This story appears in the May/June edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.
The Jersey Girls Lacrosse Association felt a hole in its heart when Laura McCarthy died of cancer in November 2017. She was 58. The annual Jersey Jamboree has helped to preserve McCarthy’s legacy.
“It is a big piece to keep that spirit alive,” JGLA president Tamara Floruss said, “and an opportunity to remember that recreational lacrosse in this area was developed for having fun, learning something new and loving it.”
McCarthy was a high school and college official as well as founding member of the Caldwell, N.J., rec program. She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2015. The jamboree brings together eighth-graders from JGLA programs across New Jersey for a one-day event honoring her.
“It’s tremendous for the community because of how much she loved the game. Getting kids out on the field because they love the game lives on through that [event],” Floruss said. “Especially the essay. It’s a chance for people to talk about her again and what the spirit of lacrosse is about.”
Jamboree chair and JGLA marketing chair Jan Madura introduced an essay contest in 2018. Players write about why they play the game and what they’ve learned from it.
“A lot of people were rolling their eyes and saying, ‘These girls with their social media, they’re always on computers and phones. They’ll never do this,’” Madura said. “I have over 20 entries every year. You want to pick every girl and you can’t. They do such a good job with them.”
The last winner was Jenna Scala of Pompton Lakes, N.J., in 2019. Scala wrote about the strength, courage and confidence that she had gained since starting in third grade — enduring a serious knee injury, changing positions and being resilient as a goalie.
“These girls really write from the heart,” Madura said.
The jamboree and essay contest are back this year. The JGLA culminates its season with the event. Madura recently created a template for other organizations that explains how to organize and host a similar jamboree or play day.
“My daughter stopped playing rec lacrosse a long time ago,” Madura said. “But I believe in what it represents and what Laura represented, which is why I’m happy to put it together. In many regards, Laura was revered by everyone.”