Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse

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2009 MHSAA state lacrosse finals will be held on June 6, 2009.

 The 2009 US Lacrossse Michigan Hall of Fame High School Senior All-Star games, and 2009 Hall of Fame induction, will be held on June 13, 2009, at a site to be determined.

Please send to uslm@skalaw.com any news items you would like to submit for posting on the website.

15th Annual U.S.L.M 7 v 7 tentative date is November 9, 2008. Watch the website for more details.

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US Lacrosse Michigan and Michigan Men’s High School Coaches- Hall of Fame Day was held on June 14, 2008 at Holloway Stadium, Ann Arbor.

At this event, we honored:

• the charter US Lacrosse Michigan Hall of Fame class– six giants of Michigan Lacrosse!
• The inagural members of the Michigan High School Men’s Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
• 2008 Graduating All State Men’s and Women’s players.
• Winners of the 2008 US Lacrosse Michigan College Scholarships.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:

Women’s Division

Muriel Brock came to Grosse Pointe University School in 1956. Muriel was responsible for starting women’s scholastic lacrosse in Michigan, along with Maggie Houston (from Kingswood) and Trish Dow Ashurkoff (who taught at GPSU from 1959-1961.) They organized the first clinic in 1959 and the first interscholastic game in 1960. As an Athletic Director, Muriel was responsible for encouraging other schools to start lacrosse programs. even after her retirement from ULS in 1992, she can been seen on the sidelines at many ULS games.

Romilly Stackpoole came to the United States from Irel;and in 1962 and taught at Dominican High School from 1962-1964. She coached varsity women’s lacrosse at University Liggett School from 1972-1983. In 1977, ULS was the co-champion of the inaugural Midwest Schoolgirls’ Lacrosse Tournament along with Worthington Ohio. After a series of overtimes, they declared the game a draw and shared the championship. Romilly started the Middle School interscholastic program in 1984 along with ASH, DCD and Kingswood. She continued coaching at the middle school level until her retirement in 2000, when she joined the ranks of officials of both Lacrosse and Field Hockey. She has been a mentor to numerous coaches and officials and has influenced the lives of many students throughout her career.

Jean Blievernicht is a long time official in many sports. Jean officiated many of us when we were in high school (including Elaine Torvinen in basketball games at Henry Ford High School in the early 70’s!). Jean has tirelessly recruited officials. It usually goes something like: “Can I teach you a little about this great thing I do”? Jean’s years of officiating testify to “being around youth keeps you young”. She spends her days teaching youth tennis and then officiates lacrosse in the evenings. She does it all with a great attitude and a desire to always get it right.

Men’s Division

Don Lutz is the “Godfather of Michigan High School Lacrosse”. He created the first High School Team in Michigan (L’Anse Creuse, 1970.) He coached L’Anse Creuse to the First Championship of the Midwest Lacrosse Association. Don also started girl’s Lacrosse at L’Anse Creuse. He is still active as assistant coach at L’Anse Creuse.

Ron Hebert was a varsity goalie at Michigan State university (surviving coaching by Bob Stevenson.) In 1973, he led all NCAA D-1 Goalies in saves. Ron coached high school teams in St. Hugo, Brother Rice and Cranbrook. Ron is the only coach to win two state championships with two different schools. He coached at Northwood University (varsity D2) and at Oakland University (MCLA.) Ron was the longtime President of the Michigan Lacrosse Foundation, forerunner to the current US Lacrosse Michigan. He is the creator and longtime director of the Michigan 7v7 tournaments. Ron is one of the finest coaches in the game at any level.

Dave Morrowwas an All American Defenseman at Brother Rice High Schoool, an All American Defenseman at Princeton, and a member of the 1995 Silver Anniversary Team, asone of the 25 best college lacrosse players of all time! In 1993, Dave started Warrior Lacrosse, a premium lacrosse equipment company which is a great supporter of lacrosse in Michigan and internationally.

USLM 2008 Scholarship Winners:

Jacob Rochte- Grosse Pointe Woods

Melissa Oddo- Grosse Pointe Park

Michelle Martinelli- Grosse Pointe

John Olevnik- Canton

2008 Graduating All State Men’s and Women’s players.

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For scholarship information, please click the Scholarship Information tab.

