New youth sport comes to Gig Harbor

Harbour Fire lacrosse team forms in area

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

If baseball doesn’t satisfy your child’s interest in sports during the springtime, a new one has popped up for Gig Harbor grade-school youths.

The Peninsula Athletic Association has partnered with the Tacoma Youth Lacrosse Association to bring a lacrosse team to Gig Harbor for the first time, and youths are pumped about participating.

“This is my first time playing on a lacrosse team,” said Kopachuk Middle School eighth-grader Shane O’Connor. “I am really excited to learn the techniques, and it will be a great sport for my off time from football.”

Gig Harbor will have four teams named Harbour Fire. They range from third through eighth grade — for boys only, so far.

Harbour Fire coach Craig Wickstrom said the second fifth/sixth grade boys team is about 10 players shy. They are looking to fill the team before practice begins around the first week of February.

Each team will play a 10-game season that will last for more than 13 weeks. Harbour Fire will play teams across the south Puget Sound.

“It’s about finding a love for the sport and developing the fundamentals,” Wickstrom said. “One expectation we have of our kids (is) to have fun.”

Lacrosse incorporates many concepts from football, hockey and soccer. It is a full-contact sport with shoulder pads, helmet and hockey gloves.

Kopachuk eighth-grader Alex Lower said it’s a very exciting, challenging and physical sport to play.

“It’s the best of soccer and hockey,” he said.

Others, like seventh-grader Tyler Anderson, are excited to be a part of a startup program.

“I’m really excited to try a new sport,” Anderson said.

Interested in lacrosse?

Families who are looking to get their children involved in lacrosse can visit www.tyla.us for registration or additional information.

Reach sports reporter Marques Hunter at 253-853-9246 or by e-mail at marques.hunter@gateline.com.