James Finch, Alex Gladding: Broward Lacrosse Players of Year

Alexandra Gladding wrapped up her high school career by eclipsing the century-mark in goals for Pine Crest.

James Finch started his by leading St. Thomas Aquinas to another state championship game.

They’re the Miami Herald’s Broward County Lacrosse Players of the Year for 2023.

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Gladding, the Herald’s Broward County Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year, scored 118 goals, had 13 assists and recovered 60 ground balls to help the Panthers win a District 15-1A title, and make the Region 4-1A semifinals. Finch, the Herald’s Broward County Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year, had 49 goals and 14 assists, and took the Raiders all the way to the Class 2A championship.

Both have bright futures ahead of them. Finch and St. Thomas Aquinas are poised to continue contending for years to come. Gladding is off to play at Vanderbilt, which she called her “dream school.”

“When they had interest in me,” she said, “that was one of the best moments ever.”

To make her 100-plus goals even more impressive, Gladding will actually play defense for the Commodores and still plays defense for her club team. She only started playing midfield as a junior at Pine Crest and had to shoulder a massive scoring load as a senior after the Panthers lost 14 seniors from the previous year.

Gladding was one of only four seniors on the roster this year.

“It was a very different year compared to my last three years and, but it was a good change,” Gladding said. “We ended up being very successful, which I never expected.”

Finch was the offensive engine for one of the best teams in the state, the leading scorer for the Raiders as a freshman.

“They kind of underestimated me,” he said, “until I started playing.”

The attack had 10 hat tricks, including a six-goal performance against Columbus in the Region 4-2A semifinals, and became St. Thomas Aquinas’ first 50-goal scorer since 2015.

The Raiders’ second leading scorer was also a sophomore. St. Thomas Aquinas is poised to be right back in the championship mix after winning a state title in 2022 and getting back to the Class 2A championship this year.

“After making states and then lost in the championship, I think that motivates my team more than ever,” Finch said. “No one wants to feel that way ever again.”