A world championship deserves a world-class trophy. So the founders of the Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse Presented by The Coca-Cola Company went straight to the top: Frederick Kail, sculptor of the Tewaaraton Trophy and the artist behind sculptures at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium for Ray Lewis and Johnny Unitas and at Syracuse University for the Air Gait, among many others.
The World Series of Youth Lacrosse is pleased to announce that the trophy that goes to its champion will be world-class as well, hand-crafted by Kail himself and given to the winners of each year’s event.
“Think of a Rockwell painting: a 13-year-old athlete captured in bronze, eyes wide and filled with hope and enthusiasm — their whole life ahead of them,” said World Series of Youth Lacrosse founder Jake Steinfeld. “The concept of One Time, One Team, One Dream — winning the World Series of Youth Lacrosse — is what we were trying to capture with this trophy.”
This year’s inaugural World Series event takes place in Denver July 2-4. Games July 2-3 will be played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (site of the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships), with the championship game moving to Sports Authority Field at Mile High on July 4. The top two teams will square off for the world championship live on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. EDT, before the Denver Outlaws-Boston Cannons Major League Lacrosse game that annually draws more than 30,000 fans.
The best U-13 boys teams in the country will compete in the first World Series event: 3d Select Colorado, C2C Dallas, Baltimore Lacrosse Club Crabs, Denver Elite, Eclipse Lacrosse Club (Conn.), Leading Edge Elite 2020 (N.J.), Michigan Warriors, Rising Sons Lacrosse (Penn.), Team 91 Crush (N.Y.) and Team Carolina.
Kail is designing separate boys and girls trophies. A full girls U-13 bracket will be added in 2016.
“Today marks nearly a half-century since creating my first lacrosse sculptures, trophies and awards,” said Kail. “It’s difficult imagining that the parents of today’s young lacrosse players were not even born when I began. As I now begin winding up what has been a rewarding and lustrous career, it is most gratifying having this opportunity to create the national championship trophy for the World Series of Youth Lacrosse. Conceptually, it was the event’s founder Jake Steinfeld’s vision to depict a young lacrosse player with hands raised in exalting victory’ in both a male and female trophy. In reflecting upon that vision, it will be my challenge to dynamically and expressively capture, forever in bronze, the exciting exuberance of that very moment of victory.
“It is with pride that I may share the privilege working with Jake and the event’s President, Ray Schulmeyer. It is also my sincere hope that my creativity will, in some way, serve in giving our young athletes inspiration and an incentive for greatness, not only in the sport, but also in their personal character, and the future endeavors of their lives.”
All players competing in the World Series of Youth Lacrosse will receive never-before-seen Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse apparel, including game shorts, a tech T-shirt and a hoodie, as well as a branded gear bag. In addition, all players will receive an official commemorative Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse stick. The two teams in the Championship Game will dress in NFL/MLL locker rooms and be outfitted in special Championship uniforms provided by Warrior.
In addition to competing in the event, players will participate in clinics hosted by members of the Denver Outlaws, attend autograph sessions with Outlaws players and other Major League Lacrosse stars and attend a banquet at Sports Authority Field at Mile High the night before the Championship Game. The event will conclude with all players being acknowledged at halftime of the Denver Outlaws versus Boston Cannons MLL game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
“Everything about this event is going to be world-class: from the sponsors to the facilities to the teams and players to the gear to the ESPN2 coverage,” said World Series founding partner Ray Schulmeyer. “We had to get the absolute best sculptor there is to craft a world-class trophy, so we’re excited that Fred is on board with us.”
Make sure to purchase your tickets now for the Outlaws-Cannons game, which includes free admission to the World Series of Youth Lacrosse Championship and a huge fireworks celebration to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Plans are underway to expand the World Series of Youth Lacrosse, with the addition of a girls tournament, international teams and a series of qualifying events in 2016 and eventually a combined participation of 50,000 players.
Major sponsors of the World Series of Youth Lacrosse include The Coca-Cola Company and Warrior Lacrosse. Partners include Wheels Up, MET-Rx, Body by Jake, EDGE Sports and Entertainment and the Denver Outlaws organization.
About the Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse presented by The Coca-Cola Company
The Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse presented by The Coca-Cola Company will crown its inaugural World Champions on July 4, 2015 at 3 p.m. EDT at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. The Championship Game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse Founder Jake Steinfeld, along with Founding Partners Steve Bornstein, Dave Morrow and Ray Schulmeyer, have created the ultimate experience for the youth lacrosse player. Ten U-13 boys teams from around the United States will compete in the preliminary games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Field July 2-4, 2015.
More information on the Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse presented by The Coca-Cola Company can be found at www.worldseriesofyouthlacrosse.com.
In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.
Oliver Marti: Starting an NLL Team in Albany and Investing in the PLL and Epoch Lacrosse (Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast #130)
byPro Lacrosse Talk
On this episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast, Hutton Jackson and Adam Moore are joined by three-time All-American at Brown University, investor in the PLL, and the newest NLL owner Oliver Marti. He discusses moving the New England Black Wolves franchise to Albany, New York, why the city of Albany was chosen and share his thoughts on the team’s potential new identity. He also discusses his time playing for Dom Starsia at Brown University, playing for the New York Saints in the MILL, starting the Connecticut Box Lacrosse League, investing in the Premier Lacrosse League and equipment manufacturer Epoch Lacrosse, and his opinion on the current state of pro lacrosse.
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Pro Lacrosse Talk is the flagship lacrosse podcast of the Lacrosse Playground network covering all three professional lacrosse leagues (NLL, PLL, Athletes Unlimited). Each week throughout the season we’ll recap the games, provide analysis on the teams and feature exclusive postgame and off-the-field interviews with professional lacrosse players, coaches and executives. If you’re a fan of lacrosse podcasts like the Unbuckled Chinstrap, The Inside Feed, Lacrosse Classified or The Crease Dive, then give us a listen.