Every high school athletic program no matter what the sport understands that the health of the program depends on creating a culture that student athletes want to be a part of, and it starts at fostering that at an early age.
This is exactly what Nease boys lacrosse head coach Max Gurowski has sought to accomplish by hosting his annual lacrosse summer camp at Nease High School, which this year was held July 17-20.
“We’re just trying to do our part to help teach the fundamentals and certain techniques to give back to the game that has given us so much in return over the years,” Gurowksi said.
This year’s camp included a host of children from elementary to middle school ages.
The varying of ages presented an array of skill levels from those just beginning with the sport to those that have been playing it for years now.
Although balancing all the different levels can be an interesting challenge at times, Gurowski enjoys seeing the fascination with the game in each child’s eyes.
“It’s very interesting, because regardless of how long you’ve been playing, there is always something or someway that you can get better and learn, so camps like tis are always so valuable for all those involved,” Gurowski said.
One of the aspects of the camp that he finds so great is the fact that members of the current high school squad were out helping serve as coaches during the camp.
“I love coach Max, and he is definitely the one that brings all this together,” Nease senior Owen Long said.
According to Gurowski, he knows how much of an impact that can have on younger players because he harkens back to when he was a child growing up and how he looked up to the older players with such reverence.
“Having them out here is a big deal, because when you’re a young kid, you view those high school guys as heroes and in a position where you dream of being one day,” Gurowski said.
Long takes pride in being one the younger players can look up to, and he could not wait to come out and be a coach and mentor while continuing to strengthen the relationships with what is the future of the Panthers’ lacrosse program for years to come.
“It’s just like a big family, so coming out here is just a way to make new younger brothers in a way,” Long said. “I know that it means a lot to the younger kids out here, because I know I was close to my two older brothers and they went to college, so now I’ve got these kids that I see as younger brothers.”
According to Long, popular questions the campers have had have really centered around stick work and regarding cradling techniques when carrying the ball.
“I’ve just been trying to teach them the different ways to go about it and how to keep moving their feet so that they don’t trip up,” Long said.
Long encouraged children or parents interested in giving lacrosse a try to do so, because he believes there is something that can be gained from the game for anyone who plays it.
“This sport is my life and I love it,” Long said. “You’ll never be bored; I can promise you that.”
