Good news abounds for Sandpoint Club Lacrosse

SANDPOINT — The burgeoning Sandpoint Lacrosse Club program got some great news this week in the form of a First Sticks Grant from the U.S. Lacrosse Foundation.

The two-year grant, applied for by Dan Hislop, is a huge boon for area lacrosse players. Among the benefits are 36 sets of new gear, 25 U.S. Lacrosse memberships, free clinics and training for coaches and additional unspecified funding for program development.

Head coach Matt Schreiber was understandably excited by the news.

“This is a huge shot in the arm for the program and will be an enormous help to building this program,” said Schreiber, praising the legwork of Hislop in securing the grant. “He did it in a short amount of time and pulled off a miracle for us. If you see him, please give him a huge round of applause.”

Three of the current Sandpoint players were also invited to the prestigious Seattle Elite 80 Camp, the first representatives from Idaho ever selected to attend the camp. Nick Nozzoli and Parker Davis were among the 120 players who received top notch instruction from a host of college coaches. Carson Paull, also invited to the camp, was unable to attend because of injury.

Schreiber also attended the camp, and said both he and the players learned an immense amount of new information and will bring it back to Sandpoint.

“Nick and Parker held their own against 118 of the best players in the Northwest,” said Schreiber, noting most of the players had far more experience and playing time under their belts than his athletes. “While their play was solid, their attitudes and work ethic certainly turned heads. To have a reputation as a program that turns out kids with great work ethic, character and sportsmanship is far greater than one that turns out amazing lacrosse players.”

Another Sandpoint player, Michael Demko, was voted Player of the Week this summer at the Gonaga Prep Camp. Both he and Paull have earned an invite to next year’s Elite 80 Camp.