CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) – Senate Bill 305 is drawing statewide attention after several members of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs front office pushed a bill to officially sanction lacrosse in Nevada high schools in front of the State Legislature in Carson City.
Lacrosse has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the last few decades. Although the sport is popular on the East Coast, players and coaches in Nevada want the same recognition.
“Not one of these jerseys that you see in this room or the four overflow rooms will ever be recognized as a Varsity athlete in their sports right now. I think this is a remarkable and commendable effort to get this bill in front of the Senate to get this bill in support of Nevada student athletes,” said Justin Cutler, the President of High Sierra Lacrosse Club and the Head coach for the Galena girls team.
Dozens of high school athletes from Reno High, Bishop Manogue, Galena, Douglas and many others crowded room 2134 on the second floor for the first hearing on Monday, March 17th.
If the bill passes, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association will have to adopt regulations for adding official lacrosse programs at Nevada High Schools, create competition rules and establish the length of a season. During the hearing, the NIAA told the Senate that the non-profit is opposed to the sanction proposal.
While the Nevada state legislature continues to discuss whether lacrosse should be recognized as an official sport in the state, local high school teams are sharpening their skills on the practice field awaiting recognition.
“When we are not sanctioned, we get less recognition for being athletes for Galena and we put in just as much work as the other sports if not more,” said Caroline Macey, a midfielder on Galena High Schools girls lacrosse team.
Lacrosse is currently recognized as a club sport in Nevada. There are 10 boys’ teams and 9 girls teams in Northern Nevada that compete during the high school Spring season under the High Sierra Lacrosse Club. The top seeded team from Northern Nevada faces off against the top opponent in Southern Nevada for a State Championship.
Lacrosse coaches say having the sport sanctioned will help athletes who want to pursue it at a higher level. “It’s really tough if these girls do want to continue on and play in college or even professionally now with lacrosse being in the Olympics,” said Galena girls lacrosse Coach Leigh Macey. “It’s really tough if the sport is not sanctioned in the state that they are playing.”
Those who oppose the bill raised concerns over funding and Title 9. “Like I said, I love lacrosse and I know women’s lacrosse is also popular. We just saw a number of men testifying on this bill. We want to make sure when sports are in schools that there are sports teams for women as well,” said a spokesperson for the Washoe County School District.
If the bill does not pass, players at Galena say that they are going to stick to the game plan.
“I think that shouldn’t change too much for us,” said Brooke Canavero, who plays attack for Galena. “We shouldn’t let it take us down. We will just keep working as hard as we are and proving to everyone that it doesn’t stop us and we can keep working.”
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