WPSLA - OLD NEWS - 2003
League Officers for 2003
President: Brian Novotny - Mt. Lebanon
Vice President: Tim Hastings - Sewickley
Secretary: Jeff Dreisbach - University
Treasurer: Frank Locastro - Peter Township
At Large Member Division 1: Roland Gagne - Upper St. CLair
At Large Member Division 2: - Dan Shea - Hampton 
At Large Member Division 3: Wayne Jaekle - Seneca Valley
Mt. Lebanon, PA - Oct. 11 - The organizational meeting for the 2003 WPSLA season was held Tues. night at Mt. Lebanon High School. The meeting, chaired by outgoing WPSLA President Jon Moriarty, was held to set the guidlines for the upcoming season.
    The concept of continuing to have three divisions based upon level of play was agreed upon unanimously.
The divisions were realigned to add an eighth team to Division 2 to balance the league. The league will now have eight teams in Division 1, eight teams in Division 2, and currently, eight teams in Division 3. It may be assumed that any new teams applying for full membership in the league will initially enter the WPSLA and compete in Division 3.
    There was considerable discussion regarding the movement of teams from one division to another. A decision was reached to balance the divisons numerically and move teams up or down a division based upon league play. As a result, Chartiers Valley, the winner of Division 3 will move to Division 2 to give Division 2 eight teams. Pine Richland, the 2002 Division 2 Champion will move to Division 1. Fox Chapel will move from Division 1 to Division 2 to replace Pine Richland. The divisions as they stand now are posted on the WPSLA Standings page.
    New officers were elected for the 2003 season. The listing of officers and their postions are now posted on the Directory page.
    Dues will remain at $250 and are due by Feb. 15, 2003 to the Treasurer, Frenk LoCastro.
    The Executive Boad will meet on Nov. 6 and the scheduling meeting will be Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon High School in Room 395.
* * * * * * * 2003 SCHEDULING MEETING * * * * * * *
Wednesday, November 13th
7 PM at Mt. Lebanon High School, Room 395
BIG SHOT LAX POSITION CLINIC at WHEELING JESUIT UNIVERSITY - December 1, 2002

POSITION
REGISTRATION
CLINIC
GOALIE
  9:30-10:00AM
10:00-12:30
FACE- OFF
1:00-1:30
1:30-3:30
SHOOTING
3:30-4:00
4:00-6:00
DEFENSE
6:00-6:30
6:30-8:30
COST: $30 PER CLINIC
PRE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
please contact us at wheelinglax@hotmail.com or 203-243-2102
* * * * * * * NEXT  GENERAL MEETING * * * * * * *
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
7 PM at Mt. Lebanon High School,
4th Floor Cafeteria (Please note room change)
WPSLA PLAYOFF SET UP FOR 2003
Editor's Note:  I have begun to enter schedules on team pages and compile the Master Schedule & Results page. Please email me your schedule once it is completed in the format used below.
    Highlighting Western Pennsylvania lacrosse this spring will be Georgetown Prep and Haverford coming to play both Sewickley Academy and Mt. Lebanon . The games are sure to be top notch. So, if you do not have a practice or game scheduled, players, coaches, and fans are urged to get over to Mt. Lebanon and check out some great lacrosse action

Mar. 28 - 6:00 pm - SEWICKLEY vs. Georgetown Prep at Mt. Lebanon
Mar. 28 - 8:00 pm - MT. LEBANON vs. Haverford at Mt. Lebanon
Mar. 29 - 11:00 am - SEWICKLEY vs. Haverford at Mt. Lebanon
Mar. 29 - 1:00 pm - Georgetown Prep at MT. LEBANON

Holiday Lacrosse Tournament - December 30 & 31 Various age levels
 More information to come.  Please contact info@iceoplexatsouthpointe.com with any questions, comments or concerns.


MIDDLE SCHOOL MEETING (WPMSLA)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 -  6:30 UNTIL 8:30
 CENTRAL CATHOLIC CAFETERIA
From Dan Donnelly 
     Before we meet, I need to get some information and some opinions from you.
Last year we divided into three conferences and played primarily teams in our conferences.  This was particularly helpful because of the tunnel closing.  Would you like to
  1. continue doing this or
  2. would you prefer to play more teams but only once each
     If we decide on option 2, I think that we would still want to have a separate mini-conference for programs with only one team. How many middle school teams will your program have?  Eighth grade team?  Seventh grade team?  5th and 6th grade team?  Other?

     Based on your feedback, I will prepare grids of dates like we used last year and we can schedule our season based on them.  Let's plan to do all of the 7th and 8th grade team scheduling first and then schedule the 5th and 6th grade teams.  Before we begin scheduling, I would like to propose that we elect a WPMSLA executive committee similar to the one that oversees the WPSLA.  The committee would then take responsibility for coordinating season activities.
I have attached last year's conference membership and guidelines for games.   We should plan to review the guidelines at our meeting and make whatever revisions might be necessary.  I have also attached last year's conference schedules.  If we decide to go with option 2 above, I have a similar format for up to 16 teams.

     Please get back to me at donnelly@stargate.duq.edu as soon as possible so that I can work on the league/conference structure and prepare for our meeting.  

    I have tried unsuccessfully for the last few months to find somebody to take over as president of the WPMSLA (middle school association).  I have enjoyed working with all of you for the last two+ years but I really do not have time to serve this year.  In addition to coaching our three East End teams, I will also be coaching at Central this year and am running out of hours in the week. Hosting this middle school coaches and contacts meeting will be my LAST official act.

