LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners recognized the St. Mary’s Youth Lacrosse Club’s 30th anniversary and the championship seasons of its 10U, 12U, and 14U teams during a series of proclamations at the commissioners’ meeting on June 24.
The meeting began with Commissioner President Randy Guy highlighting the significance of the club’s milestone, noting the positive role youth sports have played in the community. “We are showing our gratitude to the St. Mary’s Youth Lacrosse Club’s 30th anniversary and numerous championship wins this year,” Guy said at the start of the meeting’s proclamations.
A proclamation celebrating the club’s 30th season acknowledged its founding by Michael Loughran, John Southern, Frank Goldbach, and Michael Stamm, and honored its mission to provide athletes ages 5 through 14 with a place to grow both on and off the field. The proclamation praised the club’s board members for fostering a tradition of teamwork, resilience and achievement over three decades.
Connor Loughran, the club’s secretary, thanked county leaders for their continued support. “We all feel that it is a very important attribute of youth to have sports and camaraderie and teamwork as part of their life,” he said during the ceremony.
The commissioners then recognized the club’s championship teams from the 2025 season. The 10U team, coached by Chad Day and others, was honored for winning the Southern Maryland Youth Lacrosse Association Championship with an undefeated record. The proclamation credited the team’s success to “hard work, dedication to excellence and unwavering determination,” emphasizing the support of parents, coaches and the lacrosse club.
The commissioners next commended the 12U team, led by head coach Richard Gill, which also captured its division’s championship. Gill shared that his team went undefeated throughout the season, with their narrowest victory margin being five goals. “The kids, they put up with me, and they worked pretty hard,” Gill told the commissioners.
Commissioner Scott Ostrow underscored the significance of youth sports in the county. “These are the best days when we have the kids in, the youth in, in the commissioner meetings,” he said, reflecting on the importance of recognizing young athletes’ accomplishments.
The ceremony concluded with the commissioners honoring the 14U team, which secured its own championship title under coaches Eric Beasley, Donald Breeding and Jeffrey Flick. The commissioners praised the team’s “outstanding lacrosse season and dedication to their team and community.”
Commissioner Mike Hewitt took time to recount the early efforts by local leaders and parents in the 1990s to introduce lacrosse into St. Mary’s County high schools. Hewitt credited pioneers like Bart Rogers and Michael Loughran for demonstrating lacrosse’s potential to open college scholarship opportunities, ultimately helping the sport gain a foothold in local schools.
Throughout the meeting, commissioners emphasized how the growth and success of the youth lacrosse program reflect the county’s broader commitment to providing recreational opportunities and fostering community engagement.
The proclamations, signed by all commissioners, formally recognized the club’s 30 years of contributions to St. Mary’s County and the remarkable achievements of the 2025 championship teams, encouraging players, coaches and families to celebrate with pride.
Scholarships, Mentorship and Equipment Donations
Beyond this year’s achievements, the St. Mary’s Youth Lacrosse Club also has its “Grow the Game” initiative, designed to break down barriers to participation for local families. The initiative offers scholarships covering registration fees for those experiencing financial hardship, mentorship programs connecting players with positive role models on and off the field, and access to equipment through community donations, loaner gear and club discounts.
“Whether you are a lifelong lacrosse player looking to give back to the community, or a young athlete looking for a great sport to be a part of, we want you to help us Grow the Game,” the club states on its website.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
