Inside look at UNT’s lacrosse team
The UNT lacrosse team may not be as famous as the football team, but the sport is just as intense.
Lacrosse at North Texas is a club sport, meaning that it does not receive the same equipment, facilities, medical staff and training the varsity sports receive. Because of these obstacles, players have to sacrifice their body for the game they enjoy.
“They have the facilities, the trainers and doctors to help them,” senior lacrosse player Logan Riggas said in reference to NCAA lacrosse teams. “With us being physical, it’s like if you’re hurt, you’re hurt. You play through it.”
The difference in funding between NCAA lacrosse and club lacrosse illustrates just how much passion these club players have for the game.
Connor Crossland, a senior lacrosse player for the Mean Green, is a former NCAA Division III lacrosse player for Hendrix College and can easily spot the training difference between club and NCAA lacrosse.
“There was a lot more work, more practice time and more hours put forward,” Crossland said.
However, the competition does not vary much from that level to the club level.
“The competition’s still about the same,” Crossland said. “There’s still a lot of really good players.”
On the financial side of the collegiate sports spectrum, club and varsity athletics are very different. On the time management side of things though, club lacrosse players still have to sacrifice a lot of time and learn how to balance school and sports.
“You really have to learn to balance, and you have to pay attention and focus highly on your grades,” senior lacrosse player Zachary Bach said.
Lacrosse player Logan Riggas expressed a similar sentiment.
“[The schedule] makes it difficult, but it’s not bad if you learn to time manage,” Riggas said. “I’ve struggled a couple times, especially in the spring when we’re traveling, but a lot of the guys on the team are willing to help you.”
The North Texas Mean Green lacrosse team is like most other athletic teams when it comes to one thing it tries to promote and encourage – camaraderie.
“This is an amazing sport, amazing guys, everything pulls you together,” Bach said.
Featured Image: Junior Connor Cross Mean Green lacrosse player charges another player in a one-on-one drill during Tuesday practice. Matthew Flores
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