Kirst Cup – New Jersey Lacrosse State Championship
We are accepting donations for the Kirst Cup.
2025 Kirst Cup Dates: 6/16/25, 6/17/25, 6/19/25 – Kean University, Union, NJ
Kirst Cup Game Schedule
KIRST CUP 2024 WINNER – SUMMIT
History
In 2023, the New Jersey Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (NJILCA) along with the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation, launched a replacement for the State Tournament of Champions in Boy’s Lacrosse. We aim to continue the great tradition in NJ Lacrosse of playing down to “One Champion on the Field”, something done since 1964.
The event, the KIRST CUP, is named to memorialize a great New Jersey coach and friend of lacrosse – Kyle Kirst. Kyle played collegiately at Rutgers University and coached in NJ at the youth and high school levels for over 30 years. Kyle is remembered as a loving family man and an exceptional teacher and coach.
The Kirst Cup continues the legacy of the original Tournament of Champions, now featuring the five NJSIAA Group Champions—reflecting the consolidation of Non-Public schools into a single group. Teams will be seeded by LaxNumbers and battle through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final to determine the State Champion.
A major evolution for the 2025 Kirst Cup is the introduction of the college shot clock rule, a game-changing addition that will elevate the pace, strategy, and intensity of play. This rule brings the highest level of competition to New Jersey high school lacrosse, ensuring a fast, dynamic, and electrifying tournament experience.
As this event continues to grow, we welcome organizations interested in partnering with the Kirst Cup. If your company would like to be part of this historic tradition and support the future of New Jersey lacrosse, please fill out our Sponsor Interest Form to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.”
About Kyle Kirst
WD > WS (What you DO is greater than what you SAY)
Kyle was a 1990 graduate of Rutgers University, where he also played goalie for the Scarlet Knights lacrosse team. He started his coaching career at West Morris HS as an Asst. Coach and was the Asst. Coach for the Czech National Team 1992. Kyle became the Head Coach for Princeton HS in 1993 before moving to the Head Coach position for St. Joe’s HS in 1996. In 1999, he went back to West Morris HS as an Asst. Coach then to Hanover Park HS in 2000, and eventually found a home as the Asst. Coach at Summit HS in 2005 until his untimely death in June of 2015.
Over the years, Kyle received numerous Coaching Honors and coached years of championship teams:
1996-98 3 league Championships St. Joe’s HS Head Coach
1999 West Morris HS League Tri-Champions
2005 Summit HS Group 1 State Champions, Union Cty Champions
2008 Union Cty Champions
2009 Union Cty Champions, TOC Champions, Group 2 State Champions
2010 Union Cty Champions, TOC Champions, Group 1 State Champions; Awarded Asst Coach of the Year by NJ Coaches Assoc.
2011 Group 2 State Champions, Union Cty Champions
2012 Group 2 State Champions, Union Cty Champions
2014 Group 2 State Champions, Union Cty Champions
2015 Group 2 State Champions
2016 Inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse HOF
Kyle worked with Somerset Hills Lacrosse as a youth coach for 14 years. He also served on the Somerset Hills Lacrosse Board and organized numerous lacrosse clinics for youth players in North Jersey. In addition to his coaching duties at Summit, Kyle taught history at Hanover Park High School.
Kyle’s wife, Michelle, and their 5 boys – Connor, Colin, Cole, CJ, and Caden live in Bernardsville, NJ and continue to carry on Kyle’s lacrosse legacy in high school, college and beyond.
KIRST CUP 2023 WINNER – RIDGEWOOD
NJSIAA BOYS LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
YEAR WINNER
1974 Montclair HS
1975 Montclair HS
1976 Boonton HS
1977 Montclair HS
1978 Montclair HS
1979 Columbia HS
1980 Montclair HS
1981 Summit HS
1982 Columbia HS
1983 Summit HS
1984 Montclair HS
1985 Montclair HS
1986 Westfield HS
1987 Westfield HS
1988 Mountain Lakes HS
1989 Mountain Lakes HS
1990 Ridgewood HS
1991 Ridgewood HS
1992 Montclair HS
1993 Mountain Lakes HS
1994 W. Morris Mendham HS
1995 Mountain Lakes HS
1996 Mountain Lakes HS
1997 Montclair HS
1998 Bridgewater-Raritan HS
1999 Delbarton School
2000 Delbarton School
2001 Moorestown hs
2002 Delbarton School
2003 Delbarton School
2004 Delbarton School
2005 Delbarton School
2006 Delbarton School
2007 Mountain Lakes HS
2008 Mountain Lakes HS
2009 Summit HS
2010 Summit HS
2011 Bridgewater-Raritan HS
2012 Bridgewater-Raritan HS
2013 Ridge HS
2014 Delbarton School
2015 Bridgewater-Raritan HS
2016 Delbarton School
2017 Delbarton School
2018 Delbarton School
2019 Mountain Lakes HS
2020 Canceled – COVID-19
2021 Don Bosco Prep
2022 Mountain Lakes HS
KIRST CUP
2023 Ridgewood High School
2024 Summit High School
High School Lacrosse Awards
2023 Boys
2023 Girls
2024 Boys
2024 Girls
EVENTS
27th Annual Lacrosse Hall of Fame – 2025!
Tuesday, July 22rd – at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
Please join us for the 27th Annual NJ Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction by selecting the forms below for registration (COMING SOON)
NJ Lacrosse Foundation Annual Golf Outing and Hall of Fame Induction
Tuesday, July 22rd, 2025 – at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
The 2025 New Jersey Lacrosse Annual Golf Outing and HOF Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22nd at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club. The revenues generated by these events play a very important role in supporting the New Jersey Lacrosse Scholarship Program and the Kirst Cup High School State Lacrosse Championship Games.
Please select the form to register and for more information. (COMING SOON)
More Info
For general information and questions about the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation, please contact us at info@njlacrosse.org.
More Info
For general information and questions about the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation, please contact us at info@njlacrosse.org.