BTL STAFF
JOSH LESKO
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CURRENT: Coach Lesko is the Founder of Break-Thru Lacrosse, Director of Charleston for Break-Thru and the current Head Coach of Bishop England High School Boys Lacrosse Team.
In his first season with Bishop England the team finished the season with a 13-3 record with 7 players receiving all lower-state honors and 4 players earning all-state honors. Coach Lesko was named the 4A Lowerstate Coach of The Year for the 2023 season. Coach Lesko grew up in New Canaan, CT and went on to attend Deerfield Academy where he played for Chip Davis. During his lacrosse career at Deerfield, he was Midfielder of the Year, All-American, and a two-time 1st Team All-New England Selection, helping his team achieve a 60-3 record and four New England Prep School Championships. In addition to lacrosse, he played varsity football and varsity hockey (Captain of football and lacrosse) and received Deerfield's Jim Smith Award for Outstanding Scholar Athlete. Coach Lesko was named the #7 Overall Recruit in the Country by Inside Lacrosse his Senior Year. He was recruited by Bill Tierney to play at Princeton University where he was a 4 Year starter. While at Princeton, he played offensive and defensive midfield and started in 2 NCAA tournament quarter-final appearances while also winning two Ivy League Championships. His Senior year, he received The Higginbotham Trophy "awarded annually to the player who by outstanding play, distinguished sportsmanship and gentlemanly influence that best exemplifies John Higginbotham (Princeton Captain '39)." Coach Lesko began his coaching career in Chicago in 2010 with True Lacrosse as the Head Coach of their Illinois State Team. After relocating to New York for work in 2014, he continued to coach part time as an Assistant Coach for St. Luke's HS in CT, as well as coaching for Eclipse Lacrosse Club and New Canaan Youth Lacrosse. Shortly after moving to South Carolina in 2019, Lesko became involved with Mount Pleasant Rec and various club programs. In 2020, Lesko accepted the Head Coaching position at Hilton Head Island High School and subsequently founded Break-Thru Lacrosse. Prior to moving to Charleston he was the Head Coach at HHIHS for three seasons (2020-2022). Coach Lesko lives in Daniel Island with his wife Jessica and his son "JJ" Lesko. |
JIM BONAVENTURA
Current: Head Coach Varsity Lacrosse – Hilton Head Chistian Academy, Bluffton SC (new program)
Jim was a former competitive, award winning lacrosse player out of Half Hollow Hills in Huntington, NY. In High School, he was team MVP, Defensive player of the year and First team All-County. He was recruited and played at University of New York at Cortland where he helped his team win 4 consecutive NCAA DII Championships. He played club lacrosse with NYAC and SF Lacrosse Clubs, Hobart Elster Statesman. He also coached youth lacrosse in New York, totaling 50 years of playing and coaching experience.
He was previously the Defensive Coordinator at Hilton Head Island HS. Jim is a retired business executive who lives with wife on Hilton Head Island.
Jim was a former competitive, award winning lacrosse player out of Half Hollow Hills in Huntington, NY. In High School, he was team MVP, Defensive player of the year and First team All-County. He was recruited and played at University of New York at Cortland where he helped his team win 4 consecutive NCAA DII Championships. He played club lacrosse with NYAC and SF Lacrosse Clubs, Hobart Elster Statesman. He also coached youth lacrosse in New York, totaling 50 years of playing and coaching experience.
He was previously the Defensive Coordinator at Hilton Head Island HS. Jim is a retired business executive who lives with wife on Hilton Head Island.
Nicholas cruz
Nicholas is originally from Tennessee. He played lacrosse and football at Pope John Paul II. He was named First Team All-State and First Team All-Division LSM as a Senior. He was also selected as a Captain his Senior year and was recruited to play at Division 1 Furman University.
Nicholas is currently a law student at the Charleston School of Law.
Nicholas is currently a law student at the Charleston School of Law.
kara cooke
CURRENT: Head Coach of HHIHS Girls Lacrosse Team & BTL HS Girls
PREVIOUSLY: Assistant Coach for Brown University ('98-'99)
Inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2019
IN LACROSSE:
- Was a three-time All-American, earning first team honors as a defender in both 1997 & 1998
- Helped lead UVA to the ACC title as a senior ('98) and was named MVP of the ACC Championship that year
- Earned regional All-American Honors in both field hockey and lacrosse
- Cooke was selected to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team in 2002 and was named a WPLL Legend in 2017
- She was a member of the 2001 and 2005 U.S. World Cup Teams, winning the gold medal in 2001 and the silver in 2005. As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team Program from 1997-2006, she also played on the U.S. Touring Team against Australia in 2000
Coach Cooke earned her M.Ed. in Counseling from The Citadel in 2003 and currently works on the island as a certified personal trainer. When she isn't on the field with her HS team, training youth lax or with clients, she is cheering on UVA Sports and spending time with her family- husband Tim Cooke (golf instructor at Sea Pines Resort), and children Brody (14) and Connor (13)
PREVIOUSLY: Assistant Coach for Brown University ('98-'99)
Inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2019
IN LACROSSE:
- Was a three-time All-American, earning first team honors as a defender in both 1997 & 1998
- Helped lead UVA to the ACC title as a senior ('98) and was named MVP of the ACC Championship that year
- Earned regional All-American Honors in both field hockey and lacrosse
- Cooke was selected to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team in 2002 and was named a WPLL Legend in 2017
- She was a member of the 2001 and 2005 U.S. World Cup Teams, winning the gold medal in 2001 and the silver in 2005. As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team Program from 1997-2006, she also played on the U.S. Touring Team against Australia in 2000
Coach Cooke earned her M.Ed. in Counseling from The Citadel in 2003 and currently works on the island as a certified personal trainer. When she isn't on the field with her HS team, training youth lax or with clients, she is cheering on UVA Sports and spending time with her family- husband Tim Cooke (golf instructor at Sea Pines Resort), and children Brody (14) and Connor (13)