By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Cherokee High School has some outstanding athletes – many of whom excel on a regional and state level in basketball, cross country, track and field, football and other sports. But, there is one sport that just seems like such a great fit for the school that isn’t played there – lacrosse.
Lyle Thompson, a member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is arguably one of the top lacrosse players in the country. He was quoted recently on his thoughts on the game, “Every game I play, I am thinking about traditions, the Creator and why I am playing this game. Before every game and after every game, I am just thankful to be playing the Creator’s game.”
Now, I know that Cherokee Indian Ball (aka stickball) is different than the Haudenosaunee game of lacrosse, but it’s not that different. In essence, the games are very, very similar including the base of both being grounded in tribal traditions.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association offers the sport of lacrosse for both men and women. There would be the issue of traveling though. There are 13 men’s conferences in the state and 11 for women, but none in the western part of the state. In looking at the 2015 conference alignments, Cherokee boys would most likely be placed in Conference 10 along with schools such as Lake Norman Charter and the Community School of Davidson while the girls would most likely be in Conference 11 with Charlotte-based schools such as Charlotte Catholic and South Mecklenburg.
I fully realize that adding sports to a school can be a long and costly process, but I’m sure funding could be found, and I am certain there would be interest amongst the students. Cherokee youth would excel at this sport. Just my thoughts.
Starting with this column, I’m going to include my favorite sports quote of the week. It might be from here in Cherokee or across the globe.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Being able to go against the defense, run around and throw, it’s just so much fun.,” said Tim Tebow, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback (or one of them)
