Dallas to Host US Lacrosse IA National Championships

[Sam Atkinson]

BALTIMORE — Dallas will be the host city for the 2006 and 2007 US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates National Championships. The 2006 event will be held from May 9-13 at the Russell Creek Athletic Complex and Highland Park High School.

"We're really excited to bring this event to Texas," said Josh Christian, managing director for programs and services for US Lacrosse. "There is tremendous involvement from the local organizing committee and we have outstanding venues that will allow us to create a great experience for the more than 1,000 players and many more fans that will be coming to these championships."

The US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates (IA) are college lacrosse teams, primarily at the club level, that compete in a national structure. There are nearly 400 men’s and women’s teams from around the country competing under the IA umbrella in three divisions.

This year's championships will bring 44 teams to Dallas to compete for three championships. Sixteen teams will compete in the Men's Division A field, 12 in the Men's Division B and 16 in the women's field. All three championships were won by California schools in 2005: UC-Santa Barbara (Men's A), University of San Diego (Men's B) and Cal Poly (Women's).

The preliminary round games will be held at the Russell Creek Athletic Complex and the semifinals and finals will be held at Highland Park's Highlander Stadium, an 8,000-seat, lighted turf field.

Texas is the home to 27 men's and women's college teams that compete at the IA level and more than 200 boys' and girls' high school teams.

The IA championships have grown tremendously in just a short time. The event began in 1997 with just eight men's teams and has steadily expanded over the years to this year's record 44 teams.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse. To learn more about the organization, please visit http://www.uslacrosse.org.

A look back at the 2005 IA Championships:
http://www.uslacrosse.org/events/iachampionships05.phtml

[Sonny]

The IA championships have grown tremendously in just a short time. The event began in 1998 with just eight men's teams and has steadily expanded over the years to this year's record 44 teams.

Thanks Sam.

CORRECTION - The first year of the IA championships was 1997 in St. Louis (not '98). BYU over UCSB for the first ever IA title.

[LaxRef]

The IA championships have grown tremendously in just a short time. The event began in 1998 with just eight men's teams and has steadily expanded over the years to this year's record 44 teams.

Thanks Sam.

CORRECTION - The first year of the IA championships was 1997 in St. Louis (not '98). BYU over UCSB for the first ever IA title.

Why are they called the Iowa championships if they hold them in Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, . . . ?

[Sam Atkinson]

Thanks Sonny! Good catch. It has been corrected in the release and on the US Lacrosse site.

[bste_lax]

The IA championships have grown tremendously in just a short time. The event began in 1998 with just eight men's teams and has steadily expanded over the years to this year's record 44 teams.

Thanks Sam.

CORRECTION - The first year of the IA championships was 1997 in St. Louis (not '98). BYU over UCSB for the first ever IA title.

Why are they called the Iowa championships if they hold them in Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, . . . ?

Probably the first and last reference regarding nationals and Iowa......

[JW]

yeah but a funny reference.

But remember "If you build it, they will come"

[jessexy]

The IA championships have grown tremendously in just a short time. The event began in 1998 with just eight men's teams and has steadily expanded over the years to this year's record 44 teams.

Thanks Sam.

CORRECTION - The first year of the IA championships was 1997 in St. Louis (not '98). BYU over UCSB for the first ever IA title.

Why are they called the Iowa championships if they hold them in Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, . . . ?

Probably the first and last reference regarding nationals and Iowa......

Special Olympics are hosting its National Games in Ames this summer. Iowa State is the host.

[laxfan25]

Special Olympics are hosting its National Games in Ames this summer. Iowa State is the host.

Is Johnny Knoxville getting a team of ringers together??

[jessexy]

dont know, but i wouldnt be surprised if he made an appearance. Leonard Flowers (Jimmy) will be there.

[AlumniLax]

Hopefully you all will have good weather this year and a more organised tournament.

Heres to no tornados and floods (the Lou') and no cold weather (Mn)

[John Westfall]

I have always wanted to go to this event. But for whatever reason due to my work schedule or my health I have not been able to go. Jeff Eichman one of the staff at UNM and I plan to go this year and we most likely we will take our families because there is so much to do in Dallas.

It is a good choice and if you can sell folks from Texas on Lacrosse it is bound to do some great things for our sport in the southwestern United States. Remember everything in Texas is big. So if people get excited about Lacrosse in Texas it will be big and rub off on the rest of the Country.

Looking forward to eating some of those Texas Steaks.

All the best,

[Jolly Roger]

Let's hope that this weekend's weather related cancellations are not a harbinger of the future

[benji]

Now you're comparing January to May. Seriously?

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

the way things were going in minnesota the last few days I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't get below 120 here during the summer. we have had 3 days in the 40s and set a record of 48 on friday. its weird seeing grass during january.

[JW]

Considering that this was the first good rain that we have had in texas since Katrina and Rita, I think we will be ok. Make sure you bring your water bottle.