Thanks and have a great holiday season. - Dan Donnelly
RULE CHANGES FOR 2003
Go to:
http://www.nfhs.org/sports/lacrosseboys_rules_change.htm
Pittsburgh, PA - Dec. 12 - As a result of recent discussions between the PSLA and The WPSLA, there will be no semifinals for the the Keystone Cup on June 3rd.  The format will remain the same, the East Champ vs. the West Champ on June 6th. The game is scheduled to be played at City Island Stadium in Harrisburg.

Pittsburgh, PA - Jan. 27 -
 USLacrosse is sponsoring a Coaches Clinic at Sewickley Academy's Hansen Library on Thursday, February 13th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Donation of  $10 at the door to Pittsburgh Lacrosse Foundation.  All are welcome. The schedule is as follows:

Questions may be addressed to Sewickley Acadmey Coach Tim Hastings at hastings@sewickley.org or 412-741-2230.
 
    Maggie Jayson, President
    Pittsburgh Lacrosse Foundation
    mjayson555@aol.com or 412-999-9528

Pittsburgh, PA -  Jan. 22 - The league will be sponsoring its annual CPR/First Aid Course at Mt. Lebanon on Sat. Feb. 15.  All coaches are reminded that they must have current certification. CPR and First Aid training will be offered to lacrosse coaches, collegues, and guests as follows:

DATE: Saturday, February 15
SITE: Mt. Lebanon HS, Room E-391
Fine Arts Wing, under Little Theatre, South end of the building (nearest main parking lot).
SCHEDULE:
Morning session: 8 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. - CPR (2 year American Heart Association certification)
Lunch break: 11:30 - 12:00 (bag lunch advised)
Afternoon session: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. - First Aid (3 year American Safety & Health Institute certification)
Those needing the First Aid class only, please report at 11:30 a.m.

COST: No cards will be issued without payment
CPR - $25.00                 First Aid $25.00
Make checks payable to: Ralph Pagone (cash OK)

    An exam will conclude each session. Wallet cards will be issued to successful candidates on site. All WPSLA coaches must hold current certifications. Head coaches will receive a phone request for the number of people attending from their program, including middle school. Please canvass your staff ASAP to be ready to give a total for each session. The instructor needs an accurate head count to plan for adequate instructional materials, CPR dummies, etc.
    Extra credit will be offered for anyone willing to help Sam Shannon make reminder phone calls.
Sam Shannon - Home: 412-343-8797 Cell: 412-853-4100 or samshannonjr@hotmail.com

Pittsburgh. Pa - Jan. 29 - The Executive Board of the WPSLA has agreed to a proposal by the Allegheny Lacrosse Officials Association (ALOA). The basics are below. Click here for the whole proposal.
In addition, Brian Novotny, WPSLA President, would like those same schedules sent to him to verify they have been sent to the assignors. Fines will levied on the programs that do not comply.

Email Andre Sanders at acsand6@yahoo.com
Email Brian Novotny at pittlax42@yahoo.com
Snail mail Frank Packard at 3727 Woodrow Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15227

Pittsburgh. Pa - Feb. 15 - Winchester Thurston will apply to the WPSLA for associate membership for the 2003 season with an eye towards becoming a full member in 2004. The Bears have fielded some semblance of a team the past few years and have finally decided to commit to the sport and to building a boy's lacrosse program. The lacrosse team will be a varsity sport at Winchester Thurston, fully supported and funded by the school. Ken Sines, who spent the past two seasons as Seneca Valley's head coach, has been hired to lead the team.
    Sines also coached for a year at North Catholic and six seasons as the head Coach of Bethel Park . He will be assisted by Tony Greco who coached with Sines at North Catholic. Greco spent last year as a member of the University of Virginia's sports information department where he accompanied the Cavaliers to the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four.
    At this point, Winchester Thurston plans to host home games at Dean Field in Broomfield and will play a split Varsity/JV schedule for the 2003 season.

From the 3RL Newsletter - March 8th at 3:00 PM - Mt. Lebanon High School - Butler University vs Bucknell University. Great Lacrosse -We will not see any better here in Western Pennsylvania. See what it takes to play at the next level!!

Erie, PA - May 15 - The Erie team is hosting their second annual Erie Kryptonite games tournament Saturday, May 24th. Play begins at 9 a.m. ending about 5 p.m. The format will be a maximum of 8 teams seeded into two pools. Seeding will be  based on LaxPower ratings and each team will play at least two games. Play is on two grass fields side by side rain or shine,
25 min. running halves. Cost: $175/ team and concessions will be available.
RSVP to save your spot by May 19th to Jeff Lord at 814 449-1578 or cadillac@erie.net

All League nominations must be submitted to Brian Novotny no later than May 22nd, 2003. Click here for more info & form

All League coaches meeting - May 27, 7:30 pm - Sewickley Library

WPSLA CHAMPIONSHIPS - at Fox Chapel High School - Please note time changes
BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 31 - 1:00 pm - MT. LEBANON vs. SHADY SIDE ACADEMY
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 31 - 3:00 pm - MT. LEBANON vs. SEWICKLEY ACADEMY
BOYS JV CHAMPIONSHIP
May 31 - 5:00 pm - UPPER ST. CLAIR vs. MT. LEBANON

NEWS FLASH! - June 4, 10:40 a.m. -We have just been informed that the State Championship Game between Ridley and Mt. Lebanon has been moved to Hershey Park at 8:00 PM this Friday evening.

The game was supposed to be held at Island Sports Stadium but their rep called on Tuesday and stated that the field was soaked (grass) and that it would not be playable by Friday. Hershey was contacted and they said that they had great drainage and that their field would be playable.

Pittsburgh, PA - June 11 - In the most recent elections of the Allegheny Lacrosse Officials Association (ALOA), Andre Sanders has been elected the new assignor for the ALOA, effective immediately.  All game assignments and assigning duties will be coordinated through Andre from now on.  His info has been updated in the WPSLA Directory .

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