 Media Credit: Courtesy of Tim Leonard |
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| University Lacrosse is starting a league in Columbus this season for those interested in continuing their lacrosse experience. |
Lacrosse players in Columbus no longer have to wait until summer leagues begin to dust off their helmet and gloves.
University Lacrosse, a competitive intramural lacrosse program, has chosen Columbus as host of its next league in the spring.
Tim Leonard, a Colorado University alum, created University Lacrosse in Boulder, Colo. in 2005. After playing Division-1 lacrosse at CU, Leonard realized there were few opportunities to play lacrosse outside of school.
"My eligibility was running out, I didn't have the money or the time for five-days-a-week practice. So I started thinking and putting up fliers on (CU) campus and I got eight teams in a league that year," Leonard said. He connected with local lacrosse enthusiasts and financed University Lacrosse's inaugural season in the fall of 2005.
 Media Credit: Courtesy of Tim Leonard |
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| The competitive intramural lacrosse league, University Lacrosse, conducts play in Ann Arbor, Mich. and looks to establish a rivalry between it and the league in Columbus. |
Since it's inception, University Lacrosse has created leagues in Ann Arbor, Mich., Lansing, Mich., Ft. Collins, Colo., New York, N.Y., and starting this year, Columbus. The league is designed for lacrosse players, age 18 and older, who want to enjoy competitive lacrosse without a huge commitment. University Lacrosse markets toward college students and working adults with limited spare time. Every player must pay a $100 registration fee and provide their own equipment: gloves, pads, helmet and stick.
Teams are provided with matching jerseys. As University Lacrosse develops in Columbus, league sponsorships will allow player discounts for equipment and additional discounts will be awarded for exceptional play. The league has two seasons: fall and spring.
Each season consists of five or six regular season games, each played Sunday, followed by a playoff tournament and a championship game. There are no coaches or practices; only games.
For the Columbus league, games will be played at Tuttle Park and other university fields within the campus area. Leonard was enthusiastic about the lacrosse community at OSU and throughout Columbus.
"The university alone could be a big league but when you look at the surrounding areas and alumni players... I mean it could get really big," he said.
Todd Romano, an OSU alum, has played in the Boulder league for three years. Romano is from Syracuse, N.Y., which has a large lacrosse community, and is a strong advocate for University Lacrosse. "Ulax (University Lacrosse) is less commitment but a lot more fun - playing time, people pass, no practice, no B.S., no hassle... just fun. I look forward to play every week," Romano said.
Romano said the club lacrosse program at OSU focuses on seniority and involves too much travel, while University Lacrosse is a local organization and teams are self-managed.
"Ulax is in your city, there is no long drives, you play every week with something to play for, a championship," Romano said. Though relaxed, the league maintains competitiveness and offers unique features such as weekly statistics, in-game photography and online game recaps. The University Lacrosse Web site offers these features as well as schedules and rosters.
Leonard said he hopes to preserve an intense game atmosphere and create consistency throughout the league. He wants to initiate high school alumni teams from surrounding areas such as Upper Arlington and Dublin to create a sense of rivalry and pride.
He also encourages fraternities to join to help create competition within the league.
Once the Columbus league is established, University Lacrosse will endorse national play as well.
"There's a league in Ann Arbor and I would really like to get the Columbus teams competing against the Ann Arbor teams," Leonard said.
University Lacrosse also encourages student involvement in the business aspect of the company. They offer paid positions for business marketing majors, as well as sports photographers and writers.
"I want to get students involved to help build their resumes and portfolios," Leonard said. Romano said he believes OSU is a perfect place for University Lacrosse to expand. "I think ULax would be great for this area because demand is high, the organization is run really well and it is a great outlet for kids who want to get better or for adults who want to continue playing. I would have killed for a league like this when I was here," Romano said.
Students interested in creating a team for the spring season or applying for a position with University Lacrosse can visit their Web site at
ulax.org/columbus or contact Tim Leonard at
columbus@ulax.org.
Sean Minogue can be reached at minogue.4@osu.edu.
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