LACROSSE
Who: Boys and girls.
What: Inclusion to OHSAA.
When: Spring of 2017.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Thursday unanimously approved boys and girls lacrosse as an “emerging” sport that will hold its first state tournaments in the spring of 2017.
The board of directors voted 8-0 on a recommendation by a subcommittee to make lacrosse the 26th sport sponsored by the OHSAA.
“Lacrosse is definitely growing in our state at both the youth and high school levels and it’s exciting when schools want their sport to be part of our association,” OHSAA Commissioner Dr. Dan Ross said in a release.
Lacrosse is the first sport to be labeled as “emerging.” This is a new category that allows the OHSAA to recognize a sport that doesn’t meet the required number of participating schools. This past school year there were 122 boys and 118 girls lacrosse programs and an additional 18 boys club teams throughout the state. The norm for OHSAA approval is 150 teams.
The Ohio High School Lacrosse Association and the Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association have held state tournaments with separate divisions since 2000. The OHSAA did not address whether the lacrosse state tournaments would be split into divisions. Both associations already abide by OHSAA bylaws and membership rules.
Joining the OHSAA was a goal for the lacrosse associations.
“I’m glad all of our efforts have paid off,” said Paul Balcerzak, commissioner of both the OHSLA and OSLA. “Our associations are committed to making the transition to the OHSAA as smooth as possible and we can’t wait to get started.”
Area schools that have boys lacrosse programs are Alter, Centerville, Fairfield, Fenwick, Lakota East and West, Miamisburg, Oakwood and Springboro. Area girls teams are Beavercreek, Centerville, Chaminade Julienne, Fenwick, Lakota East and West, Lebanon, Miami Valley, Miamisburg, Northridge, Oakwood, Springboro and Talawanda.
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