Lacrosse Notebook: Family matters at Boonton
For the Norton family, Boonton lacrosse is in their blood.
Head coach Mickey Norton played at Boonton and graduated in 2004. Assistant coach Sean Norton also played for the Bombers and graduated in 2007, and the youngest Norton, Joe, is currently a senior midfielder and captain for the team. All three brothers were born and raised in Boonton, their parents attended Boonton High School and Mickey Norton has known most of the players on this year's team since they were kids.
Mickey Norton, who is in his second year at the helm for the Bombers, took over last year after spending four years as an assistant at Montville.
"It's a pretty special thing, I was at Montville for four years and I loved it there, I enjoyed it but I always knew there was a part of me if the position at Boonton opened up, I'd come back," Norton said. "I graduated in 2004 and my brother graduated in 2007 and we just have so many ties, both my parents went here and with my brother being a sophomore (two years ago) I thought it would be awesome to coach him. It's been an awesome experience and I was talking to my family saying I doubt there are this many people out there who get to coach with their brother and gets to coach their brother."
Last season the Bombers finished 7-13 in the Norton's first year at the helm, and this season the team is currently 2-1 after a 15-3 victory over Eastern Christian on Wednesday. Mickey Norton has big plans for Boonton, which is one of the oldest teams in the state along with Fair Lawn and Montclair and is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the program this season.
"I'm very confident with the team and where we're going, we're going to make a run at the conference championship and move our way back up," Norton said. "My eventual goal, my 5-10 year plan is to get back to the Rizk Conference, it kills me to not be in that conference anymore."
Boonton was founded by former coach and New Jersey lacrosse legend Dick Rizk, who one of the divisions is named for. The Bombers used to play in the Rizk, but in recent years the team has struggled and last year played in the Pooley Division. This season the Bombers are in the Klank Division with Morris Catholic and Park Regional.
"When I was at Boonton we were conference champions and this year being the 50th anniversary, and I knew I'd be able to coach my brother and coach Boonton it was a no brainer," Norton said of taking over as coach. "It's time to reboot and refuel and get Boonton back to the level where we once were."
Norton and his staff, which also includes childhood friend and defensive coordinator Tim Martin, are in the process of turning the program around. Norton is trying to get his team to play together all year, participating in winter leagues at Mount Olive as well as summer leagues. Norton has also been involved with building up the youth programs in town.
"It's awesome because you see them as brothers off the field and a coach on the field, it's a cool thing all together," Joe Norton said of his older brothers. "It's definitely better to have them as coaches because they were such great players and they played and know the game, so it's much better and with the programs (Mickey's) been with before, it's helped a lot."
It's obvious that Mickey Norton and his coaches are passionate about the Boonton program, and Norton wants nothing more than to coach the Bombers back to the upper echelons of Morris County lacrosse.
"It means a lot to me because of the history of this program. I've been playing since the fifth grade through high school," Norton said. "I know the history of the program and to be able to play as a player and to be able to come back — I live in Lincoln Park — I'm hoping my son will go to Boonton; I want to stay here and just be a coach."
Milestones
Morristown senior Allie Ferrara scored her 200th goal and recorded her 300th career point in a 11-10 overtime loss to Westfield last week.
The midfielder finished last season as the career record holder in goals, assists and points and this year currently has 10 goals and two assists for the 1-2 Colonials.
Sparta senior attack Taryn Penna recorded her 100th career goal with a four goal performance in a 13-6 victory over Roxbury on March 25. Penna currently has nine goals and three assists for the 3-0 Spartans.
On Thursday, Mount Olive senior attack Mark Laratta scored his 100th career goal with a six-goal performance in a win over Pope John.
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: 973-428-6674; lknego@gannett.com