Not just another sports documentary, “The Mighty Oaks” is a strikingly human story centering around community, resilience and the transformative power of coming together around a shared dream. Set in Morgan Hill, California, the film chronicles the decade-long journey of building a high school lacrosse program from nothing into a thriving varsity legacy. TMB’s John Smistad talks with two of the films key behind the scenes players, Filmmaker Brendan Harty and Executive Producer Brad Ledwith.
A Harty Message, indeed
Through emotional interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, Harty (with co-writer Erik Swanson) brilliantly captures how these high school student-athletes navigate identity, grief and leadership. The message here is a simple yet resounding one. Give our young people something to believe in and they don’t just create a team. They build character.
Plot Summary
What began as a grassroots effort in backyards in 2015 grew into something that changed an entire California community. “The Mighty Oaks” follows the 2024 Live Oak High School boys’ lacrosse team as they chase one last title. But the real story lies in the intimate portraits of the young men themselves: one player courageously embracing his adoption story, another playing in memory of his late brother, and coaches—many of them founding parents—wrestling with the balance between the drive to win and compassion.
Profiling Filmmaker Brendan Harty and Executive Producer Brad Ledwith
With over two decades in the action sports industry, Harty has established a reputation as a top-tier producer, director and storyteller. His wide-ranging professional experience includes World Cup skiing and snowboarding, Summer and Winter X Games and the World Series of Poker. Harty has played a significant role in shaping how these sports are broadcast, celebrated and remembered. As a director and producer of sports documentaries and feature films, Harty has traveled the world working for the formidable likes of NBC, CBS, and ESPN.
Ledwith is known as “the godfather of Morgan Hill lacrosse.” He discovered the sport in 2015 when his twin sons took an interest. Tired of commuting to San Jose for practices, he decided to establish lacrosse programs for boys and girls in Morgan Hill. From the get-go, Ledwith recorded games, practices and team interactions. “The Mighty Oaks” is a passion project derived from those homemade videos. The footage chronicles how local families came together to embrace the sport Ledwith enthusiastically helped introduce to his friends and neighbors.
