LITTLE ROCK — Lacrosse was invented by Native Americans during the 15th century, and six centuries later, it has found its way onto an Arkansas collegiate campus as a sanctioned sport.
Beginning in the spring, Hendrix College will field the first varsity lacrosse team in the state, but work is under way to raise awareness of the sport.Earlier this month, the members of the Hendrix lacrosse team, led by head coach Jeremy Lichtig, played host to club teams of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Harding University at Searcy.
While the two universities have had club teams for some time, Hendrix is the first to have an NCAAsanctioned team. Club teams pay for their own equipment and field fees.
But why lacrosse, and why now?
"It's just caught on across the United States," Lichtig said. "It's growing wherever anyone gives it a chance. Hendrix was the first school to take a chance with varsity, and it just fits in with the school itself."
Hendrix has undergone a major renovation toits athletic program, including a new $23 million Wellness and Athletics Center that serves as the home gym for basketball and volleyball. The Wellness and Athletics Center also houses the coaches' offices, with Lichtig's overlooking the field his team will begin play on in February. The team will play on the same field as the field hockey team, which is a women's sport.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, lacrosse can seem overwhelming at first with its speed. Lichtig described the sport as a combination of basketball and soccer, with 20 players on the field at one time. It is played using a stick with a net attached to the end, used to pass and catch a hard rubber ball.
Some of the shots can reach speeds of 140 mph, Lichtig said.
Some of Lichtig's players have big plans for lacrosse in Arkansas. Freshman Joshua Recobs came from New Jersey, a hotbed for lacrosse, to be a part of a burgeoning program.
"I love the sport to death," Recobs said. "We want to spread lacrosse to Arkansas and the rest of the South."
The sport is already popular in the northeastern sections of the country, as well as California and Texas. Recobs hopes to start lacrosse camps for children in Arkansas to try to jump start the sport and build the program at Hendrix.
Getting lacrosse started at an early age is a goal of Lichtig's, too, who only has two players from Arkansas on his team. But he knows in order to grow the sport in the state, he must be successful on the field.
In the first year, Hendrix will be an independent in Division III lacrosse. Two other teams in Hendrix's conference have lacrosse teams and another will start next year, and once a fifth one begins play, they will all play under the umbrella of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Unlike the Division I University of Arkansas, or the Division II Harding University, Hendrix does not give scholarships for athletics, so all of its athletes must come from the student body. With a lack of lacrosse in the state to build a base on, Lichtig knows he will have to persuade a lot of out-of-state students to come to Hendrix, then persuade them to play lacrosse.
"There is a lot of talent across the United States," Lichtig said. "The main recruiting area is the northeast."
The reputation of the school, along with an opportunity to play lacrosse, was too much temptation for some members of the team. Freshman Tim Wojcik, who hails from Houston, did not think about playing collegiate lacrosse until the opportunity at Hendrix presented itself, but that was not the deciding factor.
"The academics of the school are a step above the other schools I was looking at," Wojcik said. "When I had the option [of playing lacrosse], I went for it."
Another Houston native, William Long, left his previousschool to come be a part of what Lichtig is building in Conway.
With his team in place, Lichtig is expecting big things, but he knows it takes time to build a program.
"By the time the guys are seniors, we'll be competitive," Lichtig said. "I don't see it taking a terribly long time.
"I'm not expecting us to be No. 1, but we'll be competitive because the kids' attitudes are great and it will only grow and get better."
While no high schools have stepped up to start playing lacrosse, Lichtig said approximately 30-40 schools have shown interest. The only delay may be that they are looking to Hendrix to see what it is all about. One of Hendrix's volunteer assistant coaches, A.J. Spiridigliozzi, is a part of the faculty at Conway High School.
With interest growing in the state for lacrosse, Lichtig said the athletic director's office has fielded several calls wondering when the lacrosse season is going to begin. And while there are still a few months before the season starts, Lichtig and his group treated fans to a sneak peak earlier this month with their games against the in-state club teams.
But there was another purpose to the games. The first lacrosse shirts were available for sale for $10 each, with the money going to America Supporting Americans, a program that provides the opportunity for lacrosse teams to support troops abroad through direct interaction.
The Hendrix team's effort will benefit the 632nd Movement Control Team, based in Fort Campbell, Tenn. During the exhibition, $600 was raised. It could have been more, but the team sold out of shirts quickly. The money will go to buy comfort supplies needed by the military team members, including books, snacks, magazines, games and a variety of other items commonly requested by troops serving abroad.
It was Lichtig that brought the concept to Hendrix. For the last six summers, he has worked at lacrosse camps at the U.S. Naval Academy.
"The guards there are Marines that just got back from Iraq," Lichtig said. "I got a chance to ask them what they wanted while they were over there."
The answer he was given was books, magazines and other material that Hendrix College is now working to get to the 632nd.
"Lacrosse and armed forces have always been close together, teams form around Army bases," Lichtig said. "Lacrosse teams across the country adopted troops, and we're trying to do our part."
The lacrosse team will have fundraisers throughout the year to support the 632nd, as well as raise awareness about lacrosse in Arkansas.
The Hendrix Warriors won7-6 against Harding in overtime, and lost 6-5 to University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in overtime, too.
Lichtig is expecting a large crowd to come to the games out of curiosity, but he expects the appeal of the sport to hook them into coming back for more games. The players believes the sport will appeal to the masses and will develop a great following, because "it's the fastest sport on two feet," Wojcik said.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 149, 155 on 10/28/2007