Lacrosse: Young sport gains popularity February 28, 2011 — by Jordan Waite The parents who pleaded the district to start a lacrosse program at SHS three years ago knew that lacrosse was a fast-growing sport, but no one expected the team to grow and succeed as much as it has. Only two seasons ago, the lacrosse program had to recruit in order to make a full team, but this year, players were cut from the varsity team in order to have the optimal-sized team of 22 players. The parents who pleaded the district to start a lacrosse program at SHS three years ago knew that lacrosse was a fast-growing sport, but no one expected the team to grow and succeed as much as it has. Only two seasons ago, the lacrosse program had to recruit in order to make a full team, but this year, players were cut from the varsity team in order to have the optimal-sized team of 22 players. “Sophomore year we didn’t think that were going to do well,” said senior midfielder James Hadid, “but [head coach Larry Boehm] turned the program around.” After a tough first season, Boehm used the players’ desire to win to bring the team a 8-11 record, a remarkable amount of success for the young program’s second season. Boehm taught the fundamentals of the game and “lit a fire” in the players that continues into this season. “[Boehm] knows that we’re willing to work at it,” said Hadid, “and he’s taking advantage of that.” The players are working hard to prepare for another successful season by conditioning, learning more plays and practicing the fundamentals. Key players include senior attackman Rick Wilson, senior captain and defenseman Marcus Hoffman and junior mid-fielders Nick Doyn and Eric VanNoorden. Their ultimate goal is to land a slot in the CCS playoffs this season, an accomplishment that would take the program to a new level. 1 view this week