The Calabasas Boys Lacrosse team (LAX) ended the season strong with an outstanding performance on April 20th, defeating El Camino Real 16-4. With a strong student section, posters lining the stands, and a pregame ceremony honoring the seniors of ‘26, the night was unforgettable.
Before the opening faceoff, senior goalkeeper Alec Oleesky performed a rendition of the national anthem on electric guitar. The following senior ceremony honored players Gage Oleesky, Kamden Grof, Ethan Shapiro, Cash Beery, Bereket Walgren, Bryson Prophete, Max Avshalomov, Jerome Fohrman, Cooper Galassi, Daniel Fridlyand, Rafael Bermudez, Jesse London, and Alec Oleesky. Each player walked the field with their families through a tunnel of supporting teammates and cheerleaders.
For senior captain Cooper Galassi, the moment carried deeper meaning.
“I felt honored that I got to lead my team this year and throughout the season on and off the field. Between the other captains and me, our roles were to keep the players in check and make sure our team was locked in,” Galassi said.
Once the game began, Calabasas wasted no time in the first quarter. Cash Beery opened scoring with an impressive sprint down the field from defense to offense. Alec Oleesky followed with a key early save and quickly moved the ball to Rafael Bermudez, who then passed to Kamden Grof, allowing him to score a precise top-corner shot into the left of the goal post.
The Coyotes’ offense continued to work together as Bermudez assisted Jerome Fohrman in a third goal, and Gage Oleesky in the fourth goal of the game through a nasty rebound goal through the goalie’s legs. Fohrman later connected with Gage again, helping build a strong lead for CHS. One of the most impressive plays came when Fohrman intercepted a pass midair and scored with just seconds left in the first quarter. He went on to assist Beery, who scored the final goal of the first quarter, tallying up the score to an 8-0 advantage for CHS.
El Camino managed to score later in the second quarter, but the Coyotes didn’t hold back. Ethan Shapiro tossed the ball to Grof, who then made a remarkable move faking out two defenders, leaving them shaken up before scoring the ninth goal. By halftime, Calabasas had the game in the bag.
Kamden Grof, one of the team’s captains and leading scorer of the LAX program this year, reflected on his leadership role.
“Being a captain was an amazing experience because throughout my years on the team, I’ve always looked up to my captains as leaders, and I’m glad to finally be in a position to hopefully influence the younger players.”
He also highlighted his accomplishments this year, as well as a hard-working team that helped make it all possible.
“Leading the team in goals this year means a lot to me because I know all the hard work my teammates and I have put in, and it feels good to have something to show for it,” Grof stated.
The second half started with the same momentum. Cooper Galassi found the net in the third quarter, while Beery added another goal off a deflection. Shapiro scored again, and in the fourth quarter, Alec Oleesky capped off his night with a goal of his own.
“It was very fun… but also emotional knowing it was the last time I would play with all of my friends and coaches as a team. My favorite moment of the game was either scoring a goal or playing the national anthem,” said Alec.
Late in the game, Bermudez assisted Gage Oleesky for the final goal, sealing the 16–4 victory. Gage, who recorded a hat trick, reflected on the moment.
“Scoring last night felt super accomplishing because it was my last game. Before the game, I was planning to play as smart and as hard as I could, so I knew that afterward, no matter what, I tried my best, and that was all that mattered,” said Gage.
Defensively, Daniel Fridlyand added a late highlight with a crucial save to deny another El Camino score. According to MaxPreps, the win improved Calabasas’ record to 8–12, while El Camino fell to 3–13. The Coyotes had previously defeated El Camino earlier in the season as well.
Individually, the team saw standout performances all year, with Grof leading in goals, Oleesky close behind, and Fohrman contributing across the board as a top playmaker. With a memorable win and an emotional end to the season, the night was more than just a game. It was a true celebration of leadership, growth, and the bond shared by the Varsity LAX team, and most of all, the class of 2026 seniors.
