On May 3, two high school boys’ lacrosse teams took the field at Benedictine Prep in Richmond, Va. — an experienced team from a private school versus the first-ever team from Highland Springs, a public school just 25 miles east.

Benedictine won handily 20-1. Afterward, a Benedictine player approached Highland Springs coach Steve Shoul with a more important observation.

The teams were mirror images of each other. Of Benedictine’s 25 players, just two, including the one who approached Shoul, were black. Of Highland Springs’ 26 players, just two were white.

“‘I’ve never been on a lacrosse field with this many African-Americans before,’” Shoul recalled the boy saying. “‘I’ve never seen this many African-Americans play lacrosse before. I wish I wasn’t a senior, because I would love to play next season with you.’ He was serious about leaving one of the nicer private schools and coming to our school, just so he could play lacrosse with kids of his color.”

Five months earlier, Shoul received a First Stick Program grant from US Lacrosse to help fund his school’s first boys’ lacrosse team. Of 1,800 students, zero had played the sport and just one had even seen it. So Shoul began introducing the sport by showing video clips of prominent black players like Myles Jones and Kyle Harrison.

“I was so excited and so happy that these kids were going to get an opportunity to play this game.” Shoul said. “I knew it would change kids.”

For one Highland Springs player, current senior Marques “MJ” Fleming, playing lacrosse was a transformational experience.

“I was basically lost,” he wrote in a letter to US Lacrosse.

Fleming said he took a year off from football to earn money for his family. He came home to his parents fighting as he tried to look after his younger brother. He received calls in the middle of the night and missed classes for weeks at a time to care for his bedridden uncle, who died in August.

“MJ was his primary health care,” Shoul said.

“I did my best,” Fleming said. “Lacrosse took my mind off any problems I had. Lacrosse became my true calling.”

As Fleming’s interest in lacrosse grew, his skills improved. Playing against Benedictine, he said, “It felt like we were a part of history. It made me feel like I was actually making a change.”

Then Shoul and Fleming made a deal.

If Fleming, a defenseman, made the travel team he was interested in, C2C Lacrosse, Shoul would foot the bill. He made it. Colleges, like Division III Wilkes in northeastern Pennsylvania, are already calling.

“That just warmed my heart knowing that I have somebody who is willing to do whatever he can to see me succeed,” Fleming said of Shoul. “I love my coach. He’s like a father to me.”

Fleming has focused on academics to raise his profile as a college lacrosse prospect. His GPA now stands at 3.2. He sees it going higher.

“Months ago, you wouldn’t hear me say I want to go to college,” Fleming said. “Now, I want to go to college. I want to major in business management. I actually want to go to college, graduate from college and continue to play lacrosse.”

“Because of lacrosse, [he has] a goal to reach,” Shoul said. “I’d be proud to call that kid my son.”

Locally Grown

Central Pennsylvania

Tewaaraton winner Matt Rambo held a one-night clinic with Grizz Lacrosse Club in Harrisburg in July, with more than 100 attendees.

Charlottesville

The chapter and Hooville Lacrosse Club provided coaching to local players in partnership with UVA men’s lacrosse.
 

Chesapeake

The chapter hosted its second CDP Level 2 clinic for coaches in October.

Greater Baltimore

Collaborating with local lacrosse leaders, the chapter is increasing its support of various city programs while planning to host a coaching clinic and continue its popular speaker series.

Pittsburgh

The chapter is coordinating a local lacrosse town hall meeting to discuss shared issues among programs and leagues.

Potomac

Given the D.C. public school system’s commitment to bringing lacrosse to middle schools, the local chapter conducted fundraising activities to support coach training and development.

Richmond

The chapter hosted a town hall meeting bringing together local stakeholders from different parts of the lacrosse landscape.

Southwest Virginia

US Lacrosse conducted a PE workshop for the Roanoke City Public School System in August. Teachers were provided soft-stick equipment, accredited curriculum and training to use in class at 24 area schools.

Tidewater

The USL Chapter of the Quarter was recognized for efforts to support and grow the sport.

West Virginia

The chapter held its annual high school boys’ and girls’ lacrosse all-star games at Wheeling Jesuit.

Western Maryland

The chapter’s fall ball program included a Learn to Lax night to introduce the sport to 67 kids.

Picture This

A Grand Occasion

During the US Lacrosse Nationals at River City Sportsplex in Richmond, Va., the Blackhawk Lacrosse organization was presented with a $1,000 donation from Richmond Region Tourism for efforts to grow the game.

My USL Rep

Mark Eissele | Western Mid-Atlantic

Mark Eissele joined US Lacrosse in August 2014 and oversees development and growth efforts in the Western Mid-Atlantic Region, including parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. Mark’s US Lacrosse experience started many years earlier, when his kids began playing and he found himself coaching. He took advantage of the Coach Development Program to become a certified coach in both games.  Now his kids both play in high school, so he can be found in the stands cheering or trying to keep up as he plays for two “old-man” club teams.

How can US Lacrosse help develop the sport in your area, contact Mark at meissele@uslacrosse.org or 410-235-6882, extension 169.