Lacrosse (W)

Despite school holiday, Jupiter High clinic draws good crowd

By Mike English

TC Palm

Palm Beach County schools took Monday off to celebrate President's Day, but dozens of young lacrosse players turned up at Jupiter High School for lessons anyway.

The Jupiter High boys and girls lacrosse teams sponsored a one-day clinic at the idle campus for players from first through eighth grades.

The camp drew 18 girls and 38 boys, and on the boy's side most of them currently are enrolled in the JTAA or Palm Beach Gardens youth lacrosse programs.

"This was a great turnout for our first time," JHS boys coach Don Blumenthal said. "I would say three quarters of them have played in the JTAA. Only about seven or eight of them have never played before."

On the girls side, 18 young campers turned out, said JHS girls coach Sarah Burlingame.

"Only about half of the girls are involved in the JTAA program," Burlingame said.

For some, it was the first time they have touched a stick.

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Grandieri's efforts to honor fallen friend stymied by University officials

By David Bernstein

The Daily Pennsylvanian

A captain in his senior season, Penn's Brian Grandieri has hit his share of big shots in his career. But even he'll tell you that the most meaningful points he ever scored weren't for Quakers coaches Fran Dunphy or Glen Miller.

They were for Evan Brady.

A neighbor, schoolmate and childhood friend of Grandieri, Brady was a standout lacrosse player for Rose Tree Media Optimist Youth Club, and seemed set to continue playing at Malvern Prep, a Catholic school outside of Philadelphia.

But on Sept. 11, 2001, at 15 years old, he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma - bone cancer.

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By Kelly Lyell

February 4th, 2008

The Coloradoan

 Sarah Rudeen tried soccer, basketball and track and field growing up.

The Fossil Ridge High School senior was into volleyball the most, she said.  Until she discovered lacrosse in junior high school.

"I think we just saw an ad in the paper, and we just signed up and started playing," Rudeen, now a captain on the Fort Collins Havoc girls lacrosse team, said after an indoor practice Thursday night at Edge Sports Center. "We didn't know anything. We had to learn everything, because really it was a brand-new sport. No one had any experience."

Lacrosse actually is touted as the oldest sport in North America, having originated with Native Americans. But it's still relatively new in the West, and Rudeen and classmate Kate Gohari, the Havoc's other captain and also a Fossil Ridge High senior, said they routinely have to explain the sport. And not just in school but wherever they might be.

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"Your lacrosse stick should become part of your body!"

Youth Lacrosse USA

To become proficient in passing and shooting, the player must be able to propel the ball from the stick with the wrist "snap." Many beginning players pass and shoot with an arm motion, or "push" the ball, which causes the ball to leave the stick on a low trajectory resulting in a low pass or shot. An excellent way to develop the wrist snap is to utilize the wall. Go to a cinderblock or brick wall and stand approximately 3 to 5 yards away. Any wall will work (no windows), but a smooth concrete surface at least 10 feet tall is the best.

You can and will observe daily improvement if proper technique is maintained. Increase the reps as wrists become stronger. Aim for as many reps as possible with desired form, however. This is a lefty-righty work out. Attempt to do as many reps as possible. Remember, your goal is to strengthen the wrists, to become proficient in releasing the ball with the snap of the wrists, to gain hand speed, and to develop a quick release.

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