alllacrossemichigan

Down the Alley
July 2024

It’s great to be back. After a long hiatus, all lacrosse michigan will resume its coverage of this great game. You see, I retired back in June. After 7 full seasons as a teacher, and 40 years of working for a living, it was time to kick back and relax. Now I can devote more time to taking photographs and entertain you all with some witty prose. It may not come on a Monday (Monday Morning Mumbo) – the articles may hit on a Wednesday, or Friday or whenever - hence the new title. At any rate, I’m back and I’m full of opinions and information!

A New Landscape
It is good to see some new blood making news in high school lacrosse. For many years, the teams that had success were Catholic Central, Brother Rice and Hartland. They were staples in the Division I semi-finals. They still are, for sure, but it’s nice to see programs like Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rockford, and Grandville playing in important games.

Over in D II, the usual suspects seem to be ALWAYS there. Detroit Country Day, Forest Hills Central, East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills East, so it’s great that schools like Lowell and Grand Rapids Catholic Central pushed their way into the late rounds – Lowell in ’23 and GRCC in ’22 and ’23.

The game is growing, to be sure, it seems to have bounced back a bit from the COVID plandemic, and I pray that it continues to do so.

Concordia Says Adios
This is difficult to write, for sure. I had and still have a personal stake in the lacrosse programs at Concordia Ann Arbor. My daughter played there, and I’ve made a number of friends and very strong acquaintances through the years. But, due to some financial mismanagement and a weak attempt to try to stay open, the athletic department will shut down after the 2025 school year. That means that a highly successful lacrosse program is being shut down. The women won a WHAC title back in 2021 and the men’s program has been outstanding the last few years, winning WHAC titles in 2022 and 2023, earning bids to the NAIA National Championship tournament. My heart goes out to the coaching staffs and players who gave their all to make the programs the best they can be. Hopefully, the final seasons will be successful, and everyone plays their best – for the game.

6x6 Goalie Camp Celebrates its 8th Season
The best lacrosse camp going, the 6x6 Goalie Summer Camp will celebrate its eighth season this July at Hope College. The camp is sold out and will feature twenty-eight staff members, the largest in its history. My daughter started there as a student and has been on the staff for the last few years and it’s overwhelming to see the growth that she has made as a player and teacher. And for the other students who have attended and learned over the years, they have made incredible strides as well. So many goalies are advancing to the next level and becoming impact players in college. And, more importantly, the students are becoming aware of the importance of mental health, communication, developing a friend base and being resources for those who are struggling. We see too many athletes, in all sports, who are becoming pressured, being treated negatively and unfortunately, taking their own lives. 6x6 and Goalies Matter are working to break the stigma of mental health and trying to prevent these tragedies. Later this month, I will have plenty of pictures to share on alm – stay tuned.

Always good to see this guy! Brian Effinger!

GOALIE CAMP REGISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Early Bird Registration opens tomorrow March 1st. In order to take advantage of this special pricing for the 2022 Goalie Camp you will need the special code that will be located on social media and the 6x6 website.

Stay tuned to social media and check into the website tomorrow when the code will be released.


Please share this information with fellow goalies, friends, parents, and coaches. We were 6 away from selling out last year, lets sell out this year and make this another camp to remember.


Link in bio for website.

Highlights from Friday's (2/25/2022) game between Concordia (Ann Arbor) and Lewis.

🚨New Program Alert!🚨

We are so excited to announce that Detroit Edison Public School Academy (DEPSA) is launching a high school boys and girls lacrosse program for the 2022 spring season! They are the first charter school to start a high school lacrosse program in the city of Detroit - and we are so excited to help them get off the ground. We are asking for your help to make this program possible!

We are currently fundraising to help cover the costs of purchasing equipment, uniforms, goals, and other program expenses.

Detroit United Lacrosse mission is to use the sport of lacrosse to unify the youth of Detroit’s neighborhoods by promoting character education, personal development and pathways to prosperity, instilling the values of the sport: respect, honor, courage, and integrity.

Facebook/Instagram pays all the processing fees for you, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofit.

Thank you in advance!

https://www.facebook.com/donate/1132121250976554/?fundraiser_source=external_url

Highlights from Michigan's Men's Lax win over Detroit today, 21-5. Michigan improves to 2-0 while UDM falls to 0-2.

2022 Camp Registration is seriously JUST around the corner.....
VIP Registration Period Feb 1-28
Early Bird Registration Period Mar. 1-31
Regular Registration period Apr. 1- July 3