The History of Lacrosse in North Florida Part I - Free Sports Team ...
The History of Lacrosse in North Florida Part I - Free Sports Team ...
The History of Lacrosse in North Florida Part I - Free Sports Team ...
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Part</strong> I<br />
So you th<strong>in</strong>k you know someth<strong>in</strong>g about the history <strong>of</strong> lacrosse <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> I thought I did too. Were Joe Avadutti<br />
and Mike Lettera a couple <strong>of</strong> guys who ran a pizza place <strong>in</strong> Atlantic Beach Isn't Mike Buzzell that dad who helps out <strong>in</strong><br />
Flem<strong>in</strong>g Island Kev<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>n Oh yeah, he is the old guy with the bad knees who has been around forever and was help<strong>in</strong>g<br />
out at Stanton Prep. And if you haven't heard <strong>of</strong> Scott "Scooch" Cleary there is no need to read any further because you<br />
probably aren't a <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> lacrosse fan anyway.<br />
Long before Jacksonville University pondered a Division I lacrosse program, before the Ponte Vedra Predators, Bolles<br />
Bulldogs, Episcopal or the Nease Panthers formed their teams, there was lacrosse be<strong>in</strong>g played <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. I'm not<br />
referr<strong>in</strong>g to a few novices throw<strong>in</strong>g a ball around, I am talk<strong>in</strong>g about some <strong>of</strong> the best players <strong>in</strong> the world play<strong>in</strong>g<br />
organized lacrosse and lay<strong>in</strong>g the foundation for the meteoric rise <strong>in</strong> popularity and participation that we see on <strong>Florida</strong>'s<br />
First Coast today. <strong>The</strong> very first documented team <strong>in</strong> the state was at the University <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1971. It was formed by<br />
Lehn Abrams who was there from day one is still very <strong>in</strong>volved as a referee and with US lacrosse. That season UF played<br />
two games, one aga<strong>in</strong>st the University <strong>of</strong> the South (Suwanee), <strong>in</strong> Ga<strong>in</strong>esville and an away game at Georgia Tech. In<br />
1973 the <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> League was formed with teams at Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, <strong>Florida</strong> International University,<br />
Orlando, Tampa and Pensacola. <strong>The</strong> Jacksonville <strong>Lacrosse</strong> Club was formed <strong>in</strong> 1975.<br />
Many <strong>of</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al Jacksonville lacrosse players came to area for Navy deployments, form<strong>in</strong>g a team that <strong>in</strong>cluded many<br />
guys that had played together at the US Naval Academy and while at flight tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Pensacola. <strong>The</strong>y filled out the squad<br />
with other transplanted lacrosse players whose jobs or families brought them to <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Jacksonville <strong>Lacrosse</strong><br />
Club won their first <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> League Championship <strong>in</strong> 1977. <strong>The</strong> Jacksonville Roadside Armadillos were soon a<br />
force to be reckoned with <strong>in</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. In the mid 1970’s the <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> League was formed as similar teams that<br />
were comprised <strong>of</strong> predom<strong>in</strong>antly transplanted college players and a few curious Floridians were popp<strong>in</strong>g up throughout<br />
the state. FLL Championships were won by the Jacksonville Armadillos <strong>in</strong> 1981, 1987 and after a name change, <strong>The</strong><br />
Jacksonville Hooters <strong>in</strong> 1994.<br />
Editor’s note- <strong>The</strong> team’s name was changed to the Jacksonville Predators a few years back but will return to<br />
their roots and become the Jacksonville Armadillos for the upcom<strong>in</strong>g 2010-2011 season with the expectation <strong>of</strong><br />
end<strong>in</strong>g a 17 year drought and br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g the FLL title back to <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>.
