JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ryker Kemp could forgive someone if they saw his lacrosse position and paid it no attention.
Offensive guys usually get the headline.
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Defensive guys, well, they typically don’t.
But Kemp, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse player of the year, was too good this season to ignore. Local coaches didn’t. Opposing attackers sure didn’t. And for Kemp, an All-News4JAX first-team selection at defensive end in football as well, those accolades showcase that his years of hard work have paid off.
“Usually … the defenders get no love. But I mean I think being a defender is very important. Defense wins championships,” Kemp said. “I know it’s not pretty like the goals are pretty … I mean, we still score goals, don’t get me wrong, goals are pretty. But I think caused turnovers are as important as goals.”
Kemp had three goals for the Sharks, but his biggest contributions came as a lockdown defender. He had 32 ground balls and caused 19 turnovers for Ponte Vedra and signed with Utah to play both lacrosse and football for the Utes.
The Sharks were the unquestioned best team in the area and challenged for the best in the state. Ponte Vedra reached the Class 2A state semifinals and a had a walk-off, 10-9 win over rival Lake Mary on a Mason Hauseman score in overtime. They came up short to St. Thomas Aquinas in the final, but Kemp said it was a season to remember.
“I think what helped me most is all my friends who did it with me. You know, we had a big group of kids who did both football and lacrosse, and we all understood like what each other were. We were going through. So I mean we just stuck together and it really paid out in the end.”
Kemp comes from a lacrosse family. His brothers, Andrew and Parker, both played the sport in college. His father, Peter, played lacrosse in college, too. It was a family tradition.
But how did Kemp manage to stand out above the rest as a defensive player in an all-about-offense world?
“It’s mostly one-on-one matchups, you know, like in football, it’s the end versus the tackle or the tight end and it’s like you got to think to yourself like, ‘Does this guy deserve to win this rep more than me?’ And that’s a big thing,” Kemp said. “My mentality stepping on the lacrosse field too; I go against an attackman, it’s like, ‘does this guy deserve to beat me’? And I don’t think he does.”
The 6-5, 220-pound defensive player is impossible to miss on the field. He’s quick for a player that big. It’s the same on the football field, where Kemp was unquestionably the best Ponte Vedra player in his final season. He racked up 15 sacks, one of them on a highlight reel wallop during a Varsity 4 Game of the Week win over Bartram Trail.
Kemp said that he views situations in football and lacrosse the same.
“I think getting a takeaway like cause turnovers, you know it’s one of the best feelings. It’s like getting a sack in a game. Once you’re done clearing the ball, looking over at the sidelines, it mean it’s just an amazing feeling,” Kemp said.
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys lacrosse team
Player, school, class, notable
Robert Adams, Episcopal, Jr.
Had career highs in goals (70) and assists (41) for an excellent Eagles team. Has 247 career points.
Ethan Anderson, Creekside, Sr.
Two coaches called him a tough defensive athlete to play against. Had 75 ground balls, won 13 of 26 faceoffs and scored six goals for Knights.
Greer Boree, Bolles, Jr.
Two local coaches said that Boree is the best FOGO player in the area by a wide margin. Won 125 of 165 faceoffs (.758 percentage). Added 42 ground balls for 18-6 Bulldogs. Has won 63% of faceoffs in his career. High Point University commit.
David Caldwell, Bolles, Sr.
Second-leading scorer for the Bulldogs (49 goals, three assists) as Bolles went 18-6. Headed to Iona University.
Tre Carter, Episcopal, Sr.
Attacker scored 63 goals and had 49 assists for one of the area’s best teams. Racked up more than 300 career points. Headed to Hampden-Sydney College.
Lucas Chigounis, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Big, 6-4 defensive player led the state runner-up Sharks in caused turnovers (35).
Jack Cox, Bolles, Sr.
Midfielder had best all-around season of his career. Scored 40 goals and had 36 assists. Had 20 ground balls as Bulldogs won 18 games. Signed with Fairfield.
JP Dolan, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Had 27 goals, 24 assists as a quick-striking midfielder. Committed to Merchant Marine Academy.
Jaylen Gabb, Fletcher, Sr.
Defensive star was an elite player in the center of the defense. Had 38 ground balls, eight takeaways for 14-7 Senators. Signed with Malone University.
Mason Hauseman, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Scored 59 goals and added 26 assists. Scored game-winning goal in overtime of state semifinal game. Signed with Jacksonville University. Two-time All-News4JAX selection.
Ryker Kemp, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
All-News4JAX player of the year is a two-time all-area first-team pick. Headed to University of Utah for lacrosse and football. Had 32 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. Added three goals and an assist.
Jude Kobrin, Episcopal, Jr.
Goalie stopped nearly 60% of the shots he faced. Committed to Sewanee, The University of the South.
Nik Perkins, Nease, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Attack star scored 63 goals and had 17 assists for 14-7 Panthers. Will play at Florida Atlantic University in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association league.
Jackson Soud, Episcopal, Sr.
Midfielder nearly doubled his output from a season ago, scoring 63 goals and assisting on 15 more as Eagles surged to a 19-4 season.
Honorable mention
Player, school, class
Colston Augustine, Episcopal, Sr.
Austin Azotea, Nease, So.
Zac Azotea, Nease, Sr.
Luke Beckstrom, Fernandina Beach, So.
Tucker Chappell, Bolles, Sr.
Jackson Coughlin, Nease, Sr.
Tommy Cussen, Bolles, Sr.
Cam Ezring, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Quinn Fields, Creekside, Sr.
Jack Fox, St. Joseph, Sr.
Brody Gotham, Nease, Jr.
Luke Greco, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Dylan Hauser, Episcopal, Sr.
Daniel Hawley, Fleming Island, Sr.
Henry Hobby, Bolles, Sr.
Jackson Hume, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Grady Insel, Creekside, Sr.
Taylor Jablonski, Providence, Fr.
Luke Jackson, Nease, Sr.
Luke Law, St. Augustine, Sr.
Braxton Lee, Creekside, Sr.
Jake Knowles, Providence, Fr.
Caden Lopez, Fleming Island, So.
Carter Magnano, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Nate Phillps, Fletcher, Sr.
Blake Powers, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Joey Roberts, Episcopal, Sr.
Zach Rutherford, Creekside, Jr.
Matthias Schulz, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Hunter Smith, Creekside, Sr.
Tate Smith, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Brandon Strout, Nease, Sr.
Ty Teschner, Fleming Island, Jr.
Landon Tobin, Nease, Jr.
Nate Towers, Bolles, Sr.
Evan Tuttle, Episcopal, Jr.
Matt Weidle, Fletcher, Jr.
Matthew Whitehouse, St. Joseph, Sr.
Joshua Wolff, St. Joseph, Sr.
Cam Zielinski, Bolles, Jr.
