Lacrosse Club puts sport in the forefront
By Jim Ridolphi

(The below story ran in the Mechanicsville Local on Apr 29, 2008)

Hanover nets 10-2 win over Swift Creek
 

The Hanover Lacrosse Club is entering the final stretch of the season playing the game just the way Coach Stuart Jones likes — hard. Last week, the team defeated Swift Creek 10-2 in an offensive display that even left Jones with a smile.

“These guys play hard and have been here for every practice and that showed today,” he said following the win. “They’re all real hungry and taking the steps to become a great lacrosse team. That’s all you can ask for.”

Taking full advantage of their home field at Pole Green Park, Hanover jumped out early scoring six goals in the first quarter and adding two more before halftime. Jordan Thompson scored three goals, and Houston Jones and Brian Harris added two.

Swift Creek scored twice in the fourth quarter, but Hanover was too much for Swift Creek and the hot weather and lack of reinforcements had an effect on the visitors who fielded a team of only 13 players.

The victory, according to those close to the program, is a sign of just how far the club has come since its founding seven years ago. This year alone, the team has outscored its opponents 76-26.

“We had an increase from 200 to 300 kids participating from last year to this year,” said board member Tim Cox. “I think that says a lot about the program.”

Other than Patrick Henry’s high school team, the Hanover Club has been the only county option for local lacrosse players, but that’s about to change. Earlier this month, the Hanover School Board approved a plan to start a club team at Atlee High School.

“That means there will be a club lacrosse team at Atlee for the 2008-09 school year,” Cox said. “It will allow those kids to play for their own school, where right now they’re all playing on the same team.”

The Hanover Lacrosse Club will also be involved with the Atlee project.

It is all part of a larger vision to bring lacrosse to the forefront in the county and introduce the experience to the many youngsters who are potentially attracted to the sport. “I think kids who play football tend to like lacrosse because it is so physical,” Cox said. “But it has an attraction for many kids. Once they are exposed, I think the interest will only increase.”

The eventual goal is to make lacrosse a regular varsity sport at all county high schools. “We want to get clubs at all of the schools, and in two or three years, hopefully they will adopt the sport into their regular varsity program,” Cox said.

The club began a program for grades one through five several years ago, and that feeder program led to middle and high school success, according to Cox. “Those middle school programs have fed great players into our system and that’s the secret to maintaining a wining program.”

One of last year’s standouts, Billy Mutton is playing at Wingate University, a division II lacrosse powerhouse. He participated in club programs from eighth grade on, and serves as an example of the caliber of players who participate at the club level.

This year, the club decided to expand its first through fifth-grade program to girls and hopes it will have the same effect on the program. It also introduces local youths at a young age to a sport that is enjoying increased popularity nationwide.

Kim and Mike Whitt are typical of parents with kids on the team. She helps with scorekeeping on the sideline while Mike keeps the time. Their son Brandon took to lacrosse in a way the two had not recognized in other sports.

“This is the only sport that he would actually go in the backyard and practice,” Mike said. “He spent hours just shooting goals in the net,” Kim added.

Their daughter Mary Beth is enrolled in the new girls program, so lacrosse has become a family affair. “We really enjoy this and I’ve actually learned a lot more about the game of lacrosse,” Mike laughed.