For Immediate Release July 29, 2015
For more information contact:
Kelly Swamp
(920) 869-4600
(Oneida, WI) – A community supported lacrosse group is on their way to the 2015 State Games of America. The Oneida Community Lacrosse Program’s U13 and U15 teams both won gold medals at the Badger State Games in June. The victories qualify the two teams for the State Games of America in Nebraska this weekend.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our young Oneida Lacrosse teams. We will be representing not only the state of Wisconsin, but our Oneida Nation in the opening ceremonies on Friday. Games will be played on Saturday and Sunday, and hopefully traveling home as the Gold Medal winners of the State Games of American,” said Kelly Swamp from the Oneida Community Lacrosse Program.
On Thursday, July 30, 2015 a sendoff rally will be held for these athletes, coaches and parents who are traveling to Nebraska. The agenda is as follows:
10:30 a.m. sharp – Eagle Release by the Wild Life Sanctuary (Arbor behind the Norbert Hill Center)
11:15 a.m. – Tobacco Burning – Curt Summers
11:30 a.m.- Traveling Song – Eagle Singers
11:45 a.m. – Athletes, Coaches and Chaperones board bus
12:00 p.m. – Bus and cars leave for Nebraska. The Oneida Police Department will escort the bus to the reservation boundary if they are able.
About the Oneida Community Lacrosse program: The program currently has teams at the U11, U13, and U15 levels totaling around 65 players not only from Oneida, but other Wisconsin tribes. The teams also have nonnative players from surrounding school districts. They nearly doubled their participation numbers from last season.
About the State Games of America: The Nebraska Sports Council and the Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 2015 State Games of America July 28-Aug. 2, 2015.
The State Games of America have been conducted biennially since 1999, with host cities including St. Louis (1999, 2001), Hartford (2003), Colorado Springs (2005, 2007, 2009) and San Diego (2011). The 2013 State Games of America was held in Hershey-Harrisburg, PA.
Under the State Games of America format, all residents of the host state are eligible to participate along with State Games participants from all other states who’ve earned a medal in the two years leading up to the State Games of America. Qualifying events include Summer Games held in 29 states and Winter Games held in nine states.
The 2015 State Games of America in Lincoln is expected to attract 15,000 participants, making it the largest in history. The previous record was set in Colorado Springs in 2007 with just over 10,000 total participants.
