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Sportmanship in abundance on and off the fields
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Lacrosse Club continued with its winning ways by taking every division at the Sunshine State Games last weekend at the University of Florida Lacrosse Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.
Competing alongside more than 2,000 athletes, with temperatures climbing into the 90’s, members of the JLC continued to impress both on and off the field with spectacular goal scoring and displays of sportsmanship.
"We are extremely fortunate to live and work in such a great community,” said head coach Patrick Harnett. “Since returning home from Gainesville, I have received numerous emails from not only club directors and game officials but parents from clubs such as Team Headstrong, Tampa Tribe and the Lake Mary Mohicans, praising our organization, the sportsmanship that our athletes have displayed on and off the field and the tempo at which our teams play the game. This is a true testament to the dedication of our JLC athletes, parents and staff members.
"These young men are great teammates, hard workers and are learning to compete with intensity and great sportsmanship. Humility is very important to our organization. It is a pretty special thing to view firsthand how our boys carry themselves and play the game."
While fans and administrators were impressed with the way the members of the JLC carried themselves, it was only half the story, as every division saw a JLC team take home gold.
In the 11-and-under bracket, the JLC won both its games by a combined score of 19-4 to take home gold. The 13-and-under bracket saw two JLC squads (Gold and Silver) square off against each other in the opening game with Gold narrowly edging Silver, 4-3, as Gold went on to take the top spot in the division. The 15-and-under bracket ended with Gold besting the Mohicans, 10-8, in the championship game.
In the High School A Division, it was an all-JLC affair in the championship game, with Gold and Silver facing off for the championship. After the dust settled, Gold came away with a 7-2 victory as the JLC took the two top spots.
Rounding out the impressive day for the JLC was the White team in the High School B bracket. After making its way through to the championship game, the side defeated the Tampa Tribe in a thrilling 7-6 game to complete the sweep for the JLC.
With all the victories posted by the JLC this weekend, it’s evident that through all the success each team never lost sight of the sportsmanship that so often falls by the wayside. Carrying themselves with poise both on and off the field, the members of the JLC showed all participants and fans not only how to win, but how to win with class.
Jacksonville Lacrosse Club will be back in action this weekend for the Father’s Day Invitational in Orange Park, Fla. (June 18-19). Keep checking back with www.jaxlaxclub.com for updates.
Lacrosse among nine sports in Florida's olympic style sports festival
TALLAHASSEE - Florida’s Sunshine State Games takes the spotlight for the next two weekends as the 34th Annual Games will be held this weekend in Alachua County with action in nine sports and the following weekend in Polk County with action in seven sports.
Florida’s Olympic-style Sports Festival, which dates back to 1980, is the longest-running State Games competition in the U.S. Beginning Friday, the Alachua County Festival will host approximately 2,000 of Florida’s finest amateur athletes competing in Archery, Canoe/Kayak, Lacrosse, Racquetball, Rowing, Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Tennis and Ultimate.
The Jacksonville area will be well-represented at the 2011 Alachua County Festival as 21 of the 38 Lacrosse teams are from Northeast Florida, including 12 Jacksonville Lacrosse Club Boy’s teams playing in five age groups ranging from 11 and under through the High School division. At the 2010 Games, Jacksonville Lacrosse Club teams won a gold and bronze medal in the 13 and under division and a silver medal in the 15 and under age group.
A total of 24 members of the Jacksonville Rowing Club will compete on Saturday at Lake Wauburg in Micanopy with a field of 195 rowers. Jacksonville Rowing Club members Peter King, Juan River and Andrzej Ratajczyk won individual gold medals in 2010 as well as the JRC Men’s Masters 4X team. The 2005 Sunshine State Games Female Athlete of the Year, Susan Pfahler, is entered in the Racquetball competition in women’s doubles with partner Gail Wambold and in mixed doubles with her husband, Randy. Pfahler was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2006 along with her long-time doubles partner, Mary Lyons. The duo won 17 National Championships between 1984 and 2005.
Racquetball and Swimming begin competition on Friday afternoon. All nine sports will compete on Saturday and the action wraps up on Sunday with champions being crowned in Lacrosse and Ultimate. Archery will accept on-site registration on Saturday and Sunday at the Gator Bowmen Range and the Easton Newberry Sports Complex. Canoe/Kayak will accept on-site registration on Saturday at Poe Springs Park in High Springs for Sprint Races only.
Online registration is still available for Judo, Karate, Taekwondo and Wrestling in the Polk County Festival, being held June 18-19, at www.flasports.com <http://www.flasports.com> . The Polk Festival hosts Fencing, Judo, Karate, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling.
The Sunshine State Games Inline Hockey and Water Polo Championships will be held in Fort Myers and Orlando, respectively the weekend of June 17-19. For more information about those competitions, please visit www.flasports.com <http://www.flasports.com> .
Florida’s Sunshine State Games are presented annually by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida. The Alachua County Festival is being presented in conjunction with the Gainesville Sports Commission.
Contact: Nick Gandy (850) 488-1422 or ngandy@flasports.com
