Lots of teams, good competition and a family environment make for big weekends
In what has become a late spring ritual in Lansing, the grassy area behind Waverly Junior High and High School was transformed into lacrosse central for two weekends in late April and early May.
This year’s version of the Waverly Lacrosse Tournament – a girl’s and boys JV weekend and boy’s middle school and junior high weekend – drew over 110 teams from across the state for multiple games against teams they usually don't get to play against.
Both players and their parents used the event, now in its tenth straight season, as a chance to celebrate the community that has grown up around the sport but also to learn more about game and its traditions.
“I knew some about lacrosse because my friends played,” said Troy Boyd, 13, of the Okemos 7/8th grade team.
“They wanted me to play, and in sixth grade I tried lacrosse, and since then I really liked it.”
Like Boyd, many middle school players are new to lacrosse. As first or second year players, they are learning the rules as they play.
“It’s tougher than it looks. You have to run way more as a middie,” said Ryan Annesse 11, a midfielder for Hartland Gold 5/6.
Parents, coaches, and players are all trying to keep up with the fast paced growth of the sport across the state.
“I’ve been coming to games, reading about it, and trying to figure out the rules so I don’t sound silly on the sidelines,” said Karen Smith, mother of Jacob Smith 11, who plays for Haslett. “I’m totally new to it, and totally love it.”
With the growth of the sport, parents are also getting involved in coaching by both necessity and because they enjoy the game. Bob Anderson, who is in his first year as assistant coach for the Dewitt 5/6 team, says that he is learning along with the players. He sees the sport growing dramatically as younger siblings begin to play.
“Word of mouth of course is always good,” he said. “I think it will grow more as brothers do it and younger girls and boys get involved.”
Greg Lindstrom, the tournament director and vice president of the Waverly Lacrosse Club, believes the tremendous growth at the middle school level will lead to more competitive high school teams in the future.
“We’re getting to the point now where you’re seeing seniors graduating that have played in the program since 6th grade,” he explained. “That makes a big difference.”
The difference can be seen in school districts like Forest Hills, which had ten teams playing in the middle school boys’ tournament alone.
“With all these kids playing in their program, they’re getting better, and their high school team is getting better,” said Lindstrom.
Still, other areas of the state, including mid-Michigan and up north, have been slower to pick up the sport.
“In the northern part of the state there are less teams, so we have to travel a lot to play games,” said Henry Otto, coach of the Midland 7/8 team. “Some of the parents are getting tired of driving so far to play.”
One of the greatest concerns Lindstrom has with the rapid growth of lacrosse is maintaining the integrity of the sport.
“It’s not the polite kind of game that it used to be when the kids were younger. Because of the growth, there is that lack of knowledge of that honor of the game type of thing. It’s just not there as much as it used to be.”
Lindstrom points to the example set by former president of Waverly Lacrosse Larry Sibiski, who coached Lindstom’s two sons in middle school before moving to Maryland in 2003.
“The thing I really remember was he would always preach the honor of the game and sportsmanship,” said Lindstrom, who replaced Sibiski in 2003 as head coach of the middle school program. “The old guard people that started up a lot of these programs just preached that philosophy.”
Sibiski was back in town for the tournament and was pleased with the continued success of the program since his departure, which he attributes to parent and community involvement.
“These Waverly parents are committed to the kids, and by doing this tournament, Waverly is committed to the whole lacrosse community in Michigan and in the Midwest,” he said.
With siblings playing on the sidelines and teams and families grilling lunch together the signs of the close-knit community mentality that was apparent throughout the tournament.
“You’re not just seeing these little kids with sticks, but you’re seeing the Lansing community coming together. You’re seeing families, and you’re seeing groups of families and the parents that belong to those teams of these kids,” said Sibiski. “This is a very good slice of a real wholesome aspect of what we can produce in this area for sport and family enjoyment.”
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