June 9, 2010
Garber jamboree a success
by Staff Report/
The 19th annual Dick Garber Youth Jamboree drew more than 140 youth teams to UMass-Amherst in late April, raising more than $8,000 for Sports for Life, and supporting the UMass men’s program in the process.
For the first time, the event expanded to two days, although tournament organizer Jeff Coulson noted that the Sunday games were added on short notice and still drew well. Next year, when the event will be the first weekend of May, he expects the addition of the second day to allow the event to expand to over 200 teams.
The Garber Youth Jamboree – started in 1992 with just seven teams in attendance – is a unique event in part because it brings in such a diverse group of teams to a mid-season jamboree, rather than a summer-select club format. Teams came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and New York.
Connors wins 200th
Cathie Connors picked up her 200th win as the head girls lacrosse coach at Waynflete High School in Portland, Maine, in a May 3 victory over Freeport. The milestone surprised no one, but Connors’ age for reaching it certainly did.
Hired by the school in 1993 shortly after graduating Castleton State College as Cathie Keenan, it has been a remarkable run that appears to have many milestones left.
Waynflete has never endured a sub-.500 season during her reign; in fact, it has never fallen short of the semifinal round of the playoffs. Since the Maine Principals' Association began sanctioning girls’ lacrosse in 1998, Connors has led Waynflete to eight titles; she won the 1997 championship just days after the birth of her son, Joseph, and the 2003 title when she was six months pregnant with daughter Jessica. Connors’ benchmark win came in just 238 games (200-37-1), for a .842 winning percentage.
“I think the best thing I ever did was answer the ad,” Connors told “The Forecaster” newspaper, adding that she has hope of 300 wins and more state championships. “I thought I'd be there for a year. I love the school and the support of the community is unmatched and now I can’t see myself anywhere else.”
Connors was not the only coach to pick up a milestone win recently:
►Fairfield (Conn.) Prep boys lacrosse coach Chris Smalkais won his 300th career game with a mid-season win over Amity, raising his career record to 300-128 in his 23rd season. “The 300 wins simply means longevity,” Smalkais told the New Haven Register. “The wins are not about me, it’s about our program. It’s a tribute to all the players who played in our program.”
►At Conard High School in West Hartford, Conn., boys coach Bill Condon picked up his 250th coaching victory in an April 28 win over Northwest Catholic. Now in his 25th season as a coach, Condon spent six years at Holy Cross in Waterbury before joining Conard.
Cannons' Eck honored
Boston Cannons face-off man Chris Eck – who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2004 -- was honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Fairfield County (Conn.) at its 29th Annual Spring Gala on May 1.
The organization cited the work done by Eck and his family since Eck’s condition was discovered, as well as the way Eck has not allowed diabetes “to get in the way of his dream of being a professional lacrosse player.”
Eck, 25, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the fall of his freshman year at Colgate University. “Ever since my diagnosis in 2004 my entire family has worked closely with the JDRF to learn how we can help in their mission to find a cure,” Eck said.
BC club teams shine
Boston College’s club teams – both for men and women – were the beasts of the east during the 2010 season, becoming the only New England teams represented in their respective national tournaments.
BC’s men’s lacrosse club was the only New England team to earn a spot in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association national championship tournament in Denver, May 11-15. The Eagles lost their first two games of the season – against Florida State and Michigan State, both of which made the MCLA tournament – and then went undefeated the rest of the way, entering the championships as a 15 seed. BC lost to second-seed Colorado State 10-7 in the opening round of play.
The BC women’s club was seeded 13 at the Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz., drawing California-Davis in the first round on May 5. After dropping a 20-8 decision in the first round, BC defeated Texas and Georgia, before falling to Florida 15-8 in the consolation finals, good for 10th place at the tournament.
