Huddle up: Lacrosse gaining popularity locally, statewide

Marques Hunter

Huddle up

Lacrosse is considered to be the “in” sport, and that’s changed just in the past two decades.

When I was young, nobody mentioned or played lacrosse. It didn’t seem like an American sport, because it was rarely televised. Little did I know that Native Americans first played the game.

I’ve found that most kids who play a particular sport watch it before they think about playing it. Hence my love for baseball, basketball and football. I watched them on ESPN and saw my favorite players on sports cards.

But now, lacrosse seems to be on the minds of many teenagers. And I’m not just talking about locally. The interest level is really sprouting up all across the state.

It’s like clothing trends: Things seem to start on the East Coast and slowly make their way to our side of the country.

I spoke with Marc Kemp, who plays for the University of California-Santa Barbara, to gather some insight as to why I missed the “lacrosse is the new sport” memo.

He said one reason is because men his age (35-50) who have an interest in the sport and graduated from a major university along the West Coast have gone on to coach after they’ve settled down in a small community, like Gig Harbor.

A non-profit group recently formed in Gig Harbor which is preparing to compete at the high school level in the Olympic Conference, which is comprised of Klahowya, North Kitsap, Port Angeles and South Kitsap.

Can you believe there are 49 high school lacrosse teams in Washington state?

Kemp first played lacrosse when he was a freshman in the San Francisco Bay area at a private school. After he graduated from UCSB in the late 1980s, he noticed the sport had gone from an obscure private school activity to more mainstream.

“In college, we played against UCLA and Stanford, but they were all club sports,” Kemp said. “Then I went back to the alumni game and talked with the guys, and they were coaching their kids, and teams were starting to sprout up.”

In some Washington high schools, lacrosse is taught as part of a physical education class.

Weird? Not anymore, I guess.

“As a spectator, it’s a great sport,” Kemp said. “It has the finesse of basketball and contact of football.”

Throw in hockey because of the quick chucking of the ball, plus foot movement, and you’ve combined all five of America’s major sports: Football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey.

Cool.

Supposedly, those who play lacrosse develop a special kind of camaraderie, different from other sports.

Kemp said the sport isn’t that complicated to understand.

It seems relatively easy. Run down the field with the ball and score before you get checked to the ground.

You can imagine the athleticism and hand-eye coordination required to be an efficient passer, shooter and runner.

One thing is for sure: I think it’s a great idea to introduce a sport that some generations have missed out on. The only question is how long will it remain fun and how it will continue to attract players.

That remains to be seen, but it’s worth a try.

If you’re a Peninsula School District student, you are eligible to play for the Harbor Fire high school or middle school teams.

For more information, e-mail Harbor Fire administrative head coach Ken Uddenberg at ken@kenuddenberg.com.

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