We take great pleasure and pride in announcing the names of the girls who have qualified, in tryouts, for The Lower Atlantic S.C. Team. These young ladies will represent us at the Women's Division National Tournament over the Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore, Maryland.

Just ten years ago, at the turn of the century, the ink was still drying on the incorporation papers of the South Carolina Chapter of US Lacrosse. Hilton Head High School had just completed it's first year of boys and girls lacrosse as the only high school lacrosse teams in the state, and Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, in Columbia, was forming a boys team to compete in 2000. The Myrtle Beach Lacrosse Club ( later to become the Socasteee High School boys team) was incorporated in Dec 1999 and was to begin play in 2000.. The last ten years have flown by, as all time seems to do, and we find ourselves entering upon the first year of high school lacrosse competition as a sanctioned high school interscholastic sport.

Today, as we enter the 2010 year we feel proud of the fact that we have over 25 youth and recreation lacrosse programs; over 25 college and club lacrosse programs; 25 girls high school lacrosse teams and 31 boys high school lacrosse teams. Our chapter membership in US Lacrosse has gone from a couple of hundred to over 1100. There are over 700 men and women playing lacrosse in South Carolina's Colleges and there are over 2600 kids participating in the youth and high school programs. All in all we think that is pretty good growth in a state where lacrosse was virtually unknown 10 years ago and one in which we had to confront some negative attitudes. We feel it particularly interesting to note that more than 50 kids in the high school programs, in the last 5 years have received lacrosse scholarships to college and numerous others have received increased consideration because they have played lacrosse.

An old cliché goes: "Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow" Well, the little "Acorn" of a few people, in 2000, grew into a cadre of hundreds who volunteered with enthusiasm and dedication to provide the opportunity for kids of all ages to enjoy the exciting and fun filled game of lacrosse. Although we are grateful to all who have been part of our "crusade" we must give special thanks to all of our coaches, both past and present, who are on the front lines with our kids. They are the ones who are responsible for instilling the principles of good sportsmanship along with the X's and O's as all of us strive to "HONOR THE GAME".

We are excited to contemplate the next decade of growth as we continue to work to provide the lacrosse opportunity to all of the kids in South Carolina.

We are enjoying the excitement of the first lacrosse season of the SCHSL sponsoring the lacrosse high school state championship. Recently we came across a tee shirt that was on sale at our first SCLL Tournament in 2002. It jogged up some memories and caused us to pause and reflect on how far we have come in the last seven years. Those first years were "heady", to say the least, as we spread our gospel throughout the state. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of many our goal of sanctioning by the state came to fruition. There were four boys teams and four girls teams vying for the first state lacrosse championship in 2002. The boys SCLL Tournament was held in Myrtle Beach with Camden Military Academy; Hilton Head; Heathwood Hall; and Myrtle Beach Lacrosse Club ( see tee shirt). The girls SCLL Tournament was held in Columbia at Ridgeview High and included Hilton Head; Heathwood Hall; Myrtle Beach Lacrosse Club and Ridgeview. There is something very exciting about starting a "movement" and seeing it become successful. All of those who have been involved can take great pride in knowing that they have given the lacrosse opportunity to thousands of kids. It is very rewarding to note that there are 27 girls high school lacrosse teams and 31 boys high school lacrosse teams competing this 2010 season with hopes of winning the state lacrosse championship.

SCHSL - South Carolina High School League
SCACA - South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association
SCOA - S.C. Officials Association. ( an SCHSL organization to which ALL officials who ref SCHSL games MUST belong.)
SCLOA - South Carolina Lacrosse Officials Association
SCLCA - South Carolina Lacrosse Coaches Association
SCHLCA - South Carolina High School Lacrosse Coaches Association
SCILCA - South Carolina Independent Lacrosse Coaches Association (Has three Divisions: HS;MS; & Youth)
SCISA - South Carolina Independent Schools Association
SCILL - South Carolina Independent Lacrosse league

The rapid growth of lacrosse since our beginning in 2000 has been gratifying. In any new area, such as ours, there is always a need for officials. The sanctioning of lacrosse by the SCHSL now makes lacrosse an official interscholastic sport in South Carolina's Public Schools. This creates an even greater opportunity for men and women who would want to consider officiating our great game. The pay is commensurate with other sports and the opportunity to work a lot of games is evident. Our season begins in January and ends in May but there are other tournaments and clinics throughout the year where officials are needed.

If you want to learn more about officiating girls and/or boys lacrosse please contact . Rich Thomas ( richard.thomas@battlefieldleadership.com ) or Meg Hendy ( meg.hendy@beaufort.k12.sc.us ). They will tell you how we will train you and how to get you certified. Looking forward to hearing from YOU !

Based on the Fall 2009 success of Team Palmetto (Tournament Champions in Wilmington and runner-up at both Charlotte and Tampa) the team will expand its activity to the summer and fall seasons in 2010. TP will still be a non-profit organization, headed by experienced coaches who do not currently coach any SC school teams, and will continue to be an activity sponsored by the SC Chapter of US Lacrosse. The summer and fall schedules are being developed now, and invitational tryouts will be held in mid-May for the summer and fall season teams. More information will be posted as soon as it is finalized. More information on Team Palmetto can be found at www.teampalmettosc.com.

	BOYS	GIRLS	SITE
2002	Hilton Head	Hilton Head	Myrtle Beach
2003	Hilton Head	Hilton Head	Hilton Head
2004	Hilton Head	Hilton Head	Presbyterian College
2005	Hilton Head	Ridgeview	Bluffton
2006	Greenville	J.L. Mann	Heathwood Hall
2007	Greenville	J.L. Mann	Greenville
2008	Greenville	Riverside	Heathwood Hall
2009	Greenville	Blythewood	White Knoll School

Boys MVP, Jay Banks

Girls MVP, Kelsey Thurston