Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse

Lacrosse Friends- The Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse would like to thank everyone for making the 16th annual 7 v 7 tournament an outstanding event! We held our first ever two day event and had a record breaking 128 teams. 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, our Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Fame and other means of growing “the fastest game on feet.” The tournament is an all-volunteer effort. As it grows larger, it grows more difficult, but it’s a product of our love of the sport. 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. Some years we get great weather, some not so great. Our date has been set to follow the end of many high school sports. Also, we need a large facility, typically after soccer has ended. This year we were rewarded with some of the nicest weather that the 7v7 has ever seen. You never know in Michigan and this year it was great. Northville was a new location this year. It was a quick move after we were told our initial location at Novi would not be available. Many thanks to the Township of Northville for rushing through our special event application. Mary Barbieri, Jeff Moon, and Jason Nezich of the Northville Parks and Recreation Department were incredibly helpful in making this event happen. Kathy Koupal of Northville lacrosse also helped with the loan of their goals for the event. Thanks to all! 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, Bill Waitz and the Ann Arbor Pioneer lacrosse people, 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, who turns a large park into a mecca for lacrosse by laying out the fields and organizing the lining with the help of Jason Watts and the Michigan Dearborn lacrosse team. Kristy Zelenka, who handled the crazy registration task and parking madness! Jason Gratson, who took the 128 boys, girls, varsity, JV, and youth teams and turned it into a workable schedule in only a couple of days. Next year we will give Jason more time to complete this huge task. Jason and Karin Gratson were also on hand during the tournament to help make sure the event went smoothly. Angie and Mike Ward, Ryan Demorest, Chris Cooper who coordinated PARKING! Jaime Corl, our trainer who was able to fix most boo-boos on the spot. Kim Hagan and Clark Bell who secured the game officials. Ken Brubaker of our board, for field signs and his can-do attitude. Emilia Ward and her Adrian Women’s Lacrosse team, for graciously serving as parking marshals and conducting spontaneous clinics for the girls teams.Ken Rymiszewski and Detroit Lacrosse Co., for supplying the cool Northville 7v7 staff hoodies that made our crew easy to locate. Judy Roberts and the crew from AMJ Distributing, extraordinary BBQ catering specialist’s- amjdist@yahoo.com Michigan Lacrosse Store, your west side source for everything lacrosse- www.michigan-lax.com Warrior Lacrosse, Michigan based, and world leader in performance lacrosse equipment- www.warriorlacrosse.com We are working hard to improve this tournament. If you have any suggestions or just want to help in the effort with the tournament or other chapter events please contact us. It is the people that make this Chapter work. We also suggest you join US Lacrosse, if you’re not already a member. The benefits are great. Nice supplemental insurance , equipment and other discounts, and Lacrosse Magazine. 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. We look forward to seeing everyone back for next year’s tournament. Clark Bell, President, U.S. LACROSSE MICHIGAN CHAPTER

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