Lacrosse in Monterey County gaining traction

When you think of high school sports, it’s probably football, basketball, baseball or maybe soccer. So how about lacrosse? Probably not so much.

Lacrosse at Salinas High School is only in it’s third year as a sports program. Starting a new sport wasn’t easy.

“I knew that the game had to do with sticks and all the balls but I didn’t know any of the rules or any of the positions,” said Salinas High Senior, Kaia Elmus.

“We were like part of the first ever team like to ever be created so in the beginning it was pretty bad but since then, we’ve come a long way,” said Salinas High Junior, Kelly Mcdermott.

From constantly getting blown out three years ago to becoming a dominant program today. All because kids are genuinely enjoying a sport that many know nothing about.

“I started playing my freshman year, it was a new sport, I stopped playing baseball and just picked up lacrosse and fell in love with it,” said Salinas High Junior, Ryland Gooder.

“I was able to be friends with all these girls, it wasn’t like the competition, it was competition, but we all were able to grow with it together,” said Salinas High Senior Mariah Reynolds.

But with mainstream sports dominating time and money around the country, getting players to join a new, somewhat unknown sport wasn’t easy.

“Word of mouth, friends, friends talk to friends, at first, you have some of the ones that are a little bit more adventurous, so unlike a lot of the other known sports like soccer and softball and everything else, the girls were literally introducing themselves to each other on the field,” said Girl’s Lacrosse Head Coach, Joe Utschig.

But what a difference three years can make!

“Now we’re starting to get more into the hardcore athletes that are going, ok i see the athleticism needed to play this sport and they’re pushing themselves and pushing each other,” said Boy’s Lacrosse Head Coach, Matt Eggleston.

The win totals for both teams may be going up, but it’s still hard to compete with sports like football and basketball.

“A lot of people don’t take it seriously…but we’re getting there,” said Reynolds.

“A little less popularity as like all around the other sports. Like you don’t get recognized as much,” said Gooder.

Ask lacrosse coaches and players to describe the sport. You’ll hear it’s a mix of field hockey, basketball, and soccer with sticks. For those involved at Salinas High, it’s a passion.

“Lacrosse is just a new and upcoming sport and you’re active in it 24/7,” said McDermott.

“It’s wonderful to have started this program and to continue to see it grow,” said Eggleston.

“I love it, i love this, I’m really enjoying the coaching,” said Utschig.

“No regrets!” exclaimed Reynolds and Elmus.