Hundreds of people celebrated the continuation of the Lacrosse Communities Project at Urban Community School in the Cleveland neighborhood of Ohio City on Sept. 15. It was the second pilot for the project (see feature starting on page 24) and one made possible by the contributions of more than a handful of members of the Cleveland community.

The small-sided field, which was unveiled at UCS, came to fruition in part because of the strong local ties from the US Lacrosse Ohio North Coast chapter, which serves the Ohio City neighborhood in addition to other areas across Northern Ohio. The North Coast chapter was represented at the field, with former president Dave Cerny (2014-16) and current president Dave Roggenburk.

“We’re sitting here about to dedicate a field that I think is fantastic,” Roggernburk said of the event. “Not only do we have this strong foothold on the West side, [but also] it has [advanced] our conversations with the Cleveland School District, Muny football — even the YMCAs are very intrigued and want in on what I think is a new growth within the sport.”

Together, Roggenburk and Cerny have helped continue the upward trend of lacrosse in Cleveland. Both have lived in the city for the better part of 30 years, and they’ve witnessed the game spread at the high school and youth levels each year.

When Cerny and Roggenburk played lacrosse in the late 1980s at St. Ignatius, in the Ohio City neighborhood, there were three high school teams in the entire city. Now, Cleveland boasts 66 boys’ teams and 55 girls’ teams.

Although the game was growing, Cerny wanted to get involved in an area where he felt lacrosse could greatly benefit the community — Ohio City on Cleveland’s West Side. For a number of at-risk children, Cerny, and later Roggenburk, felt the game could offer another outlet.
 

The North Coast chapter began working with Near West Recreation to set up a lacrosse clinic hosted in Ohio City. That clinic took place at St. Ignatius, where the 120 participants shattered both Cerny and Roggenburk’s expectations.

In addition to arranging the clinics, the North Coast chapter worked with the city’s Muny football leagues to provide lacrosse as a spring sport alternative. Cerny and Roggenburk also spoke with the City of Cleveland school system, hoping to introduce lacrosse to elementary school gym classes.

It was an effort made so that children could be introduced to the game at an earlier age. With a new field at Urban Community School, that goal is within reach. The North Coast chapter can host clinics and other programming on the field, continuing to build a lacrosse following in Ohio City.

But there’s still work to be done.

“We know this is just the start,” Cerny said. “In some ways, it’s like, ‘What monster have we created?’ But it’s the ground base that is going to grow gradually in the next 3-5 years. In five years, there is going to be a significant high school varsity program as a result of us starting at the younger ages and growing up.”

Locally Grown

Central Ohio

With funding from a private donor, the chapter certified 45 new youth officials to meet the demand in growing rec leagues and also financed observers programs for local men’s and women’s officials associations.

Illinois

The IHSA sanctioning lacrosse for the 2018 season has created a need for more qualified youth and high school coaches, as well as officials.  The Illinois chapter has several clinics planned through the fall and into early spring to meet the demand.

Indiana

The chapter facilitated US Lacrosse Diversity and Inclusion grants awarded to a local wheelchair lacrosse program and a Lacrosse Athlete Development Model adopter that combines soccer and lacrosse in an underserved area.

Michigan

The chapter awarded three men and three women college scholarships of $1,000 each and is busy organizing a US Lacrosse-sanctioned tournament that will serve as a qualifier for the 2018 USL Nationals.

Minnesota

Casey Powell’s Speed Lacrosse event, hosted by the chapter, drew 50 kids who got to meet the newly inducted National Lacrosse Hall of Famer.

North Coast Ohio

A clinic series in Ohio City benefitted more than 100 boys and girls over the summer, while the chapter also hosted its Hall of Fame ceremony in conjunction with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lacrosse Communities Project at Urban Community School.

Southern Ohio

The chapter estimates it will invest $20,000 in 2018 alone, with funds allocated for coaching education, officials recruitment and education, and new program development and support.

Wisconsin

The chapter helped host the state high school boys’ and girls’ lacrosse championships, with more than 3,000 fans turning up for the Division I boys’ final — thought to be the largest crowd for a high school lacrosse game in Wisconsin history.

Picture This

Columbus Discovers Lacrosse

The Central Ohio chapter has partnered with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Columbus Parks and Recreation, the Ohio Machine and Ohio State to bring lacrosse to 10 inner-city recreation centers.

My USL Rep

Bryce Woodson | Midwest

Bryce Woodson joined US Lacrosse in July. He oversees development and growth efforts in the Midwest, including parts of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. A Hampton Roads (Va.) native, Bryce began playing lacrosse in first grade. He was a four-year letterwinner at Ohio State and captain of the team in 2011. Since college, Bryce has enjoyed coaching at the high school and club levels in Miami and Cleveland.

How can US Lacrosse help develop the sport in your area? Contact Bryce at bwoodson@uslacrosse.org or 410-235-6882, extension 189.