It has been six years since his passing but Christian Regulski is still making contributions to Robbinsville lacrosse through his good friend, Jake Veres.
A senior on the Ravens lax team, Veres amassed 110 goals and 75 assists through his career. He does so wearing No. 8, which was Regulski’s number when he played in the Robbinsville Recreation program.
Christian passed away of brain cancer in sixth grade, leaving his buddy to carry on his name.
“He was my brother from another mother,” Veres said. “He was my best friend growing up. He got to play lacrosse, and I never got to play because I was a big baseball-football guy. The year he passed, I started playing lacrosse. Ever since then I’ve been playing lacrosse and wearing his number in his honor.”
In fact, the entire team honors Regulski and the late superintendent Steve Mayer as they wear stickers with “CR” and “SM” on their helmets. Veres feels Christian’s loss as much as anyone.
“When I first started playing I always knew he was there in some way, shape or form,” he said. “When I started, his dad (Matt) was always there teaching me little things, and he kind of reminded me of what Christian would say to me and things like that. When I got to high school, I wanted his number. Before every game, I say a prayer and I always tell him I wish he was still here. All my achievements I credit to him.”
And they are impressive achievements.
After seeing limited time as a freshman, Veres made an immediate impact his sophomore year with 35 goals, 22 assists and 14 ground balls. With his mentor Mike Sanguinetti graduating after that season, there was a huge void to fill as Sanguinetti owns all the Ravens scoring records. Veres stepped it up last year with 41 goals and 29 assists, and improved his ground balls to 34.
This year, through Robbinsville’s 7-2 start, Veres already had 30 goals, 24 assists and 19 ground balls. No doubt, Christian is smiling.
“That’s been a strong foundation of him,” said first-year coach Jonny Demkovitz, a 2011 RHS grad who played for Montclair State. “I give him credit. As a young kid I went through tragedies, but nothing like what he had happen at that age. Ultimately, I think that’s what motivates him on a day-in, day-out basis.”
His motivation helps make him a great player along with natural ability and the lessons of Sanguinetti, who is now at Rutgers.
But for a while, Veres wasn’t sure if lacrosse was his sport.
“I always credit myself on being a good athlete but the first time playing lacrosse I thought I wouldn’t be good at it,” Veres said. “I thought it was the hardest thing ever. But in the seventh game of the season (with Robbinsville Rec) I scored my first goal. That gave me the boost of confidence of seeing what scoring feels like and actually producing for your team.”
From there, Veres dedicated himself to the sport and began working non-stop at it.
“I just wanted to be so good at it,” he said “It was definitely the hardest sport I ever played. In the beginning it was so tough, but I have to give my coaches credit for keeping me in the sport.”
One of those coaches was Demkovitz, who became a Ravens assistant in Veres’ sophomore year. He has watched with great satisfaction as Veres evolved from a scorer to an all-around player.
“He’s always been a finisher, he has one of the best shots in the county,” Demkovitz said. “He’s always been able to put the ball in the back of the net – but it’s been very cool to see him develop. As a junior he stepped up and became more of a leader on our attack. Now, I think it’s very cool that we’re to the point that the ball is in his hands constantly. You get to see his craftiness and the way he can pass, shoot pick up any ground ball we need and really get in there with the big boys.”
The evolution has not just been in his skills, but in Veres’ mindset.
“You also see the difference in his decisions from sophomore year to now,” Demkovitz said. “He’s gone from making young mistakes to being a leader and really controlling the offense. Knowing the right time to push it and knowing when to settle things down. And he knows how to pass. Against (West Windsor) North this year he had three goals and nine assists. It’s been very cool to watch.”
Much of Veres’ progress was made thanks to Sanguinetti, who amassed 170 goals and 90 assists to break the school marks previously owned by older brother A.J.
“He was a mentor to me,” Veres said. “I looked up to him. Everything I could possibly ask about the position of attack I asked him how to get better. I had a completely different shooting form my freshman year. I would see how Mikey shot the ball and I’d ask him to help me out with my technique.”
Veres learned his lessons well, and took it from there once Sanguinetti graduated.
“Personally, I think I’ve gotten more mature in the game, making others better before myself,” he said. “I’m letting the game come to me and I think that’s helped me out. Obviously I credit my teammates for their assists. And I think I’m creative with the way I play the game. And I pride myself on being a very good shooter.”
Demkovitz agrees with that assessment, saying, “If he has a wide-open shot, with his shot, I’ll take him over anybody else around.”
When he’s not playing lacrosse, Veres and his family are part of “Friends of Jaclyn,” a non-profit cancer foundation named after former Marist lacrosse player Jaclyn Murphy, a cancer survivor.
The group raises funds and unites children with cancer with their favorite collegiate teams. The Veres family got involved when Christian became part of Princeton’s basketball team, and they have since landed girls with Siena women’s soccer and Marist lacrosse.
Next year, Veres is off to play for Pace University, a Division II program in Pleasantville, New York. He was looked at by Division I schools but because he suffered a torn MCL playing football as a sophomore, they wanted him to play as a post-graduate before taking him. Veres didn’t see the need to spend another $50,000 to play for a prep school and took Pace’s scholarship offer.
“They actually came to one of our tournaments,” Veres said. “The coach came up, told me he liked how much I played. Ever since then, we’ve been in touch. I loved the campus and the team. They’ve always been known as the underdog and in past years they’ve been up-and-coming.”
Having played college lacrosse, Demkovitz feels Veres has what it takes.
“He’s a competitor, he’s a lax rat, he just loves to compete,” the coach said. “College is a huge jump for anyone, no matter what anybody says. But if you come watch any of our games, he sticks out as the best offensive player on the field. After games, the other coach comes up and says, ‘That number eight is a very good player.’ I say ‘Yeah, I’m lucky to have him.’ I appreciate his talents every day. He makes my job so easy.”
Robbinsville High’s Jake Veres attacks the goal during the Ravens’ 11-4 loss to Princeton Day School April 23, 2018. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
Ian Kempton prepares to shoot on goal. (Photos by Suzette J. Lucas.),
