Press Release Introducing Fusion Lacrosse, Inc. (7/18/06)
Local Area lacrosse programs, national corporations join to form enhanced-quality FUSION Lacrosse to serve area youth
Triangle Select Lacrosse (TSL), Rival Lacrosse, Riptide Lacrosse Camps and Lacrosse Carolina have issued a joint statement announcing that they have joined forces to create FUSION Lacrosse, bringing the best the Triangle has to offer in youth lacrosse under one umbrella.
Supported by Hillsborough-based Great Atlantic Lacrosse Company/Lacrosse.com, and national youth lacrosse giant Warrior Lacrosse, the new league aims to consolidate efforts and build a lacrosse program that matches premier youth lacrosse leagues nationally. Jon Lantzy, will serve as Executive Director.
“I am extremely excited with the hiring of Jon as the Executive Director of FUSION Lacrosse. Jon’s enthusiasm, passion and energy will provide FUSION with the leadership and vision needed to succeed. Jon has enjoyed success at all levels as a world-class player and coach, and is one of the most well respected individuals in our game today. America’s Original Game will now have the organization and attention it needs locally with FUSION Lacrosse” said Chad Watson, president of the Great Atlantic Lacrosse Company. Chip Mayer of Rival Lacrosse added “With such quality programs pooling their efforts, I am confident that Fusion lacrosse will enhance the incredible momentum youth lacrosse in the Triangle has experienced in recent years. The future of youth lacrosse seems to be brighter than ever and I am very pleased that Rival Lacrosse will have a role in this exciting new era.”
Names Changing, Quality Improving
To effect the consolidation, some names will go away and others will remain; Team Impact and Carolina Fever select teams will fold into the TSL format; Lacrosse Carolina, Inc. will remain an organization but will pick up a different role in the effort. FUSION lacrosse will offer the following services to the Orange, Durham and Wake county lacrosse communities.
- Rival Lacrosse will emphasize skill development and sportsmanship for boys and girls ages 8-15, through fall instructional and competitive play-league format in the spring of each year, at selected Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary locations.
- Triangle Select Lacrosse will comprise elite travel teams for boys and girls, ages 16-18, in the summer and fall of each year, with emphasis placed upon the development and showcasing of the premier high school talent the Triangle has to offer. It will also continue to offer Lax On The Hill, a Sunday afternoon, fall play league for area high school players, as well as the Cary-based high school play-league for boys as well as girls offered in the past by Lacrosse Carolina, Inc.
- Riptide Lacrosse will offer individual, team, and position-specific instructional day camps, as well as competitive tournaments, in the summer and fall of each year, for all of the age brackets served by FUSION.
Area Directors Endorse FUSION
“With FUSION, we have a great opportunity to take advantage of the willingness of some top youth lacrosse experts to really kick area youth programs into high gear. With Jon Lantzy and his resources at the helm, area youth have the full compliment of primary youth coaching and recreational-level play, but now have cutting-edge camps, tournaments and especially a select-level progression--even college-level recruiting expertise-- that will bring Triangle lacrosse up to par with the rest of the country,” said Lacrosse Carolina, Inc. Director Todd Wissing.
Triangle youth lacrosse President and veteran high school coach Bob Cappelletti, agrees:
“I cannot think of a more exciting time in North Carolina youth lacrosse than right now, and I am pleased that FUSION will be able to continue the commitment to our sport that people such as Chip Mayer, Chad Watson, Todd Wissing, Joyce Bailey, and hundreds of others have worked so hard to nurture and develop. It has been my pleasure to work with Jon Lantzy over the last two TSL seasons, and I cannot think of a more qualified, passionate individual, to oversee this endeavor.”
FUSION Lacrosse will offer boys and girls youth instructional sessions on Saturdays this fall and is presently accepting registrations for its fall youth instructional leagues and high school play-leagues in Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill. All schedules, costs and other information about FUSION lacrosse, can be found at www.FUSIONlacrosse.com.
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