Lacrosse Growing in Tri-City Area!

While the origins of Lacrosse in North America reach back as far as 800 years ago, its popularity is growing more recently in the Fremont, Newark, and Union City area. From humble beginnings, (3 players at a Fremont Summer Camp 7 years ago) the sport has taken hold in the area, and is on the verge of major expansion. Hundreds of players now participate in the the local Youth Club across all programs, with another hundred or so participating at the High School Level.

The Fremont Spartans Lacrosse club serves youth players from the Tri-City area, with Youth Teams for players ages 7 thru 14, and is looking to expand North (Hayward) and South (Milpitas) over the next couple years. Players in the Spartans Club participate in formal teams and games during the Spring Season. There are clinics in the Fall/Winter, and Summer Camps and Travel Teams available in Summer.

Some local High Schools have adopted the sport, with Newark Memorial and Washington High School both adding Varsity teams in both Boys and Girls Lacrosse. Some other local High Schools are considering adding Lacrosse to their Athletics offerings over the next couple years.

Karl Schenck started playing Lacrosse with the Spartans when he was in Junior High. He was on the inaugural team when Washington HS picked up the sport on the CIF level, and had an impressive career as a player for the Huskies. Karl is now the current Head Coach for the Huskies, and had this to say about the sport and his experience, "Lacrosse is unique...kind of a combination of some of the more popular sports. It provides a place for players who may not be that good at some of the major sports, but can use their athletic ability to learn and excel at a relatively new sport. Its an exciting, fast-paced, energetic game, that is fun to play, fun to watch, and has been fun to coach."

Greg Mengis, founder of the Fremont Spartans Lacrosse Club, and current Head Coach of the Santa Clara University Mens Lacrosse Team, said this about the game, and its rising popularity, "Its great to see an opportunity for more kids to try a sport that is different, but still fun and challenging from a mental and physical standpoint. Lacrosse has a deep tradition, and the opportunities for local players are limitless, as the sport continues to gain popularity on the West Coast. In addition to Youth and High School, more and more colleges are starting teams, at the Club, and NCAA level every year. While Youth Lacrosse is relatively old on the Peninsula, in the Southbay, and now out in Contra Costa County, its relatively new in the Tri-City area, and up the 880 corridor. We are looking to expose this sport to more and more kids, and are excited to see more and more EastBay players picking up such a fun and exciting game."

To find out more about Local Lacrosse Opportunities for Beginner and Experienced Players, please visit WWW.FRE-LAX.COM.