(Youth1) – In Methuen, MA, the youth lacrosse program is hoping that their interest in the sport will support the movement to get the game played at the high school level. Parents and players have been sending letters to the athletic director at the local high school, stating how they’d like to see a team created for the sport that is attracting so much attention. Young athletes are gravitating to the sport from other sports, and parents want their children to play against others when they enter high school. With four teams already in the youth program pumping out players, perhaps it won’t be long until Methuen sees a high school lacrosse team and a winning debut season.

 

Growing Methuen youth lacrosse hopes high school team on the way

A high school team may still only be a hope, but that has not stopped the sport of lacrosse from taking off in the city of Methuen.

 

"The youth program has been growing and growing," said Paul Cioffi, whose son Ryan plays in the league. "It has been great for the kids, and we are hoping we may get a high school team."

 

Now in its second season, Methuen Youth Lacrosse has seen a major growth in popularity, and now sports approximately 80 athletes in the program which consists of a U11 team, two U13 teams and a U15 team. All the teams are co-ed but only six of the players are girls.

 

"The kids love it," said John Bartlett, whose son John is also a player. "It's been tough for him to learn the new sport. He wasn't confident at first. But he loved it from the start. Now we hope he can play in high school."

 

The growth in popularity has also brought the interest in a high school team to an all-time high, according to Methuen athletic director Jim Weymouth.

 

"More so than ever in my time here (as AD since 2006) there is an interest," said Weymouth. "I have received e-mails and heard from parents and received nice letters from kids saying they would like to see a team. We are hoping to make it a reality."

 

Of the 10 full-time members of the Merrimack Valley Conference, all but Methuen and Lawrence have boys and girls lacrosse programs.

 

"I always said we couldn't start a program without a feeder system," said Weymouth. "We see the people playing in Methuen, and we have kids playing in other towns. Before the school year is up, I'm going to do a survey of the freshmen, sophomores and juniors to rate their interest."

 

Bartlett said many of those participating in the youth program learned through word of mouth and flyers from the rec. department, which runs the program.

 

"My son is a hockey player," said Bartlett, "and a lot of hockey players and others gravitate to lacrosse. For some, baseball is too laid back, and they want to play a team sport in the spring."

 

Cioffi credited longtime Central Catholic teacher-coach and Methuen resident Ernie DiFiore with helping grow the program.

 

"I'm kind of the liaison to the Mass. Bay Youth Lacrosse League," said DiFiore, who coaches a U13 team and the U15 team, and whose son Sam plays. "I'm a novice at this sport, but it is great to see a feeder system. The kids are working and some have been competitive in the league."

 

But is there a time-frame for the Rangers to field a team?

 

"It's tough to start anything in the MVC and we have to consider the budget with things like transportation and coaches salaries," said Weymouth. "But those are hurdles, not stopping points. I am meeting with Methuen Councilman Jennifer Kannan on May 26. We are looking at jumping in with a year of two of JV. Ideally it could be next year, but we'll have to see. We hope to get started."

 

 

By David Willis

http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/x2023213347/Growing-Methuen-youth-lacrosse-hopes-high-school-team-on-the-way