Heading into his senior year, Mira Costa senior Nick Marsh posted a whiteboard in his bedroom and composed a checklist.

On the list: Reaching 300 points, winning the Bay League title, winning Bay League MVP and being selected to the All-CIF team. The most important of the list? Being named team captain.

Marsh accomplished each of those goals, but it was the bond he created with his teammates that was the highlight of his four years in Mustangs green and gold.

“We had a lot of success on the field, but my favorite part that gives me the most satisfaction was forming relationships with my teammates,” Marsh said. “I can call them some of my closest friends.”

One of the goals Marsh did not achieve was reaching the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals. Mira Costa lost to St. Francis 17-16 in the first round. When the Mustangs returned home, no one was ready to part ways.

“We got off the bus at 11 p.m. and went to a teammate’s house. We wanted to spend more time with each other,” Marsh said. “The relationships I’ve formed are the most valuable asset. We did great things on the field, but forming relationships and bonding were my most memorable memories.”

The first time Mira Costa coach Aaron Karsh saw Marsh with a lacrosse stick was a memorable one, too.

“When I first met him, he was shooting on his own on our back field,” Karsh said. “He had been shooting for 45 minutes.”

Over the last four years, the work ethic Karsh saw that first day translated not only to the practice field, but was contagious among his teammates.

“That work ethic is what he’s brought to the program. He’s always trying to find a way to get better either physically or mentally,” Karsh said. “He’s challenging his teammates to do the right thing and holding them accountable with how competitive they are at practice.”

When the task to become a captain arose, Marsh stepped into the role without hesitation, and Karsh witnessed the dividends. The Mustangs went 14-5, including an undefeated Bay League title run.

“He grew as a person, having to take leadership responsibilities and take the offense under his wing. He stepped right into that role,” Karsh said. “He was the guy who was pushing everyone to be proactive to be their best every day. Come game day, he was performing.”

Marsh, who will play Division III lacrosse at Massachusetts’ Babson College, entered the season needing 107 points to reach the 300-point plateau he had set for himself. He finished the year with 67 goals and 45 assists (112 points).

The road to get there wasn’t a simple one. Mira Costa started its season with losses in three of its first four games. The one that felt like rock bottom? A 16-7 loss to Corona del Mar.

“The beginning of the year did not go how we planned,” Marsh said. “When we got blown out by CdM, that was a really big moment of the season. That was the most upset I’ve seen teammates and coaches, and that’s when we started pushing ourselves at practice. That’s when the flip switched.”

Mira Costa closed the regular season winning 10 consecutive games. Against rival Palos Verdes, Karsh saw teams begin to game-plan for Marsh.

“There were a few games where you could not stop him,” Karsh said. “Both PV games, that was the situation. He was the focal point defensively.”

It was during the second of two victories that Karsh truly saw the kind of impact Marsh had on the opposition.

“There were moments where Nick put the team on his back,” Karsh said. “Toward the end of the game, they’re sending triple teams at him and he’s navigating through that.

“He’s small in stature but makes some huge plays, has a huge heart and a huge drive to be the best at whatever he’s doing.”

Marsh, at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, knew the amount of work he put in on non-game days would pay off.

“I think I’m not the most athletic, strong or the fastest kid on the field, but putting in extra work is really important,” Marsh said. “To be able to play at the level I want to, it takes putting in the extra work.”

AARON KARSH, Mira Costa

In the ongoing attempt to compete with the top teams in the CIF-Southern Section, Aaron Karsh saw the Mustangs continue to push forward during the 2025 season. “We did navigate a lot as far as the level of competition,” Karsh said. “We challenged ourselves as far as getting a lot of solid competition on our schedule.” Mira Costa finished the regular season winning 10 consecutive games, including a pair of victories over rival Palos Verdes that were unheard of when Karsh first took over the program 12 years prior. Mira Costa finished the season 14-5 and was selected to the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. “I got emotional at the end of the first game,” Karsh said. “When we beat them the first time, it was a nice flip of the script.”

FIRST TEAM

Nick Marsh, Mira Costa, Sr.

Dylan Fenton, Mira Costa, Sr.

Henry Disser, Mira Costa, Sr

Dash Seiffer, Mira Costa, Sr.

Oliver Childs, El Segundo, Sr.

Jack McCaulley, El Segundo, Jr.

Logan Beamer, Palos Verdes, Jr.

Nathan Stanczak, Palos Verdes, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Christian Hackley, Mira Costa, Jr.

Zak Lachance, Mira Costa, Jr.

Grey Rappaport, Palos Verdes, Sr.

Mark Maden, Redondo, Sr.

Ethan Maleman, Redondo, Sr.

Merrick Boyles, El Segundo, Sr.

Sean Dunn, Peninsula, Sr.