LOVELAND, OHIO NEWS – Lacrosse Club donates $20K for Tiger Turf

LOVELAND, OHIO NEWS – The Loveland Lacrosse Club was founded only five years ago, and began with one Middle School level and one 5/6 grade level youth boys teams.  The total included approximately 36 kids. “Today, we are recognized as an official sport at the High School Level, fielding Varsity Boys and Girls as well as Junior Varsity Girls and Boys teams,” said Vice-President Patty Dowd. They also field Middle School Boys and Girls, and Youth Boys, 5/6 grade and 3/4 grade teams. “Our roster now boasts approximately 250 kids.” All members of the Loveland Lacrosse Club, coaches and players, are also members of a national organization, USLacrosse.

Dowd said that to support the growth of the club and to promote the game of lacrosse, they chose to donate the bulk of their fundraising to the Loveland Athletic Booster Club in its efforts to attain a turf playing field at Loveland High School. “The donation was in the name of all future Loveland Athletes,”

On March 3, Judy Lund, President, and Dowd, presented the Athletic Booster Club President, Jeff Williams, with a check for $20,000.00.

Current Loveland Lacrosse Board Members include: Treasurer Marc Verhoef, Secretary Sue McCormack, Board Members at Large: Beth Jenkins, Dave Haddon, Kippy Jameson, Stacy Morton, Diane Amon, Directors: Mike Werner, High School Boys, Art Jarvis, High School and MS Girls, Mike Cotsonas: MS and Youth Boys, Jan Pzrezdziecki.

Dowd said that one of the biggest plights  for local lacrosse is the search for playing fields. "A turf field at the high school could be used 24/7 to field all kinds of practices and games for our greatest resource, our children. In that spirit, it was an easy choice for lacrosse to support this great undertaking by the Loveland Athletic Boosters."

"This year marks a true milestone in our development, as the Board of Education and the Athletic Committee of the Loveland School District both gave their permission for lacrosse to become a high school sport. One thing different, however, is that we, the Loveland Lacrosse Club, must fund all of our own expenses."

A group of community volunteers are coordinating an effort to raise non-school funds to provide turf to the Loveland High School stadium. The $500,00.00 Tiger Turf campaign will replace the playing field with third generation field turf installed for the Fall 2008 football and soccer season. One of the goals of the campaign is to save the school district the money required in maintaining current grass fields.

Artificial turf would also increases field usage by allowing multiple sports, fundraisers and community events to take place without harming the playing surface. No school funds will go to the cost of buying and installing the new playing surface.

A $25,000.00 check was recently presented to the Loveland Athletic Boosters to be put toward the turf field. The check was presented by Jeff Scheeler, Treasurer of the Loveland Youth Football (LYF) organization. Read this related story.