lacrosse history to earn All-American status. Richard Cornew was the first in 2012 and in 2022, Jeremey Koren earned the honor, along with being named the Daily Journal Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year.

Kryger, the 2024 Daily Journal Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year and the 2025 PAL Player of the Year, was nominated last year, but didn’t make the cut. He put together another outstanding season in 2025, scoring 66 goals and assisting on 22 others. He finished his high school career with school records in goals scored (240) and assists (98). His 240 career goals ranks fifth all-time in the state, according to stats from LaxNumbers.com.

“From a coaching perspective, having other coaches … guys that have studs playing for them, to have them vote for one of our guys is great. To recognize that there are kids who play at a high level (at less prestigious lacrosse schools), it means a lot as a coach,” said M-A head coach Steven Kryger, who is also Colin’s dad.

Colin Kryger’s older brother Jack, who wrapped up his first club season at University of Florida, was a two-time all-academic selection in 2023 and 2024.

“As a parent, I’ve been fortunate to coach my kids for a long time,” Coach Kryger said. “Neither Jack nor Colin are the best athletes of the field. But nobody’s going to outwork them … and their (lacrosse) IQ is off the charts.

“[Colin] works really hard on his craft in the offseason and is really, really smart on the field.”

Colin Kryger will play for the University of Texas-Austin club team next season.

A fourth SHP player, Kieran Armstrong, along with Sequoia’s Tate Rowell and Priory’s Andrew Midle, earned All-Academic honors. Armstrong, a rising senior, was a WCAL first-team defenseman and was the Gators’ Defensive Player of the Year.

Rowell, who just wrapped his junior season, is a three-year defensive starter and was named team captain this year. He was a PAL first-team selection after winning 93 ground balls and causing 22 turnovers.

Midle, a recent graduate, was a four-year varsity starter at attack, finishing with 44 goals and 28 assists and earning first team PAL honors.

Serra’s Bolanos was named Coach of the Year after helping lead the Padres a record of 15-7 and a fourth-place finish in the ultra-competitive WCAL. The third-year coach also guided the Padres to their first-ever CCS victory as the fourth seed beat No. 5 Bellarmine, 7-2, in the first round of the CCS Division I bracket.