ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT | 400 THE FENWAY | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02115
DECEMBER 2012
Lax Teams Participate in Native American Heritage Month Members of the Emmanuel College Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Teams had the unique opportunity to listen to a presentation by Tony Sorci, a descendant of the Navajo Nation, on Thursday, November 15th. Sorci presented on the history and origins of lacrosse in the Native American Tradition. Through a joint effort by Damita Davis, a Director in Emmanuel’s Office of Student Activities and Multicultural Programs, and Saints lacrosse coaches, Brendan McWilliams and Peter Freidman, the event was one of several College programs conducted in November in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Many tend to associate the sport of lacrosse with private New England preparatory schools. However, the sport originated out of Native American culture and religious beliefs. Lacrosse was very central to the fundamental Native American traditions, utilizing principals of the sport to teach strategy and resolve conflict. Lacrosse in the 1600’s was a very
different game than it has become today. Obviously, the equipment has evolved remarkably, from wooden sticks with weaved rawhide to plastic heads and shafts composed of aluminum, graphite and titanium. Helmets and pads were nonexistent in the original game. Additionally, the playing venues are completely different. Native Americans played lacrosse over miles of land, nothing like the synthetic turf lax fields of today. However, despite the sport’s evolution over time, Sorci was able to draw upon many of the principals of the sport that have remained consistent over the centuries. Sorci, speaking with an old wooden lacrosse stick in hand, began by introducing himself as a descendant of the Navaho Bitter Water Clan. His lacrosse career began in the
Members of the 2013 Emmanuel College Men’s Lacrosse team with Native American guest speaker Tony Sorci on November 15.
Click here to watch a clip of Tony’s talk.
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1,814
By the Numbers – Senior libero Yun-Ting Lee (Keelung, Taiwan) ended her volleyball career with 1,814 digs, setting the new women’s volleyball program record. Lee was named the 2011 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and named to the 2012 GNAC All Conference Team while also being invited to play in the 2012 New England Women’s Volleyball Association (NEWVA)Senior Classic.
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