Lacrosse, recognized as North America’s oldest team sport, originated among Indigenous tribes as early as the 12th century. The game, known for its spiritual and cultural significance, was played with hundreds of participants on expansive fields spanning miles, with matches lasting several days.
Youth lacrosse arrived in Iowa in 2008 with the creation of the West Des Moines Tigers Lacrosse Club and has since expanded to 8 regional programs across the state. Wisconsin can trace its competitive youth lacrosse history back to the 1990’s and Illinois back to the 1970’s.
College Opportunities Abound
College lacrosse has a rich history, with the first recorded collegiate game played between New York University and Manhattan College in 1877. Since then, the sport has grown tremendously, with Syracuse (11), Johns Hopkins (9), and Princeton (6) leading in men’s national championships, while Maryland (15), Northwestern (7), and North Carolina (7) dominate on the women’s side. Today, there are opportunities to play collegiate lacrosse across all 50 states, including many right here in our own backyard. Whether at the NCAA, NAIA, or club level, the sport continues to expand, offering athletes of all skill levels a chance to compete. Today, lacrosse offers one of the highest probabilities of college recruitment among all American sports (14.4% for men and 13.8% for women).