<strong>The</strong> teams <strong>of</strong> the late 1970’s early 1980’s were packed with college stars such as US Naval Academy alumni Wayne<br />
Dunham, Tim Supko, All-American and 1987 FLL MVP Joe Avedutti, three time All-American and current <strong>Lacrosse</strong> Hall <strong>of</strong><br />
Fame Member Mike Buzzell, Jeb Stuart, Pat Lee, Goalie Ed Solar, Bobby Corolla, Chris Burg<strong>in</strong>, Rich Weyman, Wally<br />
Holste<strong>in</strong>, Danny Molten, Wayne Dunham, Mike Gurney as well as Corky and Al Vasquez. Other college lacrosse stars on<br />
the early Armadillo teams <strong>in</strong>clude Virg<strong>in</strong>ia standout Barry Robertson, Ray F<strong>in</strong>negan, Mike Rob<strong>in</strong>son from the University <strong>of</strong><br />
Maryland, Danny Caruso, Ray Pierson, Dr. Sol Brotman along with Mike Lettera from UMass, Dr. Dave O’Brien from<br />
Brown, current University <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> Athletic Director Jeremy Foley from Hobart, Ted Hark<strong>in</strong> and Kev<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>n from the US<br />
Military Academy at West Po<strong>in</strong>t as well as <strong>Florida</strong> lacrosse legend Scott Cleary. <strong>The</strong> team would travel around the state<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g on all comers. <strong>The</strong> runn<strong>in</strong>g joke from the team’s opponents would be that the Jacksonville team’s won/ loss record<br />
was dictated by who was on deployment at any given time. This 1981 newspaper article from the Ft. Lauderdale Sent<strong>in</strong>el<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>ts a great picture <strong>of</strong> the team’s bruis<strong>in</strong>g style <strong>of</strong> defense, face<strong>of</strong>f supremacy <strong>of</strong> Mike Rob<strong>in</strong>son and the dom<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
from the pair<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Joe Avaduti and Wayne Dunham who had played together for nearly two decade at that time beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with their time at the Naval Academy.<br />
In 1987 Steve McGann set the tone <strong>in</strong> goal by shutt<strong>in</strong>g down and frustrat<strong>in</strong>g the team from Tampa Bay who were heavily<br />
favored com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the game follow<strong>in</strong>g an undefeated season. UVA Grad Barry Robertson went 3-2 and Army’s Ted<br />
Hark<strong>in</strong> contributed with 5 assists. Naval duty assignments left the team at less than full strength but the Armadillos<br />
prevailed. Joe Avedutti who played a pivotal role <strong>in</strong> the 1981 Championship season scored the w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g goal <strong>in</strong> the semif<strong>in</strong>al<br />
game aga<strong>in</strong>st Ft. Lauderdale and was named the 1987 <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> League MVP.<br />
Mike Lettera was one <strong>of</strong> the transition players from the teams <strong>of</strong> the 1980’s to the teams <strong>of</strong> the 1990’s. He jo<strong>in</strong>ed the club<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1986 just <strong>in</strong> time to be a part <strong>of</strong> the 1987 Championship team. While liv<strong>in</strong>g and play<strong>in</strong>g lacrosse <strong>in</strong> Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Beach he<br />
developed numerous contacts with players <strong>in</strong> the Navy. He used those contacts to f<strong>in</strong>d out about the Armadillos after his<br />
relocation to <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. Mike memories <strong>of</strong> his early years surround great friendships, lots <strong>of</strong> parties and great lacrosse<br />
although he doesn’t recall the team ever practic<strong>in</strong>g. Through their connections at the University <strong>of</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>, the team had<br />
plenty <strong>of</strong> access to the Gator football games which led to many good times and a lifelong love <strong>of</strong> the Gators. <strong>The</strong> rivalries<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st Tampa and Orlando which started <strong>in</strong> the 1970’s did not mellow dur<strong>in</strong>g his tenure on the team.<br />
In the early 1990’s many <strong>of</strong> the players from the Armadillo glory days either moved away or decided to transition their<br />
lacrosse play<strong>in</strong>g to Alumni Masters tournaments. A few players like Teddy Hark<strong>in</strong>, Dan Toole, Kev<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>n, Mike Lettera,<br />
Barry Robertson, Dave O’Brien and Scott Cleary rema<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong>volved with the team. <strong>The</strong>y provided a very important l<strong>in</strong>k to<br />
the past and to the Jacksonville lacrosse tradition. <strong>The</strong>y would tell the stories <strong>of</strong> the games and the parties and the<br />
camaraderie amongst the members <strong>of</strong> the club. <strong>The</strong>y were welcom<strong>in</strong>g to the new crop <strong>of</strong> players and seemed to take<br />
pride <strong>in</strong> the fact that the tradition they helped to build was be<strong>in</strong>g passed on to a new group <strong>of</strong> players. In 1992 partially<br />
due to the fact that many members <strong>of</strong> the team spent so much time at the establishment <strong>in</strong> Jacksonville Beach, Hooters<br />
restaurants became the sponsor <strong>of</strong> the team and the team’s name <strong>of</strong>ficially change to the Jacksonville Hooters. Members<br />
<strong>of</strong> the US Navy would still be <strong>in</strong>tegral to the success <strong>of</strong> the team <strong>in</strong> com<strong>in</strong>g years; <strong>in</strong> addition to an <strong>in</strong>flux <strong>of</strong> former college<br />
players as well as some players completely new to the game. Many <strong>of</strong> the new players didn’t have same Division I<br />
lacrosse pedigree but they did have same <strong>in</strong>tensity, commitment and love <strong>of</strong> the game.
