Girls, Boys Lacrosse Club Teams Seeking Varsity Sport Status

After two years playing at the club level, an exploding Avon Lake Lacrosse Club is hoping to earn varsity sport status at for both its boys and girls team. Both teams currently play at the club level and do not technically represent Avon Lake High School.

Club president and Avon Lake parent Brian Lamb gave a presentation to the on March 13 saying that not only does the current club operate in the black, its boys membership has grown from 28 boys in its first year in 2010, to 42 in 2011 and 57 this year. A newly established girls team has 16 members.

“We have two full JV (boys) teams,” Lamb said. “It’s amazing how much demand there is.”

Lamb said the club, which has nine trustees--all Avon Lake residents—added the girls team this year.

“They kept asking, ‘Mr. Lamb, when are you going to start girls lacrosse?’” he said.  “Last summer the girls team got together and bought sticks.”

If approved, the boys and girls teams would be added as spring sports and join other OHSAA sanctionedteams. Currently, Ohio has 49 D-1, 48 D2 and 25 club boys teams and 41 D-1, 40 D-2 and 22 club girls teams.

The March 13 presentation was the official start of the team’s application for school-sponsored varsity status, although trustees have been meeting with Superintendent of Schools Bob Scott and athletic director Tom Barone for the past two years.

The teams, if approved, would be added as a spring sport.

Lamb and other trustees addressed the board hoping to have the teams eligible for varsity status in the 2013. OHSAA rules do not permit teams to apply for varsity status and be accepted in the same academic year.

Lamb said the club was recommending a registration fee of $215 if it became a varsity sport.

Lamb said the sport meets the requirements for a varsity sport including “must be competitive,” have existing facilities and student interest.

The club, which is a member of the two statewide governing bodies, the Ohio High School Lacrosse Association for boys and the Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association, currently uses Learwood Middle School and the high school turf.