Seals visit Pacific Beach Middle to spread the sport of lacrosse

The last time lacrosse was included or played in the Olympic Games was 1908 in London. Lacrosse has been featured as a demonstration sport since then at the 1928, 1932, and 1948 Olympics, but no official games were actually played for medals.

However, in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, lacrosse will make its return to the Olympic stage after an over 100-year hiatus.

3 lax — Eighth-grade students practicing their lacrosse skills are Kiyoka Burke, Victoria Barum, Sophia Johnson, Charlie Champion, and Louisa Petersen at the San Diego Seals’ clinic at the school. PBMS physical education teacher Ashley Prevo will be recognized as ‘Teacher of the Game’ at the San Diego Seals game at Pechanga Arena against the Philadelphia Wings at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.

To help generate excitement for the sport’s return and to help grow the sport, the San Diego Seals partnered with UC San Diego Health this past week to unveil the ELEVATE28 lacrosse program with a clinic at Pacific Beach Middle School.

“The goal is to double the participation in the sport nationwide by 2028,” said Brian Logue, director of communications for USA Lacrosse. “Southern California and San Diego have been an area of focus for us with the Olympics coming and the World Championships there last summer. We wanted to capitalize on that.”

ELEVATE28 is a collaboration of eight organizations representing lacrosse leaders in the United States. They include USA Lacrosse, World Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League, the Premier Lacrosse League, Lacrosse Athletes Unlimited, the Intercollegiate Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Associations, and J Tsai Sports.

To help teach the kids lacrosse, and help get them excited about the sport, the Seals organization recently sent a trio of players to Pacific Beach Middle School. Forward Jack Govett, goalie Chris Origlieri, and defenseman Zack Deaken helped showcase, teach, and answer questions about the sport of lacrosse to a group of about 75 middle school students.

Not only were students getting the opportunity to learn from the pros, but the Seals also donated lacrosse equipment such as sticks, nets, and balls to PBMS for the students to use.

“The opportunity that we get to grow the game, it’s big for the game, and it’s big for the Seals to get sticks in these kids’ hands and expose them to the game of lacrosse,” said Govett.

Along with the equipment, the Seals and USA Lacrosse also left coaching programs that Pacific Beach’s physical education teachers can use to continue teaching students for the years to come.

2 lax — Eighth-grade students Timothy Enyart, Quinn Killian, and Ethan Hetrick practice their shots-on-goal skills after instruction from San Diego Seals goalkeeper Chris Origlieri (not pictured). Physical education teacher Jen Henehan’s class met three members of the San Diego Seals professional lacrosse team at PB Middle School for an introduction to the sport. PHOTOS BY CYRIL REINICKE

PBMS is not the only program in San Diego County that the Seals will visit. The professional lacrosse team will visit 15 San Diego schools to advance the ELEVATE28 initiative.

“As a fan and a spectator, it’s great to pick up. It combines so many great qualities from other sports and throws it into one,” Logue said. “It has elements of basketball, soccer, and hockey. For kids who have played other sports, things translate quickly when they come to lacrosse. I think that’s why kids love it and why it can be more popular.”

For ELEVATE28 and the Seals, the goal is to expand lacrosse throughout Southern California as best they can.