The Classic 8 Conference is one of the most competitive leagues in Wisconsin girls lacrosse. But this year, the squads have joined forces to take out a common foe.
Led by Mukwonago head coach Shelly Schumacher 20 teams from the Classic 8 Conference have come together to fundraise for Lacrosse vs. Cancer in support of childhood cancer research. Each squad aims to raise $2,000 to donate to Gold in September (G9), the childhood cancer nonprofit launched by former Arrowhead lacrosse player Annie Bartosz, who founded G9 when she lost her twin brother, Jack, to cancer.
“Having teams that would otherwise be rivals all join together for such an important cause is encouraging, but not surprising based on what I know of this amazing group of coaches and players,” Schumacher said.
Schumacher joined G9 in October as public relations and marketing director. This year, she challenged Classic 8 rival Arrowhead to a fundraising contest since Bartosz played for Red coach Tom Truttschel. (Bartosz is not playing lacrosse this year to focus on field hockey now that she has committed to play for Penn on an athletic scholarship.)
Along with their mutual connection to G9, Truttschel instantly agreed to the challenge because cancer has affected him and his family personally. His nephew, Kevin Boeckenhauer, is in the midst of a five-year battle with bone cancer, so Truttschel named him honorary captain of the Lacrosse vs. Cancer’s kickoff game between Mukwonago and Arrowhead. Although Boeckenhauer couldn’t make it to the game Tuesday night, he called the coin toss for Mukwonago via a FaceTime call.
“I just think it’s a cause where everybody has somebody they know among their family or friends who has been affected by cancer,” Truttschel said.
An honorary captainship was one of a handful of ceremonial events Tuesday night at Taraska Stadium. There also were announcements of the new initiative throughout the game. And at the end of Arrowhead’s 17-1 victory, the teams came together for a group photo with the new traveling trophy, designed and built by Mukwonago senior Paige St. Clair. At the end of the initiative, the team that raises the most money will win the trophy — a gold lacrosse stick with every participating program’s name listed — until they are dethroned.
“Every year we try to do a service project, but this one we’re able to incorporate our whole conference,” St. Clair said. “And we’re able to raise money for something extremely meaningful and impact a ton of people.”
Getting an entire conference together to raise funds is a monumental task, but Schumacher wants to aim higher next year. In 2020, she hopes every girls program in Wisconsin participates in Lacrosse vs. Cancer.
To help out you can donate at the Lacrosse vs Cancer web site
