AURORA | One spectator at the boys lacrosse matchup between Regis Jesuit and visiting Rockhurst April 13 looked on with particular interest.
Current Regis Jesuit principal Alan Carruthers founded the lacrosse program at Rockhurst back in the mid-1990s and it has since become the premier program in Missouri with seven state championships and three runner-up finishes since 2001.
The Hawklets looked for an out-of-state trip and landed on Colorado, where the connection with Carruthers helped make it happen. Rockhurst also played Highlands Ranch on its two-game swing the state.
While the Hawklets lost 18-4 to Regis Jesuit, Carruthers relished the chance to see where the program is today after he started it as a club sport when he served as a teacher and football coach at Rockhurst.
“When you are an educator, it’s great to see those moments where you plant seeds and they bear fruit,” Carruthers said. “We don’t make millions of dollars, but we have moments like that sometimes.”
The Hawklets are coached by Tim Reidy, a player on one of Carruthers’ early teams and part of the program’s all-time team. Also on the coaching staff is defensive coordinator Ryan McLaughlin, one of Carruthers’ original players.
Reidy knew his primarily young team had its hands full with its matchup with Regis Jesuit, a three-time Colorado state champion and longtime powerhouse.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Sentinel Prep Sports