Friends of Brevard Lacrosse in partnership with Stickhead Lacrosse of Vero Beach and US Lacrosse Orlando chapter present inaugural

Lacrosse Exposition January 28, 2012, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, at BCC Pavilion/Wickham Park.
 

This event will formally kick off the first official high school lacrosse season in Brevard County public schools! The first five sanctioned public school FHSAA teams include Viera, Satellite Beach, West Shore, Merritt Island, and Eau Gallie. The district will also include Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy and Melbourne Central Catholic.

Activities will include speakers on special topics, demonstrations (e.g. proper stringing techniques), shooting accuracy competition, You Make The Call!, tips and tricks from National Lacrosse League Pro players, equipment exhibition, information about the Headstrong Foundation, US Lacrosse, and Florida Youth Foundation, food vendors, raffles and prizes, and much more.

The following college and pro players are confirmed:

• Ryan Hurley; Epoch Lacrosse – Offensive Clinic

o College: Cornell Captain; Attack man ; NLL: Minnesota Swarm and Chesapeake Bay Hawks

• Geoff Broderick; STX National Sales Manager

o College: University North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Kent Smith; Stickhead Lacrosse – Face Off Clinic

o College: Hobart University; Mid Fielder; National Championship Member, Hobart; Florida Lacrosse Hall of Fame

• Shannon Strodel; Gait/deBeer Lacrosse – Girls Fundamentals

o College: Presbyterian College; Center Mid Fielder; 4 time elected Team Captain; 4 time Most Valuable Player

• Bryan Bendig; Under Armour

o College: University of Hartford; Pro: Boston Blazers

• Mike Perez; Varsity Coach, 9 years; Current Austrian World Team Coach – Girls Fundamentals

o College: Johns Hopkins, National Championship Member; New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame Member

Parents, players, coaches, school administrators, supporters of lacrosse in the Brevard area, anyone interested in getting involved with a boys or girls youth or high school program, and anyone interested in learning more about the “fastest game on two feet” are all invited to attend this inaugural event.

FBL's mission is to raise awareness, funds, and interest to support the ongoing development of the sport of lacrosse in Brevard County Public High Schools. There are over 1,000 boys and girls playing lacrosse in Brevard County of which 400 are in high school.
 

For additional information, please contact: Mary Zippi at 321-427-2206 or via email at logancmz@cfl.rr.com.

• Hawks Eligibility Packet Due: Prior to start of conditioning
• Registration: Register HERE
• Boy's Speed & Agility Training (conditioning): Mon 4-5pm, Wed 4-5pm, Sat 8:30-9:30am
• Girl's Conditioning: 4:15 pm 1/11, 1/13, 1/17, 1/19, 1/23, 1/25, 1/27
• Participation fee: $250 per player. We are currently collecting payments, however the deadline for payment is February 10 for those who would like to wait after their daughter/son is selected to the roster. Checks should be turned-in or mailed to the VHS Lacrosse treasurer:

• Boy's and Girl's First Practice: January 30, 2012
• Boy's Tryouts Conclude: February 5, 2012

The coach had earned his unexpected bath at his home stadium after guiding the Hawks to the District 8 boys lacrosse championship with Friday night's 9-8 win against Satellite. The game had everything necessary in a true high school playoff -- a high level of competition, raucous fans and a down-to-the-wire finish.

What made Friday's contest different, even if only by label, is that it was a club sport event. As it currently stands, only private schools Melbourne Central Catholic and Holy Trinity have varsity lacrosse programs in Brevard County.

"It was up and down, there was lots of action . . . kids just giving everything that they had out there," Lorusso said. "A one-goal game for a championship -- it doesn't get any better than that, right?"

What Lorusso and many other local people involved in lacrosse hope is that it gets better in the future. They want to be a fully recognized varsity sport. But there are issues, including funding -- though teams are currently successfully fundraising in a pay-to-play type of situation, Lorusso said -- and the number of Brevard public schools fielding a lacrosse team. Lorusso and others are awaiting a ruling from the FHSAA on the future of the club league.

"It's all so sad because I don't know what's going to happen next year," Satellite coach Mike Leary said. "We don't even know the future in Brevard. But to see in this district -- two Brevard teams at the top of the district with all the teams down South -- I'm proud just to be a part of it."

Satellite and Viera play in the South Florida Interscholastic Association (SFIA), a league made up of 64 teams. They represent District 8, along with Merritt Island, South Fork, Martin County, Jensen Beach, The Pines School and Sebastian River. Friday's victory sent Viera (15-1) to a regional playoff against Boca Raton today at 5 p.m. at Pope John Paul II High School.

The Scorpions (10-6) battled to the end, scoring two goals in the final 3 minutes to make it a one-goal deficit.

"Heck of a crowd here tonight," Leary said. "A good rivalry -- a lot of these guys have been playing together at the youth level, summer leagues . . . It's just great to see. I'm hoping that it grows next year, that we get a few more teams. "But it's up in the air."

Michael Alvarez had three goals and two assists in the win. Kevin Rego had two goals and four assists and Kevin Rodier had two goals and an assist.

"It was intense," Rodier said. "We had so much transition, the ball's going back and forth, everybody's out of breath . . . you're just trying to dig in and get that last push so you can come out on top."

Rodier, along with teammate Billy Bierlein, will play lacrosse at UCF next season. Connor Payne, who had a goal in the win, will continue playing at the University of Florida.

"I love this sport so much," said Payne, who played linebacker for the Hawks football team. "The fans were into it and it really helped us a lot."

Viera's Matt Banks, who also played football, said the match reminded him of other Fridays under the lights.

"It feels just as competitive as any football game I've ever been in," he said. "You come out here and compete and there is no difference -- we've got athletes out here just like any other varsity sport."

Michael Leary, Jose Rivera and Scott Keith scored two goals apiece for the Scorpions.