St. Ed’s was well represented at the Sunshine State Lacrosse Games Fall Classic tournament hosted by the Indian River Lacrosse Association (IRLAX) over the weekend of Nov. 14-15.
The event drew 37 boys club teams from across the state of Florida to South County Park.
“An estimated 2,000 people visited the fields over the course of the weekend tournament.” IRLAX Board Member Kathy Savage revealed. “People went out of their way to tell us how much they enjoyed the tournament, our fields and our hospitality.
Vero Beach has been the epicenter for the explosive growth of lacrosse across the state. Vero Beach High and St. Edward’s School have fueled that movement over the past 20 years, while club teams have given the sport a year-round presence and improved the quality of play by providing facilities, equipment and training for young aspirants.
The Sunshine State Games gave lacrosse athletes from VBHS, St. Ed’s and several other area schools for a chance to showcase their talents on club teams.
The Boys High School A Team Maverick claimed the championship with a tight 3-2 win over the Florida Generals on Sunday afternoon. Two Pirate players elaborated on the sport they love and what this particular event meant to them.
“Ever since I moved to Vero in the 8th grade, lacrosse has really become a priority for me and I am very happy and thankful to be able to play at the next level next year at Berry College in Rome, Georgia,” Kevin Murphy said. “During the club season it doesn’t matter whether you play at St. Edwards or Vero Beach High School. We have been playing together for years and it’s not a rivalry in the slightest – it’s a family.”
Fellow senior and lacrosse teammate Josh Hurwitz expanded on Murphy’s comments: “For starters, the Sunshine State tournament was most likely the final club tournament I will play in, so clearly there was serious motivation to do well and go out on a high note.
“Playing in front of the community as a combined high school team only added to the desire to do well. On the topic of a combined high school team, Team Maverick has been an incredible opportunity for the past couple of years. I get to play with my teammates who do not go to my school, and all of us improve as a result. We have also all become great friends over all the years we played and traveled together. Personally, I started playing with this group of guys in 8th grade.
“Hosting the Sunshine State Games was a great honor for lacrosse in Vero Beach. When people typically think of boys lacrosse programs in Florida, either South Florida or the Orlando area comes to mind, but we would like to add Vero Beach to that conversation.
“Hosting this major tournament will help put Vero Beach on the boys lacrosse map. I have been fortunate to grow up in a place with top coaches and high level lacrosse, and over the past few years the rest of the state has started to recognize that.”
The Boys Middle School Team Maverick helped that process along by winning the select bracket title over Xtreme 13 by the score of 6-3. That gave the Vero community two winners from the four teams entered.
