Lacrosse grows in popularity
Team brings new players
Erick Horrmann
Issue date: 2/23/06 Section: Sports
Lacrosse is a sport that grew so much in popularity across the nation that it has enabled 11 teams across the country to compete at a professional level.
The sport's popularity is also increasing on the Eau Claire campus, with the men's club lacrosse team increasing in numbers each season. The team grew from its beginnings in 2002 with its induction into the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League and a vote into the B Division.
The team started off its season this year with a tournament Feb. 3 to 4 in Marquette (Mich.) against Calvin College (Mich.), UW-Oshkosh, Ferris State University (Mich.) and University of St. Thomas (Minn.). The game against St. Thomas was non-conference.
The team defeated Oshkosh (5-0) and Ferris State (6-4), but fell to Calvin (7-4) and St. Thomas (3-0).
"In the games, we tried hard and showed up ready to play against our stiff competition," sophomore Jeremy Clements said. "We proved what we are a team to be reckoned with this year."
The team came out of the tournament 2-2 and placed third out of the total six teams that competed.
This season, the team has a total of 30 players with 13 new freshmen. The team is very excited about its new players, who are bringing a lot of experience and skills to the team, junior Jordan Garvin said.
"All (of our players) have different styles," he said. "We have guys who haven't played, to guys with three years of high school experience. There are challenges with that, but it's been going well. Once we get on the field, we (get) more compatible."
The team is looking forward to the official beginning of its season, which starts at noon, March 5 against UW-Stevens Point in Fairbault (Minn.).
Stevens Point is an A Division team, and each team in the B Division is required to compete against an A Division team and vice versa.
In past seasons, the team has played schools such as the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.
In addition to practices, the team has been doing other things like dinners and fundraisers to solidify the team's bond as the official season approaches, Garvin said.
"We're doing our best to just get together, eat some dinner, get some information out about the season and just have a good time and help grow bonds," he said.
The team is scheduled to have four home games and has also been chosen to play a game against Bethel University (Minn.) April 1 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul (Minn.).
The team will play right after the Minnesota Swarm, which is Minnesota's professional lacrosse team.
"We're just looking to raise a lot of support for the team with fundraisers and get the word out about our home games," Clements said. "We're hoping to have a bigger fan base this season."
The sport's popularity is also increasing on the Eau Claire campus, with the men's club lacrosse team increasing in numbers each season. The team grew from its beginnings in 2002 with its induction into the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League and a vote into the B Division.
The team started off its season this year with a tournament Feb. 3 to 4 in Marquette (Mich.) against Calvin College (Mich.), UW-Oshkosh, Ferris State University (Mich.) and University of St. Thomas (Minn.). The game against St. Thomas was non-conference.
The team defeated Oshkosh (5-0) and Ferris State (6-4), but fell to Calvin (7-4) and St. Thomas (3-0).
"In the games, we tried hard and showed up ready to play against our stiff competition," sophomore Jeremy Clements said. "We proved what we are a team to be reckoned with this year."
The team came out of the tournament 2-2 and placed third out of the total six teams that competed.
This season, the team has a total of 30 players with 13 new freshmen. The team is very excited about its new players, who are bringing a lot of experience and skills to the team, junior Jordan Garvin said.
"All (of our players) have different styles," he said. "We have guys who haven't played, to guys with three years of high school experience. There are challenges with that, but it's been going well. Once we get on the field, we (get) more compatible."
The team is looking forward to the official beginning of its season, which starts at noon, March 5 against UW-Stevens Point in Fairbault (Minn.).
Stevens Point is an A Division team, and each team in the B Division is required to compete against an A Division team and vice versa.
In past seasons, the team has played schools such as the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.
In addition to practices, the team has been doing other things like dinners and fundraisers to solidify the team's bond as the official season approaches, Garvin said.
"We're doing our best to just get together, eat some dinner, get some information out about the season and just have a good time and help grow bonds," he said.
The team is scheduled to have four home games and has also been chosen to play a game against Bethel University (Minn.) April 1 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul (Minn.).
The team will play right after the Minnesota Swarm, which is Minnesota's professional lacrosse team.
"We're just looking to raise a lot of support for the team with fundraisers and get the word out about our home games," Clements said. "We're hoping to have a bigger fan base this season."