While most high school teams practice with their team at their school, the boys lacrosse team can be found grinding out practices weekly at Northeast Middle school.
Unlike the girls team, the boys bring forth a varsity squad called Parkway Fusion, with a combination of players from Central and Parkway North. Although the situation is unique, junior Brendan Hynes likes the position that the team is in this year.
“It’s super competitive because we’re both Parkway schools, but when it’s game time we come together as a team and try to win,” Hynes said.
Being the school’s only club sport besides hockey, which didn’t play this year, players on the team agree that lacrosse doesn’t get the recognition it deserves around the school.
“I don’t think lacrosse gets enough respect, because it’s not a school sponsored sport,” sophomore Noah Reingold said. “We have to practice at Northeast Middle School, which is not as convenient as practicing at Central.”
This is the third season that the North and Central programs have been combined. In the first two seasons, Fusion’s record has been 14-14. Usually, only parents go to the team’s games.
“We don’t get a lot of people at our games because not a lot of people know about lacrosse and it isn’t sponsored by the school,” Fagin said.
Despite the low attendance this season, Central brings forth a team with a lot of young players, led by senior captains Sanjay Seetharaman from Central and James Irwin from North.
“Sanjay is our top defenseman and a great leader,” junior Aaron Wiesman said. “He excels at knocking players on their back sides.”
Lacrosse has only two conferences, Missouri Division 1 and Missouri Division 2. Winners of the Division 2 title last year, Rockwood Summit made the jump to Division 1 to compete with teams such as CBC, DeSmet, and last years Division 1 champions, SLUH. This could leave the door wide open in Missouri Division 2.
“We hope to make the playoffs this year,” Hynes said. “We have a lot of young players, but I think we can do it.”
Fusion lost their first two games of the season, April 1 at Clayton 6-3 and April 4 to Marquette 13-3. Despite this, they look to finish the season strong and have a larger fan turnout.
“Lacrosse is an exciting, fast paced game that keeps you on the edge of your seat,” Hynes said. “If you’ve never seen a game, you should come out and support us.”
