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TOP BOYS PROGRAMS

DI

1. The Woodlands Highlanders
2. St. John's Mavs
3. Kingwood Mustangs
4. Kinkaid Falcons
5. Memorial Mustangs

DII

1. Klein Bearkats
2. Langham Creek Lobos
3. The Woodlands DII
4. Atascocita Eagles
5. Stratford Spartans

After over a decade, Houston is back on the lacrosse state map.

The Woodlands carried the torch for Houston-area lacrosse and finally took down Dallas to win the 2018 state title.

"I think I received over 250 text messages from people I've never met before congratulating us for representing Houston," The Woodlands coach Keith Tindle said. "We battle each other during the regular season, but we felt like everyone was on our side going into the state tournament.

"The support was tremendous."

The Highlanders graduated 16 seniors and several went on to play in the college ranks. The team left a huge legacy but also a giant target on the program's back.

"We aren't creeping up on anybody this year," Tindle said. "There are pros and cons to being the hunted versus the hunter. The break- through took a lot of time and we went through so much adversity, but it was worth it. Now, we go back to work."

The storybook ending for the Highlanders went like this ... The Class of 2018 lost in the state finals as freshmen on the same field in Austin.

"It was surreal that we won it on the same field that eight of those guys lost on four years earlier," Tindle said. "Then we went through the toughest draw, having to beat three Dallas-area teams. We were also coming off Hurricane Harvey that set everyone back. It couldn't have been a better time for us to win it."

Coaches would say that winning a state title validates their program like nothing else.

It makes going to practice and workouts easier, and the coach's voice can be heard louder and clearer.

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