The De Anza College Physical Education Department has introduced a new sport into its curriculum: lacrosse. According to Rich Schroeder, the dean of the Physical Education and Athletics division at De Anza, this up and coming sport is popular at the high schools in the Cupertino area and it may be on its way to becoming a recognized community college sport as well.
This class is currently being taught by Cheryl Owiesny, a full-time instructor and De Anza’s head women’s soccer coach, who introduced the idea of teaching lacrosse as a course last year. Owiesny picked up the sport from her friends on the Chico State lacrosse team while she was an intercollegiate soccer player. She also wrote up the curriculum and presented it to the department last year.
According to Schroeder, this course became available to students for the first time this fall quarter, and will continue to be provided depending on the number of students who enroll in the course. Around 20 students enrolled in the class this quarter, which, according to Owiesny, is a “pretty good turnout.” She hopes that the popularity of the sport at De Anza will soon reflect the popularity of the sport in the Bay Area, as well as across the state.
The lacrosse class does not require students to have any knowledge of the game and welcomes all skill levels. The class is held on the De Anza soccer field.
Because it is one of the newer sports at De Anza, students will need to bring their own equipment, including a lacrosse racquet, shin guards, mouth guard, cleated shoes and eye protection, as well as proper exercise apparel. Owiesny is working on obtaining funding from the U.S. lacrosse grant program to purchase equipment for the school.
Lacrosse combines different rules and strategies from soccer, field hockey and basketball, while still introducing new ones as well.
Owiesny encourages students to sign up for the course to try something new.
“It’s really important to get out and get active. If you don’t like other sports, why not try something different? You’re young only once and there’s no better time to try something new. This game is a great way to challenge yourself and it works as an outlet. It may even capture your interest,” she said
Students who are interested in signing up for this class can find it on the schedule of classes listed as PE 99. The class will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
