(Posted June 2, 2014)
The Madison-Plains Lacrosse Club, a fifth- and sixth-grade team, finished its first season with a 7-2 record. The team has a chance to improve on their record at a tournament on June 8 in Marysville.
“I am so impressed with what these young men accomplished this year,” said head coach Brian Rubel. “We have nine players on the team that never played lacrosse, never saw a lacrosse game or had a lacrosse stick in their hands before February, but they were eager to learn and they played with true grit and determina-tion.”
The other four members of the team played lacrosse last year at Jonathan Alder. When their parents saw how much they enjoyed the game, they wanted to bring it to the Madison-Plains community. Rubel and his wife, Tereca, a first-grade teacher at Madison-Plains Elementary, and Richie Kelly, a youth football coach and president of the Golden Eagle Youth Football Association, formed the club late last year.
The goals of the club are to introduce the game of lacrosse to the Madison-Plains community, teach the fundamental skills needed to play and instill the love and spirit of the game.
“In that regards, this first season was a success, but our wins will help us build for the future,” Rubel said.
Already, there has been enough interest shown from the existing players and other students that the club will expand next year to include teams for third and fourth grade, fifth and sixth grade, and junior high. Because it is a club, it is open to anyone in the Madison-Plains and London communities.
“The support of the parents and school has been great,” Rubel said.
The club received a grant from U.S. Lacrosse for soft lacrosse sticks and balls. Soft lacrosse was taught in gym classes at Madison-Plains this year.
The club is affiliated with the Golden Eagle Youth Athletic Association. Teams play opponents from Marysville, Buckeye Valley in Delaware, Jonathan Alder and Hilliard. The season runs from the end of February to just past Memorial Day. For more information, call Brian Rubel at (614) 561-4357 or visit “Madison Plains Lacrosse Club” on Facebook.
