Middle school lacrosse gets off ground
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
Tpicked up by the younger set, who are coming out in good numbers for a new middle school program that got underway last week.

The interest is such that both a boys and girls team will be fielded this spring, with 23 girls signing on to play and 18 boys joining the action so far. While the interest of the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders is strong, it can't match the fervor of the coaches, not yet anyway.

"We're three very enthusiastic coaches," Heather Williams said of herself and cohorts Meredith O'Brien and Kate Lyons. Williams was the girls' varsity coach last year and took the team to its first state tournament appearance; O'Brien played lacrosse at Thayer and Maryland, and Lyons played at both Emory and Dickinson colleges. The three combine to form an impressive coaching lineup. Their plan is to give students a foundation in the sport, with a strong emphasis on skills and technique, before they enter high school.

"We're hoping to build on the success of the high school program," said Williams, whose coaching resume includes a state championship at Hingham High School. As Lyons pointed out, "Right now when the kids come onto the high school team, they don't know the skills because they haven't played before." She noted that she was introduced to lacrosse at an early age in her home state of Rhode Island, and was playing at an organized level by the fourth grade. As with youth soccer programs and Little League baseball, the coaches hope this new program will engender the same kind of interest in lacrosse.

A former standout goalie for the Whalers, boys' coach Jamie McCoy also hopes to impart some of what he's learned over the years. "I wish I had a program like this when I was growing up," said the 2000 Nantucket High School graduate, who was a freshman on the first Nantucket lacrosse team. Jay Egan is assisting McCoy with the coaching duties.

Both teams are affiliated with the Mass. Bay Youth Lacrosse League and are not under the auspices of the public schools. Students from both the Cyrus Peirce School and Nantucket New School are taking part. At the moment, students pay-to-play, but future fundraisers are planned to help offset costs.

All coaches give credit to Kevin Martin Sr. - who has one son, Kevin, coaching the high school junior varsity team, another, Will, playing on the varsity squad, and whose daughter, Ashley, is captain of the varsity girls' team - for getting the middle school program off the ground and providing the necessary support. Meredith O'Brien's father also gave funds to purchase goalie equipment and protective eye goggles.

Both teams will host visiting squads and travel to off-island games. The boys' season starts April 1 at the Delta Fields, with the girls' playing their initial game away on April 15. The girls' first home game is scheduled for April 22, with the

site to be determined. I