Avon Grove Wildcats Lacrosse: History

2002 - Year 1:     Total enrollment in Year 1 was approx. 30-40 boys.

Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse was started in the Spring of 2002 under the AGRA Youth Sports organization.  The idea for this youth lacrosse program was conceived by Eric Jackson.  Eric is a teacher at Fred S. Engle Middle School, the current head coach of the boys lacrosse team at Avon Grove High School, and a former All-American lacrosse player at West Chester University.

Coach Jackson also started a "Club" team at Avon Grove High School in 2001, and immediately recognized a need to start a program for younger players.  The purpose of the youth program is to teach the game of lacrosse to boys from age five to fourteen years of age, with a vision for it to be a first class "feeder" program for the Avon Grove High School Team.

The first year of the youth program was an "intramural" program designed to introduce the basic skills of lacrosse.  Most of the first year participants had little or no previous lacrosse experience.  Due to the general lack of experience, and the fact that we did not belong to an official youth lacrosse league, we did not play in any organized league games during this first year.

On October 11, 2002, Coach Jackson announced that Joe Vetrone would help him run the Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program beginning in the Spring of 2003.  Joe, a West Grove resident, business owner, and former lacrosse player, had previous experience coaching youth lacrosse in the Unionville Recreation Association, Springfield Athletic Assoc. and Springfield High School.

On October 14, 2002, Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse was officially accepted into the Chester County Lacrosse Association (CCLA).  This affiliation would enable our teams to start playing in competitive lacrosse games against other youth teams in Chester County beginning in the spring of 2003.  Joe Vetrone assumed the role of Youth Lacrosse Program Director at this time, while Coach Jackson decided to direct all of his time and energy towards establishing the high school program.


2003 - Year 2:     Total enrollment = 85 boys

Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program fielded 3 teams (U-15B, U-13C, and U-11) as well as 1 intramural team for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade (called the Rookies).  This was the first season that the Avon Grove youth lacrosse teams competed in official games as part of the Chester County Lacrosse Association.
 

2004 - Year 3:     Total enrollment = 110 boys

Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program expanded to include 4 travel teams (U-15B,  U-13B, U-13C, and U-11) and 1 intramural team (Rookies) for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade boys.

The U-15B Team (coached by Joe Vetrone) had a great season and ended up winning the CCLA Championship for their age level/division.  The team holds the honor of being the first Avon Grove youth lacrosse team to win a championship in the CCLA.  This was a remarkable accomplishment for our young athletes and for our new program.

The U-13B Team (coached by Dave Brodie and Tim Golder) also had an outstanding season and ended up reaching the Quarter Finals of the CCLA Playoffs for their age level/division.  Unfortunately, they lost to a very strong and more experienced Conestoga Team.


2005 - Year 4:     Total enrollment = 160 boys

Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program expanded to include 5 travel teams (U-15A, U-15B, U-13B, U-13C, and U-11).  Due to a significant increase in enrollment at the Rookie level, a decision was made to split the squad it into two distinct teams (U-9 and Rookies).

The U-13B Team (coached by David Hammond, John Hornby, and Chris Costanzi) ended up finishing the regular season with a perfect record (12-0).  The team went on to beat Collegeville in the CCLA Semi-Finals, then beat Conestoga 3 in the Quarter Finals, and finally, they beat a very tough Conestoga 1 team in the Championship game to claim the CCLA Championship for their age level/division.  The team holds the honor of becoming the first Avon Grove youth lacrosse team to go "undefeated" during the season (15-0).


2006 - Year 5:     Total enrollment = 165 boys

Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program expanded to include 7 teams (U-15A, U-15B, U-13B, two U-11 teams, one U-9 and one U-7 team).  Three of our teams qualified for the first round of CCLA Playoffs.  Unfortunately, Avon Grove U-15A lost to Lower Macungie, Avon Grove U-15B lost to Phoenixville, and Avon Grove U-13B lost to Conestoga 2. 


2007 - Year 6:     Total enrollment = 171 boys

The U-13B Team (coached by Jim Peck and Barry Smith) beat a very tough Conestoga team in the Championship game to claim the CCLA Championship for their age level/division.

On July 19, 2007 the leadership of the Avon Grove Boys Lacrosse program officially announced that the program would separate and leave AGRA to join forces with the very successful Avon Grove Wildcats organization (football and cheerleading).  Our first annual Golf Tournament , and the introduction of Winter Indoor skill sessions for all age levels.

2008 - Year 7:     Total enrollment = 175

The U13A Team andB teams both reached the playoffs but were defeated.  The Wildcat program successfully launches first year operations and absorbs all start up costs while at the same time introduces many Avon Grove "firsts".   Online registration, Casey Powell comes to AGHS for the world famous "Powell Hour" and free clinic, all games and practices moved to AGHS turf, the first Community Day in which all youth teams and H.S. teams play at home in a festival atmosphere, a pre-season equipment swap to offset cost of equipment, the development of an age-appropriate curriculum to address the needs of beginners and advanced players, the first ever tournament traveling team representing Avon Grove, launching of the new "interactive" lacrosse community website

2009 - Year 8:     Total enrollment = TBD


2010 - Year 9:     Total enrollment = TBD


2011 - Year 10:     Total enrollment = TBD