Columnist Spencer Patterson: Lacrosse comes to Palo Verde as club sport

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 10:18 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at 259-4085 or at spencer@lasvegassun.com.

Rick Minoski is tired of hearing that lacrosse is an East Coast sport.

"People talk about it like it belongs back east and should stay there," said Minoski, who moved to Las Vegas from Connecticut two years ago. "They don't realize it's the fastest growing sport in the country."

This spring, Minoski did his part to change that perception, founding a self-funded club team for Palo Verde students. His Panthers, along with a Centennial squad founded by former collegiate player Eric Scholer, recently completed Southern Nevada's first high school lacrosse season.

"I think there's a tremendous need for alternative sports and activities for kids in the Valley," Minoski said. "We're not looking to substitute for another other sport, just to complement the sports that are already in place."

Though only two Palo Verde players -- Minoski's two sons -- had ever picked up lacrosse sticks before, the Panthers were competitive in year one, posting two wins in an Orange County, Calif., tournament and defeating the Bulldogs 8-7 in overtime for the inaugural "state" title.

Minoski and Scholer hope for an even higher profile for their sport in future years, with several other area schools including Durango, Bonanza and Cimarron-Memorial contemplating adding clubs. And down the road, they'd like to see Las Vegas follow California, which recently recognized lacrosse as an official interscholastic sport.

"It's great to see guys pick up the sport and really start to get it and fall in love with it," said Timothy Dahl, a former collegiate player who served as a Palo Verde coach this spring. "I think it's going to explode here."

To that end, Minoski has organized a free weekly lacrosse clinic for girls and boys of all ages, from elementary school to the collegiate level, and all levels of experience. "Summer Lax" will take place each Wednesday at 6 p.m. Oxford Park in Summerlin.

* CAMPS: Bishop Gorman will host its summer basketball camp for boys and girls in grades 4-12 in three sessions, June 4-7, June 11-14 and June 25-28. For more information call Gaels coach Bob Hubbard at 732-1945, ext. 335....

Silverado boys basketball coach Mike Joseph will host Skyhawk Camp 2001 for students entering grades 7-9 from June 18-21 at Cannon Middle School. The camp costs $50. For more information, call 799-5790...

Centennial freshman Shannon Crisp has been named Gatorade's Nevada Softball Player of the Year. Galena's Billy Paganetti received the award in baseball...

State softball runner-up Durango is ranked No. 23 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today Top 25 poll this week. Class 4A champion Wooster moved up to No. 18.