[ot-caption title=”The Boys’ Lacrosse Team faced off with Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach on February 23rd, 2016. (via Sydney Aronberg, sophomore)”]

According to US Lacrosse, lacrosse originated as a game played by indigenous American Indians with a netted stick and a ball around the time of European contact. Fast forward several hundred years: it is now one of the world’s fastest growing sports. In 2014, US Lacrosse estimated just under 425,000 boys and girls in the United States participated in the sport, including approximately 300,000 at the high school level and more than 38,000 on collegiate varsity and club teams.

Pine Crest has embodied this revolution as well. While the bulk of the game’s popularity has risen in the northeastern region, specifically Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, lacrosse has also been on the rise down here in South Florida over the last decade. Under the direction of PC Coach George Harris, the Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team is looking to follow up and build on their 12-6 finish last year. They’ve won four of their first seven games this season and they are focused on getting better with each practice after school and on Saturdays. Watching the guys play, it’s clear that the team has really embodied Coach Harris’ old school philosophy on the field. Coach Harris is known for focusing on the fundamentals of the game; sophomore Jordan Eskenazi commented, “He’s a good coach and he really prepares us for the games.”

Practices with Coach Harris consist of drills involving agility, strength, and stick skills, as these are integral parts of the game. The program also emphasizes hard work and focus during practices so that the boys will be used to the pressure when they transition into games. With four solid wins under their belt, the boys are looking to build upon their losses and learn from their mistakes early on in the season. Coach Harris referred to the matches against Douglas and Oxbridge as their toughest games yet but they were both early in the season. Mistakes were made throughout the game, but Coach Harris has made it a mission to learn from those mistakes and not make them again. He definitely credits the team with commitment, as they play hard to the end and there’s no quit in the players when the games get tough.

To lead the team this year, captains Noah Dearman (Sr.), David Tescher (Sr.), Yani Fabre (Sr.), Quin Spey (Sr.), and Andres Soto (Jr.) have been leading the team and building the team bond between the boys. Captain Noah Dearman says that the boys’ varsity lacrosse team is a family and their main motivation is to play for each other; fellow captain Yani Fabre adds to this familial bond, “The team is a really great group of guys that are simply fun to be around.” With two more seasons to look forward to, sophomore Jordan Eskenazi shares, “My favorite part about playing lacrosse is being able to play with his best friends and winning games with his teammates.”

But while it’s great to have such a close bond among teammates, both Noah and Yani’s goals ultimately feature legitimate results on the field.  These two know that by sticking together and by simply playing wholeheartedly, the team will continue to climb the ranks.  “The season has been getting better, we started with some close losses but that has not dimmed our spirit, we are continuing to improve,” says Yani.  There’s work to be done, but the team is headed in the right direction as the second half of the season approaches. The team has faced some challenges along the way. One of the team’s best defensemen, Jonny Snyder, got injured, and the team had to find a way to overcome this obstacle.

The team’s winning record so far is 7-3. If you want to catch these athletes in action, there are games every Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks. The closest upcoming home game is Tuesday, March 15^th against American Heritage. Come out and support the Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team. Go Panthers!

Sources: US Lacrosse