23nd Annual Greenport Lacrosse Shootout sponsored by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation
August 6 and 7, 2016
Greenport High School, Greenport NY
The 23rd Annual Greenport Lacrosse Shootout sponsored by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation and the Nassau County PAL was held at Greenport High School in Greenport NY on August 6 and 7 under sunny skies with more than 5000 players, coaches, parents, officials, sponsors and vendors in attendance.
Participants in this year’s festival included young boys and girls from PAL youth programs as well as other community clubs from Long Island and Connecticut as well as middle school, junior and varsity high school and adult players all competing in “friendly” round-robin tournament games. This year 56 boys teams and 9 girls teams girls took part. In addition, ten post-high school and college men’s lacrosse teams competed for the Tournament Championship
“This year the Greenport Shootout is dedicated in memory of Harvey Cohen, Matt Beroza, Norm Murray and Harold “Whitey” Hendrickson“ said Harry Jacobs, Chairman of the LIMLF. “As a chapter of US Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in our country, the mission of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation is to foster and promote the game for all in the Metropolitan New York and Long Island areas. “These four men have given so much of their time, energy and assistance for the benefit of lacrosse. It is fitting that these games are dedicated in their honor,” said Jacobs.
Throughout the weekend the sidelines of the expansive and well-groomed athletic fields of Greenport High School were lined with canopy tents, tables and chairs providing a “tail-gate party” atmosphere for the players, coaches and family members.
With the continued support of commercial sponsors, Greenport Village officials and the Board of Education for the Greenport Schools, the Greenport Shootout also serves as a fund raiser enabling the LIMLF to award scholarships, assist developing community programs, children with special needs programs, and to sponsor clinics for coaches and players.
This year the LIMLF awarded $1,500 individual scholarships to two Greenport high school students . Mercedes Edwards received the Jill Howell Memorial Award and Ryan Costello received the Ist Lieutenant Joseph J. Theinert Memoral Award. In addition, six $1,000 scholarship awards have been awarded to outstanding lacrosse student-athletes from Nassau and Suffolk Counties and New York City.
The 2016 Shootout Committee of this year’s festival was co-chaired by Harry Jacobs and Billy Redman. Other members include Jim Howell and directors of the Nassau County PAL Youth Lacrosse Leagues, Sallie and John Phillips, Mike Nelson, , Jack Schroeder, Mike Nelson, Hutch Vandershuyt, Barry Cohen, Alden Dykman, Joe Baccarella, Joe Kovar Tim Drake, Greg Lane, , Bob Cook, Rosalia Gioia, and Eric Geringsward.
In addition the Festival could not have succeeded without the assistance of Charlie Russo and members of Hope House who erected the safety nets and prepared the seven fields for the competition, Scott Howell and Carol O’Sullivan for providing the certified officials umpiring the games, the on-site trainer, Rocco Nakouzli of LaxFirstAid Tri-State, Mid-Island Press of Plainview for providing the printing of programs, awards and signage, Mike and Dorothy Thearle of South Bay Trucking, Steve, Chris Avazis of Arena Graphics and Ellen of Sunset Motel.
Special thanks go to the David Gamberg, Superintendent of Greenport Schools and his staff, the Greenport Board of Education, as well as the leadership of Greenport Village and the Mayor’s office and staffs and the Greenport Police and EMT personnel.
This annual event caps a very successful 2015-16 season for the Foundation. Highlighting the many programs sponsored was the Third annual “Shootout For Soldiers” event held in July. Proceeds and donations from sponsors for this twenty-four hour non-stop lacrosse tournament for the many youth, adult, special needs, and armed forces veteran teams enabled the LIMLF to donate more than $133,000 to, The Rangers Lead The Way Fund, the Semper Fi Fund, the Gary Sinise Fund , Team RWB, the Long Island Air Force Association, and the Joseph Thienert Foundation.