» Media Center » Girls and Boys Need High School Lacrosse

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2009
Contact: Shannon Delowery, Martin County Lacrosse Player
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Girls and Boys Need High School Lacrosse

June 1, 2009 – Palm City, Florida: Teenagers all across Martin County want lacrosse scheduled for the ‘09-’10 spring high school season. More than 300 girls and boys are closing out their season for the Martin County Pioneer Lacrosse League, in only its fourth season. This program is booming along with the nationwide growth in lacrosse. Unfortunately, there is nowhere to play when all the girls and boys reach high school. Getting a lacrosse program in Martin County High Schools is a must!

Grassroots efforts by the teens include: school discussions, t-shirts, and even a facebook page (Get Lacrosse in Martin County High Schools!) created by Shannon Delowery, a tenth grader at Martin County High School. The teens have developed a love of the sport and see the success of programs in neighboring counties. The Vero Beach Girls lacrosse team just won another state title when they beat Park Vista in the finals. In 2008, the Palm Beach Garden High School Boys won their state title.

"This sport’s popularity is growing very quickly all around Florida, and Martin County needs to jump on board," said Delowery.

The sport of lacrosse in high schools will benefit in many ways. Academically, in each high school, the student athletes are required to have a minimal GPA of a 2.0. This will give the student athletes a motivation to earn better grades, and work harder in class. Also, lacrosse keeps kids in shape and helps to in our fight against obesity. Statistics show that around 15% of teenagers in our society are overweight, while another 15% is at risk of becoming overweight. With teens being active, there is less of a chance of them becoming overweight now and in the future. Lacrosse teaches children three skills that will help throughout their lives: Communication, Teamwork and Responsibility. These three skills will help in the future lives of the players.

The Martin County Pioneer Lacrosse program doesn't have an official team for high school players. Therefore, after 8th grade, players can no longer participate in an organized program. But the love of the game has stayed with many of the initial players. High school boys and girls in Martin County still practice with the support of parents and volunteer coaches. These high school players don't have games, but the fact that they continue to practice every Tuesday and Wednesday for more than an hour, shows how much commitment and passion they have towards this sport.

Players and parents understand the current economic conditions in the county, and the associated budget cuts. It’s difficult to start a new sport when you need to think about cutting down on other programs. But with the commitment of players, families, volunteers, and sponsors, the funds can be raised on their own. Between fundraising, sponsors, and donations, the cost for the school board will be at a bare minimum.

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