Players, alumni compete in lacrosse game

Vinny Santucci fires a shot at the men's lacrosse alumni scrimmage Saturday. The team meets three times a week at Shenk Sports Complex.

Photo by Mike Gunnoe

Vinny Santucci fires a shot at the men's lacrosse alumni scrimmage Saturday. The team meets three times a week at Shenk Sports Complex.

By Jordan Williams

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Football wasn’t the only alumni attraction during homecoming weekend. The club men’s lacrosse alumni game Sunday brought current players and past team members together for competition and reunion.

The club team bested the alumni team with a score of 9-4. Although the event isn’t part of regular competition, it is listed as a game on the club team’s schedule online and some club members view it as an informal way to test their competitive mettle.

“It’s nice to get some real play and test our ability,” George Ressler, St. Louis, Mo. senior, said.

Ressler organized the alumni game this year by contacting as many former club members through e-mail as possible. This yearly gathering functions as both a practice scrimmage for undergraduate club members and a reunion with those who have graduated and moved on. Some alumni who attended this year’s game graduated as far back as 1989 and traveled from as far as California and Oregon to return to Kansas. One club member put it in simple terms.

“It’s great to have a reunion and see all the older guys,” Nathan Jones, Houston, Texas junior, said.

The annual alumni gathering also presents an opportunity to call together the booster club. Ressler oversees the booster club, which aims to help lessen team member dues by encouraging alumni, family and friends to donate their time and money.

After the game is complete, players and alumni meet to catch up and exchange stories. This year’s meeting place was Johnny’s Tavern. The friendly spirit between alumni and current students could also be seen and heard during the game. Laughter and nickname calling were audible from the sidelines. At one point a club member fist-bumped one of the referees as he passed him. The three referees themselves are club alumni, but mainly were there to call out obvious infractions.

As the beginning of the regular season approaches, coach Jay Vaglio is looking to the future with optimism.

“We have a good talent level this season because we have six experienced seniors versus only one senior last year,” Vaglio said.

This increased number of seniors allows the coaching staff to spend more time on skill and technique with younger club members. The coaching staff hopes this will translate to a good showing at the three-team tournament held in Lawrence the weekend of Oct. 24 against Rockhurst and Arkansas.

— Edited by Abby Olcese

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