Coach Ryan McAleavey is a busy man. His timetable calls for Tech to begin practice in September and play a month and a half of a non-championship season capped by a tournament. The team’s first championship-season practice is set for Jan. 10, 2012 in preparation for its first official season of 16 games beginning in the spring of 2012.
McAleavey hopes to play in the Deep South Conference consisting of Sunshine State Conference schools Rollins, St. Leo, Florida Southern, and North Carolina schools Mars Hills, Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Catabwa. However, if another SSC school — speculation is either Tampa or Lynn could add the sport — joins in, a five-team SSC lacrosse league could be formed.
So far, while his recruits have come from the established programs in the Northeast, Midwest and Canada, the fact that the sport is being played on a high school varsity and club level in Brevard County, including across Babcock Street at Melbourne Central Catholic, can only help.
Florida Tech lacrosse coach Ryan McAleavey has faced plenty of obstacles in forming the school’s first lacrosse team for next year. He only has two scholarships to give. (Rik Jesse, FLORIDA TODAY)
“It’s going well,” he said. “We’ve got about 10 kids who are coming in. The rest are still on the fence. The reason why I believe it’s taking so long is I’m not going after kids who are just here to come to school, I’m going after players. I’m going after kids who also are being recruited by a lot of other schools.
“I want to be a very competitive program, so I’m going after kids who can play, who will be able to hold their own.”
Read Full Article Sticks and moans part of lacrosse’s growth at Florida Tech at FloridaToday.com
