$25,000 Kraft Award Giving Lacrosse Players and Youth a Place to Play in Wallaceburg

Future Site of the Wallaceburg Outdoor Lacrosse Facility

It’s been a roller coaster year for Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse, but lately, the organization has been experiencing more ups than downs. After Wallaceburg won a spot on the Kraft Celebration Tour including a $25,000 award which is pegged for an upgrade to Wallaceburg Lacrosse’s outdoor practice facility, the organization is hoping up is the only direction they’ll continue to go.

“Receiving this $25,000 was a great finale to our year,” said WMLA President Todd Shepley. “The exposure we’ve had because of this win is absolutely awesome for the game and the community as a whole. This certainly has breathed a renewed spirit back into the organization and our community.”

After generating several outstanding talents in recent years including Sean Pollock, Seth Griffith, Zach Herreweyers, and Emily VanDamme, Wallaceburg Lacrosse wants to keep that production line running, and with their Novice 1 team receiving Wallaceburg’s first ‘A’ rating provincially in more than two decades, it appears they have plenty of talent to work with. According to WMLA Vice President Mike Persyn, the outdoor lacrosse facility will go a long way to improving development,

“An upgrade to the outdoor lacrosse floor will be a key component in moving WMLA forward as we anticipate increased participation, and to develop higher fitness levels and overall skill. There are so few spaces where throwing a ball around is welcomed and we recognize the value of kids having this place for unstructured practice.”

Although the $25,000 won’t completely cover the renovations, it will get the ball rolling on the outdoor lacrosse practice facility.

According to National Lacrosse League player and Minnesota Swarm veteran Sean Pollock, who is also a Wallaceburg Lacrosse graduate, it’s not just the practices and skill development that sets Wallaceburg Lacrosse apart from other organizations,

“The first thing that stands out to me is passion,” said Pollock. “You have to have it to excel and that is something that seems to show when it comes to lacrosse in Wallaceburg.”

Originally developed as a First Nations sport, Wallaceburg Lacrosse still has strong connections to Walpole Island First Nations, which provides Wallaceburg with many talented athletes each year. Whether it be First Nations, or family, lacrosse is a game filled with traditions that are passed down through the generations,

“When I started playing lacrosse it was more of an outlet from hockey,” said Pollock who also played for the Wallaceburg Lakers Junior Hockey Club, but I think now it has become a tradition in Wallaceburg that goes down the family line. Plus the game is fun to play. Some other sports have lots of down time but lacrosse never does and that appeals to kids.”

Although the Kraft Celebration Tour is focused on Wallaceburg and strong organizations like Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse that provide youth with active opportunities, Wallaceburg continues to aim to spread their game to other communities in Chatham-Kent and beyond.

Athletes drive from across Chatham-Kent, Lambton County, and even Michigan to participate in Wallaceburg’s programs, including their new Field Lacrosse program which will launch this Fall.

For those who are new to the game, Wallaceburg Lacrosse will be holding demonstrations and other activities featuring the Toronto Rock on August 20^th when the Kraft Celebration Tour comes to Wallaceburg. The organization is hoping this will provide youth with an opportunity to pick up a lacrosse stick for the first time and experience the game.