Lacrosse is no longer a club activity in Virginia Beach public schools. Coaches hope varsity status is first step for ‘one of the best sports out there.’
Lacrosse is the oldest organized team sport in North America, yet it took years for the game to become an official high school team activity in Virginia.
For the first eight years of its existence in state public schools, from 2006-2013, the sport, most popular in the states between Maryland and Maine, was unclassified, with mostly Northern Virginia teams among its membership.
In 2006, the Virginia High School League recognized it as a sport, but it has taken the public schools of Hampton Roads nine more years to gain enough interest to field a full district slate of games. This spring, all 11 teams of the Beach District are playing their first VHSL-sanctioned season. Region playoffs are set to begin on May 19, and the state tournament will be June 6-10.
Although other public school systems in Hampton Roads haven’t developed enough interest to begin district play, the advent of lacrosse in the area brings hope.
“When I moved here in 2019, I couldn’t believe lacrosse wasn’t a varsity sport,” said Chris Faries, who with Joe Zirpolo co-coaches the Cox boys. “I think having varsity lacrosse as a VHSL sport will be great overall. Schools who have established club teams will now get the opportunity to officially represent their school. These players can now play multiple games in their home stadiums and have the possibility to participate in VHSL regional and state playoffs. Schools that are new to lacrosse have a chance to introduce athletes to this great sport. This will also give parents and students the chance to watch the game live and spark more interest for future seasons.”
Former Virginia Beach school board president Carolyn Rye noted that the plan had been in a developing stage for years, but took time to reach fruition.
“During my first term on school board, it became apparent that there was a strong undercurrent of support for VHSL backing with my Lynnhaven District community — and in some cases, beyond,” Rye said. “My outreach to the superintendent (Aaron Spence) and the two division student activities coordinators at the time (David Rhodes and Jim Long) revealed that a division VHSL blueprint plan already existed.”
Rye took the plan to an HRLAX meeting and started the process of gaining approval within the majority of Virginia Beach schools, a necessity in order to gain the level of Principal League discussion, according to Rye.
At the local level, lacrosse had thrived in Hampton Roads among private schools. Norfolk Academy won eight Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championships between 1979 and 2003. Cape Henry won a Division II title in 1999 and followed as the Division I champion in 2004. Walsingham, Hampton Roads Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk also have won state championships.
Now in its inaugural VHSL varsity boys season, Kellam has dominated, winning its first nine games by an average score of 16-3. The Knights are led by scorers Colin Maher (23 goals, 15 assists) and Evan Djunaedi (20 goals, 10 assists), while goaltenders Gavin Sinram and Jeffrey Hayes have been stifling in the net.
On the girls side, Ocean Lakes won its first seven district games, with the Dolphins’ only loss coming in an 18-8 decision against private school Cape Henry.
Cox girls coach Meghan Keating likes the financial benefits of her sport becoming official within the VHSL.
“When the sport was a club sport, players carried a pretty significant financial burden to play,” said Keating, who played in Virginia Beach during lacrosse’s club days. “Now, hundreds of athletes can walk on the field, pick up a stick, put on some goggles and start learning one of the best sports out there. Being a VHSL sport has made it more accessible to athletes throughout the Beach.”
