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Saturday, July 31, 2010   77º

05/10/2008 04:02 PM

A First Might Become a Last

By: Bonyen Lee

photo by Bryan Beard
photo by Bryan Beard

ROC E6 Homepage

It's a first in 30 years: 26 elementary-aged Rochester city students began their lacrosse season.

The last time you heard about these youngsters was in March when the team was just forming.

On Sunday, ROC E6 played its second game against Pittsford.

"I don't think they've ever been to the city," Pittsford lacrosse mother Bernadette Boyatzies said.

Boyatzies says this lacrosse game is a first for the Pittsford fifth and sixth grade team.

"They play mostly suburban teams, other suburban schools. So I think this is a great experience for them to come and introduce lacrosse to the city and the kids that are here," Boyatzies said.

The teams play under a pee-wee program, Rochester Area Lacrosse League (RALL).

For ROC E6 it's the first season and a new experience.

"A guy stopped us, he's like 'oh you guys play for that new city team' and they were like 'yeah, we play for that new city team'," Rochester lacrosse mother Tinita turman said.

"Pittsford has three teams almost 30 guys on every team and our team between the third and fourth and fifth and sixth together that's 26 members," ROC E6 head coach Arkee Allen said.

Allen says the team has hurdled issues finding players and money.

"I've improved a lot since I started practice," ROC E6 team member Byron Waddell said.

Now, it's the future that poses a question for players like sixth grader Waddell.

"All of our sixth graders will be in seventh grade next year. Where do they go from there? They need a team to play on," Allen said.

Students play under RALL through sixth grade. In most districts, schools pick up teams in seventh grade.

The Rochester City School District is an exception.

"I want our city not make excuses and get their butts in gear. Money is not the excuse at all. We have the equipment," Allen said.

Now, they just need the green light from the school district.

"We still want more, we need more. If they have to move to another school to play lacrosse, we just lost," Allen said.

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