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.
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