‘Sticks For Soldiers’ games Saturday among lacrosse’s charitable efforts
When Southington’s boys and girls lacrosse teams host a Sticks For Soldiers day on Saturday, it’ll be the latest effort among state teams for wounded veterans.
“Young Americans too often come back from foreign wars with life-changing wounds,” says the charity tournament’s website, sticksforsoldiers.org. “As we carry on with our lives, they struggle for the rest of theirs.”
The tournament at Fairfield Ludlowe every Thanksgiving weekend helps raise money and awareness. Other donations through the year help.
Third-year Ludlowe coach Steve Swett said he’s thrilled to see schools helping out in the spring, and that the Falcons are honored to host the fall tournament every year.
“Student-athletes from dozens of boys and girls teams learn from the event’s honorees that there is more to life than what happens between the sidelines,” Swett said in an email.
“We are humbled and grateful for what our heroic service members do for this country, and what awareness and funds we can help raise for them once they return from active service is the least we can do.”
The site says that 24 teams took part last November, raising over $50,000. In 15 years, it says, over $1 million has gone to local veterans and their families.
The charity chooses at least one honoree each year. In 2021 it was Micah Welintukonis of Coventry. This year’s has not yet been selected.
Southington’s efforts Saturday will send proceeds from the boys game at noon and the girls game at 2 p.m., both against Pomperaug. Coach Ron Chase said the Blue Knights have
taken part in the November tournament for the past 14 years.
Staples coach Will Koshansky said the Wreckers typically hold a Sticks For Soldiers day when it faces Ludlowe, They didn’t meet last year and won’t this year, so this year’s game is April 23 against Wilton.
“The fundraising they do for veterans who have made sacrifices to defend our freedoms is life changing,” Koshansky said. “There will be a few special game day events on April 23 around the varsity game to make the day even better.”
Ludlowe also plans an April 23 Sticks For Soldiers day at its game against Hand, Swett said, though he added that a conflict may change the day.
A Tuesday email to state coaches drew responses ranging from plans for those games this spring to regret that their school doesn’t have such an event.
St. Joseph goes to the Thanksgiving tournament every year, coach Brendan Talbot said. Westhill coach Scott Stone, himself a first lieutenant in the Connecticut Army National Guard, said the Vikings have taken part in the Thanksgiving tournament in the past. Amity’s A.J. Raccio said the Spartans were there last fall.
“It was a great event to raise money and to honor the veterans,” Raccio said in an email. “My mom served in the US Army during WWII and my dad also served during WWII participating in the invasion of Okinawa Easter Sunday landing with the Marines at the age of 17. It is so important to not forget the sacrifice the Veterans have made for our country.”
Other coaches mentioned other charitable efforts they have planned. Newtown’s Scott Bulkley said the boys and girls teams have a joint fundraiser for children’s cancer.
Xavier’s Scott Basile said the Falcons’ May 16 game against Fairfield Prep will benefit the Brian Daigle Foundation for mental health and suicide prevention. Bacon Academy, said coach Brian Martin, has a Lax2Live game with a similar goal. The Bobcats will also hold a “Lace up 4 Pediatric Cancer” game, and they plan to honor former teammates Tyler Graham and Jacob Chapman, who died in a car accident on Oct. 22, with a “1032” game: 10 and 32 were their uniform numbers at Bacon Academy.
Sticks For Soldiers also accepts donations through its website and seeks sponsors and volunteers for the Thanksgiving tournament.
“We are hopeful that lacrosse teams and fans all across the state continue to play an active role in giving back to those who have given everything for us,” Swett said. “These Sticks for Soldiers Awareness games during the spring go a long way towards that goal.”