Manatee High becomes first public school in county to add boys and girls lacrosse
Manatee High is the first public school in Manatee County to add boys and girls lacrosse as a Florida High School Athletic Association spring sport for the 2018 season.
Matt Faul, Manatee’s lacrosse booster club president, said the Hurricanes received approval from the Manatee School Board on Friday morning.
Faul said the official announcement to Manatee High fans would be made at halftime of Friday’s homecoming football game against Palm Harbor University at Hawkins Stadium.
“It’s perfect timing,” Faul said. “The buzz even gets bigger.”
Faul said he’s hopeful Lakewood Ranch also gets approved for having a team this year.
The first season won’t include any playoff potential. The FHSAA requires teams to join as an independent in their first year for all sports before becoming playoff eligible in future seasons.
Manatee County’s lacrosse scene within the FHSAA has strictly involved private schools. Saint Stephen’s and Sarasota County’s Out-of-Door Academy and Cardinal Mooney have played in district tournaments for playoff berths in recent years.
IMG Academy also has lacrosse for boys and girls, but is an FHSAA independent.
“It shows how much the sport has taken off,” Faul said.
Entering the fourth season for club lacrosse at the Manatee Wildcats youth league, it was time for lacrosse to hit Manatee High, Faul said.
Faul said there was a preliminary meeting prior to Hurricane Irma to gauge school interest. Faul estimated 24 girls and 20 boys showed up.
For the girls, Faul said, they didn’t have many other options.
“The girls, unless you had the money to go to Saint Stephen’s and IMG (Academy), have nowhere to go,” Faul said.
The next step for Manatee’s newest athletic program is hiring a boys and girls lacrosse head coach.
For interested applicants, email Faul at mattfaul@mac.com.
Jason Dill: 941-745-7017, @Jason__Dill
This story was originally published October 6, 2017 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Manatee High becomes first public school in county to add boys and girls lacrosse."