Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/15/10

Who were to top boys’ and girls’ scholastic programs of the last decade in Philadelphia?

It’s a raging debate – and now, you will get to decide.

Beginning today Phillylacrosse.com posted new polls on our boys’ and girls’ home pages to determine who were the top overall programs of the decade, while offering five teams in each list.

The boys’ teams include Ridley (winner of three state titles), La Salle (two), Haverford School (two), Malvern Prep (one) and Downingtown East (one).

Ridley was the power earlier in the decade, winning state crowns from 2001-03. La Salle won the last two state titles and also won in 2004, while Haverford School won in 2000 and 2005 and Malvern Prep won in 2006.

Downingtown East gets special mention for winning a state title (2007) in only its fourth year of play and establishing itself so quickly as a power after the split of Downingtown High into two schools in 2004.

For the girls, the choices are Conestoga, Radnor, Springfield-Delco, Episcopal Academy and Archbishop Carroll.

Conestoga was dominant in the early to mid parts of the decade, taking District 1 Class AAA titles in 2000, 2002 and 2004-06 while reaching the district finals seven straight years.

Radnor won the first PIAA crown last year and also won the District 1 Class AAA crowns in 2001, 2003 and 2008 as well as the AA title in 2007.

Springfield-Delco won the Class AA title in 2003 and 2004 and then again from 2006-08 as well as the District 1 crown (only one class) last year.

Episcopal Academy has won or tied for every Inter-Ac League title in the decade except in 2004.

Archbishop Carroll has totally dominated the Catholic League, winning nine straight titles from 2001-09.

Our last polls were focused on who the best boys’ and girls’ players of the decade were. For the boys, Lower Merion’s John Christmas (33 percent of the vote) won out over Haverford School’s Kyle Barrie (27 percent).

For the girls, Strath Haven’s Emily Garrity (60 percent) was the runaway winner over Baldwin School’s Emma Hamm (18 percent).