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Sunday, October 16, 2005

It’s among the fastest-growing sports in the country, with teams and leagues sprouting up throughout the United States.

If several local transplants have their way, Grand Junction will be the newest site of the lacrosse boom.

With the help of the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department, local lacrosse enthusiasts held an expo Sunday at Canyon View Park.

“We’re trying to expose Grand Junction to lacrosse,” said Lenny Lang, a former high school and college lacrosse player who is interested in bringing the sport to the Grand Valley.

Traci Altergott of the parks and recreation department said the expo came about because of an obvious interest in the community.

“We got numerous calls from people who had moved here who said, ‘You don’t have lacrosse,’ ” she said.

In a coordinating effort with those showing interest, primarily former players and parents with children interested in learning the sport, the recreation department put together Sunday’s expo.

Lacrosse, said Brandon Moore, is appealing because it incorporates elements from football, soccer, hockey and even basketball.

“It takes a lot more challenge,” said Moore, a Fruita Monument High School senior who moved here 2½ years ago after playing lacrosse for four years in Aurora. “It combines a lot of sports into one.”