Lacrosse lovers lobby for varsity status
New sport is too pricey, officials say.
By Kate Williamson | Staff Writer
Published on Tuesday, January 25, 2005
SAN MATEO -- Lacrosse players may be known for their determination and aggression, but it remains to be seen if those qualities can stand up to the bottom line.
A group of around 30 lacrosse enthusiasts, including children, parents and members of Burlingame's Coyotes Lacrosse Club, are lobbying the San Mateo Union High School District to adopt their favored sport in 2006 as a varsity and junior varsity offering. But the high cost of the equipment-intensive sport is prohibitive, according to district Superintendent Sam Johnson.
Lacrosse, an ancient sport with roots in the baggataway game of the eastern Cherokee and Iroquois American Indian tribes, was adopted by the California Interscholastic Federation as a suitable varsity sport for public high schools two years ago, according to Coyotes spokesman Steve Alms. Since then, clubs have been focusing less on sponsoring high-school age-teams as some schools embrace the sport.
"It is where the future of the sport exists nationwide. It's where the kids want to play, frankly. They want to play for their high school," Alms said.
Around nine schools in the area have lacrosse as a varsity sport, including the public Menlo Atherton and Woodside high schools and several private schools. Menlo Atherton and Woodside asked the Coyotes to try to get a varsity team at SMUHSD so the club's current middle-school players could play those schools in the future, Alms said.
But SMUHSD cannot match those wealthier schools, officials said. A boy's team costs around $29,000 and a girl's team $21,000 to start, Johnson said, calling $50,000 for each of six school sites far too much money.
"The real concern that I have as a superintendent is supporting the sports programs that we have," Johnson said. "We can't do it all. We have to make some choices."
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