DVC Viking Lacrosse: In a league of its own

 (A retrospective article written by founding Viking Lacrosse club advisor, Terry Armstrong)

"So let me get this straight…the West Coast Lacrosse League won't recognize us as an entity, won't consider us for inclusion into the league, and games we play won't be listed in the WCLL team schedules, but you'll mandate that we have WCLL officials who we are required to pay for home 'scrimmages,' and you'll charge our players year-for-year eligibility if they play in scrimmages during the spring season."  My reiteration of the logic that was presented to me was affirmed, yet it could hardly be considered logical.  At the time, this was one of the very disappointing moments of a phenomenal inaugural Spring '09 season, where the Vikings posted an impressive record of 4 wins, 1 loss, facing both Division I and II opponents of the WCLL…but the cold reality loomed that we had just "burned" a year of eligibility for players who played in those scrimmages.

As it turns out, this forced the Viking Lacrosse club members to re-assess their club's identity and direction.  They had proven that they could play outstanding lacrosse at the Division II level, and certainly opened some eyes throughout both Divisions I and II, having defeated UC Santa Cruz, the WCLL's Division II league and tournament champions.  In a post-season meeting, I explained the situation to the players.  While they were all disappointed that they would likely be losing a year of eligibility, they also recognized that this was an important sacrifice to make in order to announce the arrival of Viking Lacrosse.  Having received written confirmation from the league that all games played in the Fall were considered "Fall Ball" and would not adversely affect player eligibility, a vote was taken among the members present at this momentous meeting, and the unanimous decision was to play a full schedule in the Fall and forego our spring season.  Also, they wouldn't limit their opponents to Division II or the lowest half of Division I.  They would invite and challenge the elite lacrosse programs in northern California to come to DVC to become acquainted with Viking Lacrosse and its student athletes.  "Bring 'em on!"

Aspects of this vision were initially voiced early in the Fall '08 by an important community supporter of Viking Lacrosse, Al Boyce, the coach of Alhambra High lacrosse, and the public address announcer at Viking lacrosse games.  "Advertise that you are the scrimmage dummies of the west coast, and take on all takers."  Last Fall, at the last lacrosse class session of 2008 Viking Lacrosse course instructor and coach Jeffrey Smith called me over to discuss an idea for how we might proceed for Fall '09.  He indicated that this area is the hotbed of lacrosse in California, and DVC was well positioned to offer graduating high school lacrosse players the opportunity to continue their lacrosse careers.  He believed we could use Al's vision and the league's restrictions as a means to expand the reach and awareness of DVC and Viking Lacrosse, and use the Fall season to introduce DVC players to the Division I and II coaches thus creating even more opportunities for DVC lacrosse players to continue their play at the university level. 

Sometimes things just fall nicely into place, and for the most part, the club, its coaches and advisors are very satisfied with how things have proceeded organizationally in the Fall '09.  We not only managed to schedule 16 games, but the Vikings' enthusiasm, heart, and play totally "wowed" opposing coaches and teams.  Stunning victories over Stanford University, University of Nevada-Reno, and San Jose State sent a shockwave down the San Andreas Fault to San Luis Obispo, as the Division I league champion, Cal Poly SLO coach contacted me about setting up a spring time scrimmage with the Vikings;  he had heard at the league meeting in October that we were "legit and they'd love us to come down" (and then promise to come up the following year.)  I informed him of our situation with the league, and that we were deeply honored by his invitation, but we'd have to decline, as we had to protect our players' eligibility at the four-year level.  After explaining the league's stance, he responded by saying, "That's such a bunch of C%#P!"  He indicated that as a new board member on the WCLL, he was going to look into all avenues to help us out so the Vikings might be able to compete in the Spring without affecting our players' eligibility.  While he could offer no promises, his and the equivalent sentiment and moral support of the coaches from Stanford, Nevada-Reno, University of Pacific, St. Mary's, Chico State and Sonoma State speak volumes about the rise of and respect for the Vikings on the west coast.

Where is Viking Lacrosse headed now?  To be totally honest, I am not completely sure.  For the players, coaches and me, we'd probably be satisfied with sticking to our Fall ball schedule, seeing players transfer and play at the four-year level, and stunning a Division 1 team now and again.  We will have an end of the year team meeting, and the club members will set the course.  But, wherever Viking Lacrosse goes, it's "gonna" be exciting, so hop on aboard this longboat for the long haul, as the Vikings fully intend to continue making its splash in the world of lacrosse.

(As it turns out, the vision of the Viking Lacrosse team members in 2008-09 has been realized.  Accruing, in 14 years. a winning percentage of 65% including historic wins over Cal, Stanford, Cal Poly, Simon Fraser [Canada], and Sonoma State, DVC is established. As the advisor over these 14 years, the experience watching young men and a woman, not only establish but maintain the program and continue to play lacrosse has been inspiring and one of the real joys of my career at DVC. I will retire in spring of '22 knowing that DVC Lacrosse will continue being a force in lacrosse and offer opportunities for future lacrosse players to continue playing this incredible sport.  Special thanks to all the coaches who have contributed so much to the program. Without each one of them, the program wouldn't be what it is today. Special thanks to Yvonne Canada and Bill Oye, who embraced DVC Lacrosse as a club sport at DVC and allowed it to blossom, and to Christine Worsley who pulled the program under the DVC Athletics umbrella, when new administration in the club office was poised to deny the program's continuance as a DVC club.)