| Now in its third year, Rocks on the Fox is the largest high-school lacrosse tournament in the state and one of the premier such events in the Midwest. An estimated 3,000 fans attended last year's event, which featured 24 varsity, junior varsity and new teams.
This year, 16 junior varsity teams from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin compete in 40 games on four fields to determine a tourney champ. All games take place on the campus of St Charles East High School, and the final at 3.30pm on Sunday will be held in the St Charles East High School Stadium.
St Charles Lacrosse is grateful for its many sponsors in this event, and is particularly grateful for the partnership it enjoys with St. Charles East High School. The four fields stretch across the East campus, ringing a central area for concessions and spiritwear, restrooms, a trainer's room and lacrosse vendors.
Unlike last year, the East campus is the sole venue for this year's event; in 2005, St Charles Lacrosse and West Chicago Lacrosse co-hosted the tournament, and games were played in three locations in St Charles and West Chicago.
Wherever the setting, the level of play is sure to satisfy the lacrosse fan as well as the novice spectator. "The competition has been very good both years," says Club President Kevin Leary. And West Chicago Coach Dave Libby says that the tournament "[makes] fans out of many people who were introduced to lacrosse for the first time."
It was Libby, a former St Charles coach, who helped give the tournament its singular name. Libby, whose ministry includes fellowship and outreach programs for Native Americans, suggested the "rocks" of the event's title as a nod to the Native Americans who invented the game and who used actual rocks. The "Fox" refers to the Fox River, which flows through the middle of St Charles on its way from Menomenee Falls, Wis., to the Illinois River near Starved Rock, Ill.
The reach of the river reflects the make-up of the competition as well. Returning to defend its2005 junior varsity title is Barrington, and it will do so against teams from the Fox Valley and the north, west, southwest and northwest suburbs, as well as teams from Madison, Wis., and northwest Indiana. (Last year's varsity champion was Neuqua Valley.)
Along with the 14 other teams, the St Charles Junior Varsity under Coach Andy Thompson has its eye on Barrington's crown -- a crown which Barrington itself took from St Charles, who won the 2004 jv competition with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Neuqua Valley
"Winning the Rocks on the Fox tournament was the highlight of our year," says Coach Thompson, who coached that year's squad as well.
"It's a memory that the players as well as the coaches will never forget, and it's an experience that I would love to go through again.
"This tournament is something that we have been building toward the entire season," he adds. "Playing five games in two days is quite an experience, and we're all looking forward to it."
|