US Lacrosse Michigan, the Michigan Chapter of the National Governing body of the sport, awards grants annually for lacrosse in the State of Michigan. Grants are available for startup teams, coaches and officials training. We also have travel grants available for individual players. Over the last 2 years we have provided over 21 grants across the state to teams in Grand Blanc, Troy, Royal Oak, Grosse Ile, Dexter, Lake Orion, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, South Lyon, Northville, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Berrien, Tecumseh, Clarkston, Chelsea, and Williamston. Grants have been awarded for as little as $35 to as much as $400. We have purchased goals for new programs, supplied T-shirts to lacrosse introductory programs, funded equipment and uniform purchases and assisted new coaches and officials with convention registration and training costs.

Grant applications and procedures may be found here.

The 3rd Annual US of Michigan Convention is expected to be held in late January, 2009.  Watch for updates.

Lacrosse Friends-

The Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse would like to thank everyone for making the 7 v 7 tournament an outstanding event! We had 114 teams this year , making it our biggest to date. We thank you for the support you’ve shown us over the years. Net income from the 7 v 7 is spent on developing lacrosse. Money will be spent on new programs, equipment grants, scholarships, youth teams, and other means of growing “the fastest game on feet.”

The 7 v 7 is intended as a fun day of lacrosse, a last day of outdoor play, a preview of next spring’s matchups, and a chance for lacrosse opponents, friends, parents, officials and coaches to join in a low-stress and fun event. We appreciate those of you who “get it” and enjoyed the day.

The 7 v 7 could not happen without our supporting vendors, and IN PARTICULAR, our amazing staff of volunteers. Our crew spends countless hours in making this event happen.

Special thanks go to:

Jeff Holden and his family of Ann Arbor, who each year tirelessly and graciously assemble a bunch of needed goal cages, deliver them to the 7 v 7 fields, and then return them to their source.

Owen Blank, one of our board members who gets all fields set up, and who greets each disaster as a pleasant breeze, with a smile on his face.

Kristy Zelenka, who handled the crazy registration task.

Bob Rietz, our board member who was recruited for his actuarial skills (truly.) (We also keep him for his good judgment as well as photographic skills.) Bob sets up the matrix of 114 teams on 17 fields, 5 games per team, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Angie and Mike Ward, who respectively handle day-of registration and…PARKING!

Jaime Corl, our trainer who was able to fix most boo-boos on the spot.

Bill Rubin, Rick Jackson, Elaine Torvinen and Clark Bell, who secured all of the game officials.

The U of M Dearborn Men’s team, which moved about 10 miles of premature PVC pipe and lined the fields.

Ken Rymiszewski and Detroit Lacrosse Co., for supplying the electric green staff hoodies that made our crew easy to locate.

The MSU Women’s and Men’s teams, and the CMU Men and U of M Women’s teams for attending and showing their skills. You received many compliments, and it’s great for the parents and players to see what lacrosse looks like “at the next level.”

All US Lacrosse Michigan Board members not named.

We look forward to seeing everyone back for next year’s tournament.

We also suggest you join US Lacrosse, if you’re not already a member. The benefits are great. Nice supplemental insurance. And for me, Lacrosse Magazine is a must read every month. I tab it and use it in my coaching and administration. You will benefit, and you will support the sport. We are working hard to move the State of Michigan to the top of the lacrosse world. Your membership would help.

Thanks to All!

Bob Stevenson

A report of operating revenues and expenses for calendar year 2007.

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A record 50 lacrosse organizations will receive US Lacrosse Youth Equipment Grants this year. The Youth Equipment Grant Program, in its seventh year, is an annual offering of US Lacrosse. Lacrosse programs applying for the grant must show a demonstrated financial need.US Lacrosse worked with equipment manufacturers Brine, Cascade, deBeer, STX and Warrior to make the program possible. The equipment included in this year’s grant packages has a retail value of more than $400,000.

“Without the generous support of the lacrosse industry we wouldn’t be able to reach so many children and help put sticks in their hands,” said Beth Reisinger, sport development director for US Lacrosse. “This truly is a partnership helping to seed the sport in both traditional and developing lacrosse areas.”

The following Michigan programs have been awarded grants for the 2005 cycle of the US Lacrosse Youth Equipment Grant Program:

Boys’ Grants
Bay City Central High School Boys Lacrosse - Essexville, Mich.
Kalamazoo Central Lacrosse Team - Kalamazoo, Mich.

Combination (Boys’ and Girls’) Grants
CASMAN Alternative Academy - Manistee, Mich.
Lansing Parks and Recreation Department - Lansing, Mich.