Page 40 - May-June-July Life In Naples

LACROSSE
takes off in Naples!

by Mark Klym

T he sport of lacrosse believes that “the players who field the boys’ varsity
is the oldest sport lacrosse programs are becoming more skilled and
in North America, more experienced each season due mostly in part
originally played by Native to the experience they are getting by playing in
Americans who referred to CCLA leagues and clinics.”
it as “the Creators Game.”
In the past 10 years lacrosse CCLA is a non-profit boys youth lacrosse
has seen tremendous growth organization that has been in existence since 2004.
among girls and boys in CCLA provides spring, summer and fall boys
Naples. This is not surprising youth lacrosse clinics and league play. The recent
given the fact that youth spring CCLA season which just finished their
lacrosse has been one of the fastest growing sports in the United States championship weekend, had over 125 boys ages
since 2001. According to the US Lacrosse 2014 Participation Survey 6-15 playing lacrosse against teams from Fort
there were 253,931 people playing lacrosse in 2001 which has grown to Myers, Port Charlotte, Estero and Lehigh Acres.
772,772 in 2014. In the same survey Florida ranked as one of the top CCLA also offers introductory programs for new
ten states for increased participation in lacrosse – so it’s not surprising players in the summer and fall as well as clinics for
that Naples is seeing growth in youth lacrosse participation as well. beginners to advanced players.
In Collier County seven out of eight public high schools have varsity
boys and girls lacrosse teams. The only exception in Collier County
is Lorenzo Walker Technical Institute. Victor Konopik who is the
President of the Collier County Lacrosse Association, Inc. (“CCLA”)

40 Life in Naples | May • June • July 2016