Lake Zurich spurs lacrosse surge
While the sport of lacrosse is continuing to grow at a dramatic rate in Illinois, the Lake Zurich Lacrosse Club has experienced phenomenal growth over the past 18 months at the high school and youth levels.
The Lake Zurich Lacrosse Club was established in 2002 to develop, support and promote the sport of lacrosse in the Lake Zurich area as well as provide Lake Zurich High School students with the opportunity to play competitive lacrosse at the high school level.
In 2007, the boys youth lacrosse program began, and it has grown from two teams and 43 players in 2007 to seven teams and 142 players in 2009.
The Lake Zurich boys youth program has been very successful with several league championships at the Bantam, Lightning and Junior levels.
This will be the fourth season to offer Spring Youth Lacrosse in Lake Zurich.
Participation is open to boys in second through eighth grade. This program will focus on individual skill development, team concepts, game situation drills, and learning the rules of the game for players of all skill levels (beginners to experienced).
Also, new this year is the affiliation with US Lacrosse, the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse.
At no extra cost, each participant will receive a 12-month US Lacrosse membership and a monthly subscription to Lacrosse Magazine.
For more information, contact jvaselopulos@lzlacrosseclub.com or Mike Spears at mspears@lzlacrosseclub.com. Or visit the Web site at www.lzlacrosseclub.com to learn more about the Lake Zurich Lacrosse Club and the lacrosse programs offered to boys and girls.
• In the spring of 2008, the girls youth feeder system began for the Lake Zurich High School girls lacrosse program.
It partnered with the Illinois Girls Lacrosse Association, which offered lacrosse to girls in 3rd through 8th grade. It will participate in the Illinois Girls Lacrosse Association's (IGLA) in the Spring 2010 Lacrosse League.
The league is managed by IGLA, which is a not for profit organization solely dedicated to providing lacrosse camps and leagues for girls in Illinois.
For more information; visit www.iglax.org.
Registration begins March 1, 2010.
Volunteer coaches are needed. With the rapid expansion of lacrosse, there is the need for coaches for each team. An IGLA and or LZHS coach will be at each practice and game to help with instruction, so a lacrosse background is not as important as the enthusiasm and leadership needed to coach. If you have
any coaching experience, it is an easy transition to lacrosse.
For more information or to volunteer to coach, please contact info@iglax.org.
Men's basketball
Senior guard Austin Scott (Lake Zurich) is averaging 6 points for Wisconsin-La Crosse. He has a season-high 15 points against UW Eau Claire.
As a sophomore, Scott had a career-high 22 points against UW-Stevens Point.
• Senior center Andy Merklein (Prospect) of the University of Wisconsin-La Cross is averaging 6 points per game and 4.6 rebounds. He ranks second on the team in rebounding.
Teammate Al Chery (Wheeling) of Wisconsin-La Crosse is averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in his last two games and had a career-high 18 points in a 75-56 win over Hardin-Simmons University (Texas).
• Sophomore guard Jeff Heiden (Prospect) of Wisconsin-La Crosse had a career-high 16 points in a win at St. Mary's (Minn.), including 4-of-5 3-pointers.
Men's swimmingCarthage junior Bob Pellican (Hersey) took first place in the 200 backstroke (2:00.26) and the 200 individual medley (2:05.17) at the Wisconsin Private College Swimming Championship held at Carthage's Koenitzer Aquatic Center.Softball The Illinois Bash Softball Association is currently hosting the second season of the Annual Midnight Bash indoor softball tourney. Nearly 100 girls travel fastpitch teams aged 12-and-under to 18-and-under from Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois participate. Games are played every Saturday night, except Super Bowl weekend, beginning at 11 p.m. in Schaumburg and 11:30 p.m. in McCook. Each team plays three one-hour games. Games are at the Schaumburg Sports Center 1141 W. Irving Park Rd. and the McCook Max at 4750 S. Vernon, in McCook."The games are designed to allow softball travel teams with an opportunity to keep their competitiveness throughout the winter months," said Illinois Bash coach and organizer of the event Jim Goranson (St Viator). "It keeps the athletes out of trouble and active in athletics. The reason for the late night times is because of the cost of renting the indoor facilities for such a small team group."The games run through March right in time for the high school softball season."After the games teams go out for breakfast at IHOP in Schaumburg and the place is rocking cause the players are so alert and awake," Goranson said. " The parents on the other hand can't wait for their beds."