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West Valley City Journal

A lacrosse team at Cyprus is on the horizon

Nov 11, 2020 11:59AM ● By Greg James

Copper Hills High School is the nearest school to West Valley that currently fields a lacrosse team, but not for too much longer. (Photo courtesy of Copper Hills lacrosse)

By Greg James | [email protected] 

Lacrosse is now a sanctioned high school sport. Athletes must play on the school team where he or she attends, but if their school does not have a team it becomes a conundrum. 

Cyprus freshman Anton Goodick finds himself in this predicament. He has played youth lacrosse in the program at Copper Hills and lives in the Cyprus boundaries. He is short on options, he must either transfer to a school that has a team or not play. His family has chosen to start a team—a huge undertaking.

“If your high school does not have a team, you don’t play in the spring,” Anton’s father Robert Goodick said. “It is incredibly frustrating. There are kids that are going to get lost in the process. We looked into moving, but biting off another house payment so my kid can play a sport doesn’t make sense.”

An interested group of athletes and parents have begun the process of organizing a lacrosse program. They are holding unofficial practices and clinics. They have also started finding coaches. The next big hurdle is proving to the school’s administration that there is enough interest to begin forming a team.

“We have had unofficial practices. We have upwards of 15 kids or more coming regularly and the high school recently sent out a survey to gauge interest. My approach is we will start a youth league and find a coach. We have donations and grants, we are having a lacrosse day. It has got to start somewhere,”  Goodick said.

The first Cyprus High School network lacrosse day was held Oct. 23 at Matheson Junior High School (after press deadline). Boys and girls were invited to learn fundamentals and sign up to play in the upcoming season. 

Lacrosse was sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association and began to play last spring. Its season was cut short by the cancellation of all sports at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools in the Granite School District west of I-15 have not fielded teams. 

“We have not had the interest,” Taylorsville High School athletic director Guy Mackay said and administration from Hunter, Granger, and Kearns echoed the same sentiments.

The cost of forming a team could be a huge mountain to climb.

Boys and girls lacrosse games are played slightly differently, so the gear needed varies. Equipment for a girl to play could cost roughly $150, boys have more equipment and the cost is higher, about $300. The organization is trying to secure funding through opportunities that give more athletes a chance to play.

“We have applied for grants with US Lacrosse in the ‘first stick’ program. If the grant is awarded they would help provide setups. We could rent some equipment if needed. We also are trying to find fundraisers,” Goodick said.

Scott Taysom, an instructor at Matheson Junior High School, has agreed to coach the boys high school-aged team, they are still looking for a girls head coach. 

“We want to build a culture with high standards. Equipment is going to be a challenge. It is unfortunate that this sport is known as the rich man’s sport. The kids keep asking when they can play again. Lacrosse is really good for football players. It is fun to see a young athlete pick up a stick and have some fun,” Goodick said.

More information can be found on the team’s Facebook page, facebook.com/Cyprushighlacrosse.

“I want to support my kids. We got to start this team. It is a heavy lift, but this could be good for the community. The more opportunities there are for kids to find something, the better. The worst thing is a bored kid. Team sports and activities are probably saving some kid’s lives,” Goodick said.