Magnolia has United and Lacrosse is Born!

MAGNOLIA - Seattle is not the bustling Lacrosse juggernaut of growth that the North Sound, and the East side have come to represent, but in it's own way and it's own time, the growth happens in leaps and bounds.  Last week, the University of Washington Men's Lacrosse program helped the Magnolia United Lacrosse Club open it's doors for business. 

Coach Fred Wilmot and several players were just a few of the participants in a "who's who" of Seattle Lacrosse coaches stoking the fire in the quaint Magnolia Community Center Gymnasium.  Local Lax stalwarts Kris Snider, Ron Wright, John O'Neill, Herb Tejale, and Syd Abernathy- a two-time NCAA All-American from Navy graduating in 1981.  The Queen Anne Lacrosse Club stalwarts in Snider, O'Neill, and Wright have helped mentor the progress of the fledgling upstart organization making sure they are positioned for success. 

Most of the coaches in the quaint little gym know Lacrosse as a "gentleman's game" and gave much of what they knew to over 40 hungry soon-to-be Lax junkies in a two hour clinic.  Snider and Abernathy instructed the fundamentals of shooting, something both of these Attackmen know quite well, and UW team president Cam Moore worked with ground balls.  Coach Wilmot worked on throwing form and wall ball, while O'Neill oversaw the work of several UW players working on cuts, defense and space. 

The evening ended with a fun 3 vs 3 for all to watch, pitting current UW players and coaches against legends Syd Abernathy, Kris Snider, and John O'Neill.  Co-founder and organizer Ted Grey would take the pipes in the fun but spirited play.  Both the fans, and the kids loved it.  According to Ted and his co-founding partner in crime Pierre Gallant, in the first seven hours of accepting registrations, MAGU received 14 Lightening (grades 3/4) registrations and 11 Junior (grades 5/6) registrations.  The Magnolia club anointed themselves, the Magnolia United Lacrosse Club, and can be found on the web at www.magnoliaunited.com, there you will find plenty of information, including their credo:“Individual commitment, team results”.