West Texas Lacrosse has been existence for seven years, but the team is now creating a new high school team called West Texas United, which will be open to high school players in the Midland/Odessa area.
The team is looking to fill the team with 20 high school players, and there are plans to create more high school teams in the future as interest in lacrosse grows, according to the West Texas Lacrosse website.
“This sport is great for kids. Lacrosse helps them improve hand-eye coordination, as well as get them into the best condition of their lives,” Joey Gabarda, coach for West Texas Lacrosse, said to CBS7. “This sport also has some great scholarship opportunities for students seeking to take their love of the sport to the collegiate level.”
Also coaching the team are established lacrosse veterans, including Joshua Oakley, William Klingensmith IV, Daniel Hayward and Dom Dibiaggio.
West Texas Lacrosse Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has been around since 2014, but is now in the early stages of league play. A high school team was established called Midland Bulldog Club that participates in the New Mexico Lacrosse League, which has been active since 2015, but now plans are to form West Texas United, according to the West Texas Lacrosse website.
West Texas United is expected to play this spring. Schools involved include Midland Senior High School, Legacy High School, Trinity School, Midland Christian School, Permian High School and Odessa High School. The team has been accepted into the Texas High School Lacrosse League that includes Highland Park High School, Westlake High School of Austin and the Woodlands High School.
The team website said the short term plan is to enter the league’s west division this season. Only one team is being planned initially, but if there is good enough demand a junior varsity team will be made as well.
“We also want to establish lacrosse at the middle school level and will strive to achieve this goal,” the website states.
Players will need to have a membership in US Lacrosse and must sign a “code of conduct.” They will need to have passing grades in school and will have practice time requirements.
Information about the team and how to join can be found at the team's website.