Pine Cobble School Hosts its Second Lacrosse Tournament in Two Weeks on Saturday, May 20
Middle School athletes from New York, Vermont and Massachusetts will participate in the annual event.
Williamstown, MA (PRWEB) May 14, 2006 -- This time it's the boys' turn (following the girls' meet on May 14). In it's 11th year, the tradition began when PC brought the sport to western Massachusetts 12 years ago. Eight varsity teams (7th to 9th graders) will vie for the trophy during the 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. schedule. (Rain-date is Sunday, May 21)
Pine Cobble’s athletic director, Sue Wells, described the tournament’s evolution, “When we started the school’s lacrosse program more than 12 years ago, there were some very good local programs and intramural events in other sports like soccer and baseball, but we thought Pine Cobble could bring the excitement of lacrosse to area students and carve a niche by hosting the first annual tournament in the region.
“The second spring following Pine Cobble’s move to its present 23-acre campus (in 1994), we knew we had great sports fields and the chance to create our lacrosse event. The first few years we had to search further afield to find schools to participate, inviting teams from Greenfield and other areas at least an hour away,” Wells continued.
Each year since then the tradition has grown, as many more schools in the region have instituted Lacrosse programs. The eight teams playing this year (representing both public and independent schools and travel programs) are: Cambridge Junior High School, NY; Brandon, VT; Equinox, Manchester, VT; Mount Anthony, Bennington, VT; CYC, Pittsfield, MA; Berkshire Country Day, Lenox, MA and Eaglebrook School, Deerfield, MA.
The girls’ tournament, which was held on May 13, hosted teams from Connecticut as well as the three states represented in the boys’ event. Over the years, lasting bonds have formed as well. In an exchange each year, the Pine Point girls board with Pine Cobble families the night before the event and in the fall, the PC girls field hockey team members board with Pine Point families when they play that school’s tournament.
The day-long tournament begins with round-robin games in the morning through 3:15 p.m. followed by play-off games until 3:45 p.m. and an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Wells pointed out that “the largest trophy presented is traditionally the sportsmanship award,” making sure the student athletes leave understanding the priorities and standards Pine Cobble wants to impart.
The Williamstown tournament has become a real community building event as well. Local stores Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Big Y and Wal*Mart contribute gift cards to purchase supplies for the day and Village Ambulance provides EMT services for the athletes. To raise money in support of the event, Pine Cobble parents will serve food throughout the day and unique tournament t-shirts (designed by PC students with the winning design chosen by an impartial panel of outside students) listing all participating teams, will be available for purchase. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Pine Cobble School
Located on a beautiful and bucolic 23-acre campus in Williamstown, MA, Pine Cobble (grades pre-K through 9) began in 1937 as an independent progressive school based on the traditions of John Dewey. With small class sizes of 5-14 students and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, the PC provides a nurturing environment in which a child’s self-esteem can grow. The school’s motto, “A Good Beginning Never Ends,” expresses its mission “to cultivate in each student a lifelong passion for learning, a strong sense of self-worth, and mutual respect throughout the community.”
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