In 2024, East announced the launch of the lacrosse program. The team is a co-op between Oswego High School and Oswego East, giving athletes from both schools the chance to compete and grow the sport in the community.

After a strong first season, the team is heading into its second year with even more excitement and participation. Last year, the program surprised many people with its success. Despite being brand new, the team won more games than expected and quickly showed that it could compete.

Sophomore Jack Malm highlights the growth within the team.

“The team did a great job,” Malm said. “We won a lot of games, a lot more than people were expecting us to win. That’s always fun.”

When asked about the pre-season preparation that takes place leading up to the season, Malm mentioned open gyms and team bonding events that helped players get acclimated to the environment. 

”We’re doing tryouts right now, but open gyms have been a lot of fun. Everyone’s enjoying it, having fun together.” Malm said.

Senior Sarah Benoit mentions how the girls program  has also seen significant growth in interest. “During the first season, 18 girls tried out for the team. This year, that number jumped to 26 players, showing that more students are becoming interested in the sport.”

According to Benoit, the increase in participation has been exciting to see. “many players stepped outside of their comfort zones and decided to give lacrosse a try”

“It’s really amazing,” Benoit  said. “People have gotten out of their comfort zones and been able to have a great experience.”

As the program continues to grow, the team hopes to build on last year’s success while welcoming new players to the field. With more athletes joining the roster and another year of experience, the future looks bright for East’s lacrosse program.

Written by junior Michelle Wannah. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.