VYPE's 2013 Lacrosse Preview -- Out of the Box

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LACROSSE 2013 PREVIEW

LAX Is OUTSIDE THE BOX

By Matt Malatesta

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A game originally founded by the Native Americans in Canada, the sport of lacrosse has only taken a couple hundred years to hit the mainstream in the Greater Houston-area. Now that lacrosse's popularity has rapidly grown in the Bayou City, it doesn't appear to be going away.

While lacrosse is not a UIL sanctioned sport, it has its own governing body in the THSLL, and crowns state champions like every other high school sport. However, teams are often a cluster of athletes from different high schools in an area. For instance, The Woodlands team has student-athletes from College Park, The Woodlands Christian Academy and the home high school. Same goes for Cy-Fair, Kingwood and Katy.

It begs the question, however, why is it becoming so popular?

Several reasons to be honest. It was once a breeding ground for baseball players, who likely didn't make their high school team or got bored of the National Past Time. The hand-eye component appeals to baseball players and the sports is played at light-speed compared to that on the diamond.

However, there has been a tremendous shift lately as football players have taken to the sport. There is an element of contact and the cross-training keeps them in shape for the upcoming spring football season.

While Houston is still cutting its teeth in sport, local teams and athletes are trying to knock of Dallas as the state's top lacrosse town. Dallas dominates at the state level, usually sending 3-4 teams to the sport's Final Four. Houston Christian broke into the final four last year, but was knocked out in the semis.

Same goes for recruiting. Traditional college lacrosse powers are still skeptical in taking Houston-area players, but the trend is changing as the critical mass of players have ballooned over the years.

Houston's Top Squads

Division I Boys Programs

Houston Christian

The Woodlands

St. John's School

Kinkaid

Kingwood

Episcopal

Division II Boys

Katy

Cy-Fair