If you understand the boys lacrosse ranks in the Granite State, you know how tough it is to climb up the ladder.

This spring, the Merrimack Tomahawks made one of those significant giant steps.

Merrimack finished up with a 10-6 regular season mark, earning the program’s first home game in 17 years, according to head coach Brian Miller.

The Tomahawks knocked off John Stark in the playoff opener, delighting the home crowd, before bowing out to Portsmouth in the state quarterfinals, ending the campaign at 11-7, tops in school history.

Seniors on the squad, honored at the recent team banquet were: Ryan Carey, In Ian Covell, Braden Jewett, Casey Moir, Jordan Petrocelli, TJ Fasano, Jacob Newman, Josh Korsak, Garrett Murray, Jay Lanigan and Luke Russell.

Award winners included Murray and Covell (Varsity Most Improved), Lanigan (Varsity Ground Ball Hog), Newman and Fasano (Kinney Family Sportsmanship Award), Russell (Varsity Coaches Award) and Ryan Fee (Junior Varsity Coaches Award).

The Kinney Family Sportsmanship Award is handed out in memory of former Merrimack High boys lacrosse coach Bob Kinney, a contributor to the program from 1999-2008, who passed away in 2011.