Students' senior project begets lacrosse league

Two Carson High School seniors are venturing where few others in Northern Nevada have gone before. They are starting a lacrosse league for students ages 13-18.

"The closest league to Carson City is in Northern California," said 18-year-old Bud Kop. "We're staring this on our own."

Bud and Ryan Dwyer, 17, are planning the Carson City Lacrosse League for their senior projects. Typically, senior projects are individually completed, but because Bud is handling the coaching aspect and Ryan is handling the financial part, their project was OK'd. They will each do separate presentations for their senior projects in May.

"I know lacrosse is growing pretty rapidly in California," Bud said. "I think in Nevada there might not be enough exposure to it."

At one point, the two friends played lacrosse with others on Thursday evenings in empty parking lots - until they got kicked off.

"They told us they didn't want us playing anymore," Ryan said. "We were probably playing (at one lot) for about three months or so."

Registration for the league, which accepts both boys and girls, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park. The $50 registration fee covers the cost of insurance provided by U.S. Lacrosse, plus the cost of some of the equipment, such as nets and balls.

Lacrosse players will need to purchase much of their own gear, including a metal lacrosse stick, elbow pads and hockey-type gloves or lacrosse gloves. Items can be purchased at Play It Again Sports, Big Five or Gart Sports.

"Lacrosse is close to hockey, but instead of having a puck on the ground you use a lacrosse stick with a net pouch to throw the ball," Bud said.

Registration is also scheduled from noon-5 p.m. April 1 at the pavilion with a lacrosse clinic scheduled from 2-5 p.m.

Lacrosse games will be played at the pavilion, but the version of lacrosse to be played is called box lacrosse, which is done in a smaller arena and with less contact. About 10 players will be on a team with five to six players on the court at a time.

Play is expected to start in early April and should continue for a period of six weeks into mid-May. If enough girls sign up, the boys will develop a separate league.

"It's a really interesting sport," Ryan said. "It's an exciting game. It's pretty fast-paced."

Ryan and Bud started a lacrosse club at Carson High School last year, but the club ended after their advisor left. For information on the league, call Ryan at 691-7542 or Bud at 720-9332.

• Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

If you go

WHAT: Lacrosse League registration

WHEN: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. April 1

WHERE: The Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park

COST: $50

CALL: Ryan Dwyer at 691-7542 or Bud Kop at 720-9332

Carson High seeks volunteers to judge senior projects

Carson High School is asking community members to consider serving on a panel for the senior project presentations, on May 11 and 12. There will be optional training sessions on May 2, 4, and 6. The deadline to sign up is Friday. Interested parties can call Darlene Nevin at 283-1655.