Jesuit joins FHSAA in lacrosse

Posted Jan 12, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 13, 2012 at 12:30 PM

A longtime power in club lacrosse, Jesuit High will announce Friday it has joined the Florida High School Athletic Association in this increasingly-popular sport.

The Tigers will join 138 other schools from around the state, including Berkeley Prep and Tampa Catholic, in lacrosse, which is classified as “recognized” by the FHSAA.

The majority of the association’s sports are “sanctioned,” which means they are played statewide, in multiple classifications and in districts with a state playoff series. Recognized sports like lacrosse and flag football, however, feature a single class and are typically not played in all areas of the state, but do have multiple districts and a state series.

Jesuit, which has played in the West Florida Lacrosse League in recent years under coach John Matzke, has been a dominant squad in that league has reached the state finals. Now, the Tigers have been placed in the FHSAA’s District 15 with Berkeley, TC, Winter Haven All Saints Academy and Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. Tampa Prep also has a lacrosse team but is an independent in the FHSAA.

“I think that the program will transition well. I tell the kids that you are becoming more professional,” Matzke said. “If you look at Jesuit sports teams they are extremely competitive. Why, there is an emphasis on excellence in academics and athletics, and we are certainly going to continue to embrace that. Working with (athletic director) Terry (Rupp) and the athletics department, their expectations is to do the best you can, and if you get 35 kids at Jesuit putting all of their efforts into that, then state championships are definitely on the table.”

Jesuit’s opening match is Feb. 21 against All Saints. The Tigers will play at least 15 games during the regular season before starting district action the week of April 16. Jesuit will also play in a three-day tournament March 16-18 at Houston Strake Jesuit. The state finals are slated for May 4-5 at a site to be announced.

Photo (left-to-right): Jesuit athletic director Terry Rupp, Jesuit president Father Richard C. Hermes, Tigers lacrosse coach John Matzke, player T.J. Martinez and principal Barry Neuburger hold a framed lacrosse jersey that will hang in the Al Lopez Sports Complex commemorating the program becoming a recognized sport by the FHSAA.