REPEAT PERFORMANCE? – Members of the Greater Manchester Lacrosse Boosters hope to see this type of varsity action next spring. But they’ll need to raise $50,000 to ensure lacrosse remains an NHIAA-sanctioned varsity sport for the three Manchester high schools. (File Photo)

MANCHESTER – Boys and girls lacrosse will maintain NHIAA-sanctioned varsity status at Manchester’s public high schools next spring only if the Greater Manchester Lacrosse Boosters, the nonprofit organization funding 100 percent of the city high school program, raises $50,000, said Jack Ebert, president of the GMLB.

Last spring, six teams from Central, Memorial and West were granted interscholastic status by the NHIAA and participated in Division I lacrosse because the three boys squads and three girls squads continued to receive private funding, as they did when lax was a club sport, Ebert said.

But some of the sport’s supporters are concerned Manchester high school lacrosse will be forced to return to club status in ’05 because the city cannot fund the threeschool program’s second varsity season due to budgetary constraints.

Speaking on behalf of the Manchester School District, David Scannell, the district’s coordinator of school and community relations, said no promises were made and no timetable was established for the city to eventually fund lacrosse.

“It will be evaluated on an annual basis,” said Scannell.

The district annually submits a budget request to the Board of Mayor and Alderman, which is “pared down significantly by the aldermen by about 15 percent on average each year,” said Scannell, adding the matter of retaining teachers, educational assistants and other personnel takes precedence over programs.

The reduced bottom line forces the school board to make difficult spending decisions, which is the reason the district was hesitant to fund lacrosse, Scannell said.

“It’s my understanding that since parents and boosters wanted lacrosse to have interscholastic status, they would pick up the costs to be sanctioned,” he said.

“Sometimes miscommunication is key because it creates passion,” said Ebert, who expects financial responsibility to soon switch hands. “We’re trying to force the city to take on funding for next year – the ’05-’06 year. The people involved with the program’s success are voters, and we’ll have an impact on elections.

“We had over 180 student athletes playing at the varsity level last year,” Ebert added. “Other than a handful of kids, most wouldn’t be playing a spring varsity sport otherwise. It’s an endorsement of our firstyear success at the varsity level.”

The cost to fund the program in ’04 was approximately $40,000, according to GMLB Treasurer Posey Fradette. With the continued increase in lax athletes, particularly at the middle school level, the number of participants is expected to surpass 200 for the ’05 season. As a result, the GMLB set its fundraising goal at $50,000 for the three city schools.

“It’s very exciting to see this interest,” Fradette said. “We enjoy seeing the freshmen coming through the door. They are truly the future of our program.”

The booster club’s plan calls for every player to raise $200 on his or her own through two organized fundraisers – a money calendar sale and a raffle ticket sale. The alternative is for players to pay the amount up front.

The money calendars were available on Nov. 1, with the GMLB’s hope that raffle ticket distribution would start on Dec. 1.

Since the $200 per-player fee is separate from the $50,000 fundraising goal, the GMLB will hold additional fundraisers, including Christmas tree and wreath sales in December.

“The ultimate goal is to have fundraising out of the way before the season,” Ebert said. “It’s an enormous distraction in season because of game activities.”

Of the $50,000 total, the largest chunk – $18,000 – is used to pay coaches.

Ebert said coaches must be paid for any sport to receive varsity status.

After that, approximate costs include $7,500 for referees, $7,500 for transportation, $6,500 for team equipment (players are responsible for personal equipment), $6,000 for field maintenance and $850 for NHIAA dues, with the remaining $3,650 earmarked for miscellaneous purposes.

Ebert said there will not be varsity lacrosse if the GMLB doesn’t reach its goal.

“But as long as the money is raised,” Fradette added, “Central, Memorial and West will have varsity status.”