In 1994 the Jacksonville Hooters took and undermanned squad to Ft. Myers and as a four seed had a difficult road ahead<br />
<strong>of</strong> them fac<strong>in</strong>g number the number one seed Ft. Lauderdale Flam<strong>in</strong>gos <strong>in</strong> the semif<strong>in</strong>als. <strong>The</strong> game came down to the<br />
f<strong>in</strong>al m<strong>in</strong>utes and when the f<strong>in</strong>al whistle blew, Jacksonville stunned the Flam<strong>in</strong>go’s sett<strong>in</strong>g up the Championship game<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st powerhouse West Palm Beach. In 100+ degree weather and on little sleep, the 16 members <strong>of</strong> the team stunned<br />
the <strong>Florida</strong> lacrosse community and captured the trophy that had eluded the club for 8 seasons. Ohio Wesleyan’s Jeff<br />
Podo led the way with five goals while throwback to 1980’s Dan Toole and Scott Cleary along with the efforts <strong>of</strong> Navy man<br />
Pat Curtan, Jacksonville was able to control the ball, score enough goals and let their defense f<strong>in</strong>ish the job. Tom<br />
Bruchman from Salisbury State, George Fox from Duke, Brad Sterl<strong>in</strong>g from Drexel and newcomer to the sport, Mike<br />
Atzenh<strong>of</strong>er cont<strong>in</strong>ually frustrated WPB. Goalie Ray Carnicelli from Cortland State was named the <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> league<br />
MVP for the 1994 season follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the footsteps <strong>of</strong> Joe Avedutti as the only other Jacksonville player to w<strong>in</strong> FLL MVP<br />
honors.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 1994 Jacksonville Hooters shocked the<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong> Community by upsett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
#1 seed Ft. Lauderdale <strong>in</strong> the semi‐f<strong>in</strong>als<br />
and f<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g the job by defeat<strong>in</strong>g the #2<br />
seed West Palm Beach the next day. One <strong>of</strong><br />
the highlights <strong>of</strong> the weekend was at the<br />
game’s conclusion when the previously<br />
over confident West Palm Beach team<br />
capta<strong>in</strong> removed their chilled celebratory<br />
champagne from the cooler on the<br />
sidel<strong>in</strong>es and handed it over to the new FLL<br />
Champions.
It has been 17 years s<strong>in</strong>ce that last championship. To the five rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g club members who played that weekend <strong>in</strong> Ft.<br />
Myers <strong>in</strong> 1994 (Buddy Dom<strong>in</strong>ger, Ray Carnicelli, Brad Sterl<strong>in</strong>g, Scott Cleary and Dan Toole), it seems like an eternity.<br />
Over the years we have had many great players come through town <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Mickey Jarboe who was a two time All-<br />
America, two time NCAA Goalie <strong>of</strong> the Year and MLL Goalie <strong>of</strong> the Year. <strong>The</strong> names <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> the great players, good<br />
players and players who were just out to have fun are too many to mention. <strong>The</strong>re have been many greats who have<br />
spent time with the club however that is not what this group has been about for the last 35 years. It is about a group <strong>of</strong><br />
guys com<strong>in</strong>g together for their shared passion, uphold<strong>in</strong>g the traditions <strong>of</strong> the game they love and giv<strong>in</strong>g back to the<br />
community and cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g to compete for a championship. Scott Cleary, Dan Tools and Buddy Dom<strong>in</strong>ger are the three<br />
players on the team who have played <strong>in</strong> the 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s and the 2010’s. Scott Cleary and Scott Cleary Jr are<br />
the first Father/ Son team-members <strong>in</strong> our club’s history. <strong>The</strong> 2011 FLL season is fast approach<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>The</strong> Jacksonville<br />
Men’s team is go<strong>in</strong>g back to their roots and has adopted their orig<strong>in</strong>al nickname <strong>The</strong> Jacksonville Roadside Armadillos for<br />
their upcom<strong>in</strong>g campaign. <strong>The</strong> length <strong>of</strong> the shorts, the design <strong>of</strong> the sticks and the recognition <strong>of</strong> lacrosse <strong>in</strong> the area<br />
may have changed but the passion, camaraderie and the love <strong>of</strong> the sport amongst these lacrosse True Believers has<br />
