13DEC20_CC_Departments_Draft_12_CMS_Features_2018 12/13/2020 10:58 AM Page 40
Draft 12 (13DEC20)
Alumni Drive
With the Hope of a World Championship James Gottlieb ’83 played his first lacrosse game as a goalie in seventh grade on the lower fields at Cardigan and fell in love with the game. But what started off as a simple way to burn off the excess energy of a middle school boy has turned into a passionate pursuit, one that’s included lots of international travel and a good dose of cultural exchange.
James Gottlieb has vivid memories of play-
The coaching staff at the 2017 Women’s World Cup in England; James Gottlieb stands at far right.
ing lacrosse at Cardigan, many involving swarms of New England black flies sur-
While Mr. Gottlieb played lacrosse a bit
next town over and joined the board of the
rounding the goal. “The chemicals weren’t
in high school, he did not play in college
Boca Jets recreational league. To this day
nearly as good at keeping the bugs away
and in fact did not pick up a stick again
he continues to play every Sunday on an
back then,” recalls Mr. Gottlieb. “As the
until his own son began to play sports in
“old guy team” and is an active member of
goalie I had to do a lot of standing in one
second grade. By then he was living in
the Florida Lacrosse League.
place, so I had to tape the earholes on my
Florida and working in the healthcare
helmet shut to keep out the black flies.”
industry. As he and his wife introduced
expanded to the international scene when
their three children to various sports,
he was asked to play in the master’s division
nothing seemed to be clicking.
with over 40 athletes at the Men’s World
He also remembers early season practices in the fieldhouse. They used orange street hockey balls that didn’t bounce as
“It was my wife’s idea to buy our son
In 2014, Mr. Gottlieb’s involvement
Lacrosse Championships in Denver, CO. It
much but also really hurt when they made
lacrosse equipment,” says Mr. Gottlieb.
was the first year Israel Lacrosse would play
contact. As the goalie, Mr. Gottlieb was hit
“But once I started throwing with him and
in the championship and Mr. Gottlieb was
often. “My classmate Daniel Zinsmeyer ’83
coaching his team, I realized how much I
eager to witness the historic event.
let me borrow his ice hockey equipment
had missed it.” From assistant coach to
and I never felt anything after that,” he
head coach, his involvement in the local
with the athletes and coaches of Israel
remembers. “I’m still in touch with Dan to
lacrosse community grew. He then became
Lacrosse and got to know their stories,” he
this day.”
involved in the men’s lacrosse league in the
says. “I spoke to their executive director
40
“I was invited to Friday Shabbat dinner
Alumni DriVe
Cardigan Mountain School Winter 2021 Cardigan Chronicle magazine.
