The Vashon Lacrosse Club (VLC) wrapped up its competitive season for 2024 with strong performances and camaraderie, but there’s much more yet to come for islanders interested in the sport.
The club’s youth teams, from grades 1 through 8, competed in the South Sound League. The high school girls team, the Valkyries, competed in the Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association. The high school boys team, the Vultures, played within the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association.
The Vultures made it to the playoffs this year, but unfortunately did not advance to the championship. Four Vultures, all seniors, were selected for the All-Star Team at the end of the season: Caden Oberlander, Davis Rice, Colin McIntyre, and Nathan Davidson. Two Vultures, Davis Rice and Eamon Tegenfeldt-Pfohman, will advance their careers by playing lacrosse at the college level.
Also honored were two 4th-grade players, Emmett Golding and Kia Dizazzo, who were selected for the All-Star team in their age group. Grade 3-4 coach Wyatt Golding was also selected as an All-Star Coach.
The busy season is over, but programming and activities continue as the off-season begins.
Beginning Wednesday, June 5, and continuing every Wednesday through fall, VLC will host its popular 3 vs 3 program “Sticks Up.” The games, made possible through the partnership of the Vashon Park District (VPD), run from 7 to 8 p.m.
This free, drop-in program is open to youth and adults of all ages and abilities. It’s a chance to try out lacrosse, learn some fundamental skills, and have fun, and no experience is required.
Sticks Up is a modified, smaller-scale, no-contact activity that does not require special equipment — and the Lacrosse Club even provides the sticks. Seasoned players are invited to keep up their skills and mentor others in learning.
Also, on Fridays during August, the VLC, together with VPD, will host day clinics for further exploration of lacrosse for age-specific youth groups. Watch for social media postings or refer to vashonlacrosse.com for more information.
This year, VLC also expanded programming for youth in grades 1 and 2, improving participation for the club’s youngest members.
Lacrosse, the fastest-growing sport in America, is considered North America’s first sport. It was first played by Indigenous people as early as the 12th century. History indicates that the sport was played not only for recreation and enjoyment, but to foster unity, settle disputes, transform the energy of a negative event, prepare youth for the challenges of adulthood and new roles, and for spiritual reasons.
The sport’s potential for positive impact still applies in its contemporary form today. The growth of lacrosse programs, especially in the West is demonstrating more diverse interest than ever before. It will be an Olympic sport in 2028, one which the Haudenosaunee Nationals — an Indigenous sports organization — is seeking to play at the 2028 games.
Vashon Lacrosse Club is a volunteer-run organization bringing the benefit of youth sports to any school-age youth from grades 1 through 12. VLC originated in 1990 and earned nonprofit status in 2005. As such, the organization relies on fundraising and sponsorships to offer quality programming with the goal of making lacrosse accessible to all.
The VLC thanks its 2024 sponsors, Vashon businesses, who helped the club obtain updated uniforms and safety equipment for the Vultures. The club also expressed gratitude to its donors who contributed to its pre-Mother’s Day Bake and Gift Sale, allowing the club to raise money for equipment needs for its teams, and for providing financial assistance for registration and program fees.
