Lacrosse joins MSU club sports
s the popularity of lacrosse continued to spread into Kentucky from the East Coast, sophomore Jeremy Haysley was introduced to the game as a high school student at Louisville.
Now, Haysley is the one doing the recruiting as he attempts to start a club lacrosse team at Murray State to spread the game further.
Haysley played football for Male but became attached to lacrosse because of the constant, fast-paced action. He played for his high school against other area teams and competed in a Louisville summer league.
"I was originally a football player and (Male) recruited me because they needed some bigger guys cause it was a bunch of smaller guys on the team," Haysley said. "I just caught on to it really quick, and I love the intensity. Just the adrenaline, everything you do in the sport is just a pure adrenaline rush the whole game, and I just want to keep it going."
About 10 people have expressed interest in the team, good enough to field a team with no substitutes. However, Haysley is looking to get about 20 players so the team can have ample substitutes at the different positions.
Jim Baurer, Curris Center director, who is also in charge of club teams on campus, gave the team permission to play. Haysley does not expect full funding in the first season, but the funding will be important because of equipment cost.
"That's the biggest thing about getting this thing started is the funding because to fully equip a player in just equipment, not including a stick, it's around $200 to $250 for a helmet, shoulder pads and gloves," Haysley said. "A stick, depending on top-of-the-line or whatever you want, is anywhere between $100 and $150."
Members on the team will have to worry about getting their own stick, but the hope is that equipment will be paid for through the funding. Left over money will go toward travel to play teams around the area.
Schools with club lacrosse teams include the universities of Kentucky and Louisville, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Southern Illinois and Tennessee-Martin.
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