not. If you are a lacrosse junkie or just a casual fan, check out the schedule below and come out to watch some great<br />
lacrosse action, hear a story or two and learn more about lacrosse <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>.<br />
Note- When I started this project I thought I knew a great deal about the history <strong>of</strong> lacrosse <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. After all, I<br />
jo<strong>in</strong>ed the team 20 years ago and there were still a few <strong>of</strong> the holdovers from the pioneer<strong>in</strong>g days <strong>of</strong> the 1970’s and early<br />
1980’s. I soon realized that I knew very little. For one th<strong>in</strong>g, we thought Kev<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>n and Ray Pierson were old back then.<br />
As I thought about who to contact to help me with my project, a few names jumped to the front <strong>of</strong> the l<strong>in</strong>e. <strong>The</strong>y happen to<br />
be some <strong>of</strong> the first people I met when I moved to Jacksonville right out <strong>of</strong> college <strong>in</strong> 1990. <strong>The</strong> first two people were Scott<br />
Cleary and Dan Toole. <strong>The</strong>y are the two <strong>of</strong> only three people to play on the Jacksonville Men’s lacrosse team <strong>in</strong> the<br />
1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s and 2010’s. <strong>The</strong> other is Buddy Dom<strong>in</strong>ger. Neither <strong>of</strong> them shows any signs <strong>of</strong> back<strong>in</strong>g down.<br />
Slow<strong>in</strong>g down Maybe, maybe not. Back<strong>in</strong>g down No way. In the days before the <strong>in</strong>ternet you had to rely on phone<br />
calls, word <strong>of</strong> mouth and luck to f<strong>in</strong>d a team <strong>in</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. Prior to mak<strong>in</strong>g my move to <strong>Florida</strong>, I looked <strong>in</strong> the back <strong>of</strong> my<br />
<strong>Lacrosse</strong> Magaz<strong>in</strong>e for the phone number for the US <strong>Lacrosse</strong> Foundation. I called US <strong>Lacrosse</strong> and waited for them to<br />
call me back with a contact <strong>in</strong> <strong>Florida</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y put me <strong>in</strong> touch with Lehn Abrams <strong>in</strong> Orlando. Lehn is still heavily <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Florida</strong> lacrosse. He gave me the phone number for Dr. Sol Brotman, a Jacksonville dentist, lacrosse enthusiast and<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Jacksonville Armadillos. Sol was at the tail end <strong>of</strong> his lacrosse play<strong>in</strong>g career but seemed excited that a<br />
young goalie was mov<strong>in</strong>g to town. He put me <strong>in</strong> touch with Scott “Scooch” Cleary. I told Scooch that I just f<strong>in</strong>ished college<br />
and was mov<strong>in</strong>g to Jacksonville. He made me promise to call him when I came to town. A week later I called Scooch and<br />
he showed up at my door the next morn<strong>in</strong>g dressed and ready to give me a tryout. We have been great friends ever<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce. Many <strong>of</strong> the lacrosse pioneers from the 1970’s and 1980’s are still <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>North</strong> <strong>Florida</strong> <strong>Lacrosse</strong>. People like<br />
Scott Cleary, Chris Berg<strong>in</strong>, Ray Pierson, Kev<strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>n, Mike Buzzell, Mike Gurney, Dan Toole and many others laid the<br />
foundation and are <strong>in</strong> many ways, along with the presence <strong>of</strong> the US Navy, responsible for meteoric growth <strong>of</strong> lacrosse <strong>in</strong><br />
our area. I will attempt to add to, delete from and correct the <strong>in</strong>formation conta<strong>in</strong>ed here as more <strong>in</strong>formation comes my<br />
way, memories become clearer and stories improve over time<br />
-Ray Carnicelli
THURS OCT 7<br />
SAT OCT 16-<br />
SAT/SUN OCT 23 & 24<br />
SUN NOV 7<br />
SUN NOV 21<br />
SAT DEC 4<br />
SAT JAN 9<br />
SAT JAN 16<br />
SAT/SUN FEB 12 & 13<br />
SAT FEB 26<br />
@UNF 6PM<br />
UNF @ PALM COAST PUMPKIN SHOOTOUT 2PM<br />
JACKSONVILLE CROSS OVER -TBD **3 FLL GAMES** SAVE THIS DATE!!!<br />
@ Embry Riddle 1PM DAYTONA<br />
@TALLY 1PM TALLAHASSE<br />
HOGTOWN 12 PM LANDRUM<br />
ORLANDO 12PM LANDRUM<br />
@ TAMPA 11AM & @ U OF TAMPA 130PM** DOUBLE HEADER**<br />
MIAMI CROSS OVER- TBD **3 FLL GAMES** SAVE THIS DATE!!!<br />
@STETSON 12PM DELAND<br />
SAT/SUN MARCH 12 & 13 FLL PLAYOFFS IN ORLANDO (SAT= QUARTER AND SEMI'S) (SUN= FINALS)