Passion project: West Bridgewater (Mass.) teen is growing the game

Andrew Perry recently completed his freshman year at West Bridgewater (Mass.) Middle-Senior High School. (Courtesy)

Andrew Perry just completed his freshman year at West Bridgewater (Mass.) Middle-Senior High School, but his vision goes beyond his age.

He’s combined two of his loves – community and lacrosse – with a dogged persistence and desire to grow the game in his home area.

The result is an upcoming three-day clinic for players in grades 1-8, with a goal of introducing the game to more young players and, ultimately, translating that interest to a high school team one day at West Bridgewater.

“We need to get them started at a young age,” said Perry.

The “Learn to Lacrosse” clinic is scheduled to be held at West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School from Monday, July 15, to Wednesday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. each evening. Nearly 50 players had already registered through Monday (sign-up link included below).

Perry, 15, does not come from a lacrosse family; he picked up the sport independently, starting with Raynham Youth Lacrosse at age 6 and club lacrosse at age 9.

“I wasn’t very much of a baseball player,” he said. “It never really clicked for me and my parents brought up lacrosse. It’s a physical sport, but not as physical as football and not as many injuries.”

He was one of a half-dozen or so players from West Bridgewater who played on a cooperative team with East Bridgewater for the first time this spring. In talking to fellow student-athletes he heard a version of the same story: Players enjoyed the sport but wished they had begun playing at a younger age.

With the help of his mother, Michelle, Perry sent out a survey in conjunction with the West Bridgewater Youth Athletic Association that showed there was plenty of interest in a summer clinic. So they began planning.

Many of the instructors at the clinic will be high school players from the area. Raynham Youth Lacrosse, East Bridgewater Youth Lacrosse, Mass Youth Lacrosse and 495 Lacrosse are all involved.

If the immediate goal is to introduce the sport to younger players in town, a longer-term goal is to swell the participation numbers to the point that West Bridgewater is able to field its own varsity team.

Perry is also seeking contributions for the clinic that will go to securing equipment, renting facilities and covering other expenses. Donations can be made payable to: WB Learn to Lacrosse, PO Box 136, Raynham, MA 02767.

Perry calls lacrosse his “passion.” In addition to playing on the East Bridgewater/West Bridgewater cooperative team, he plays club with 495 and coaches younger players in the Raynham Youth Lacrosse program.

Now he wants to share that passion with others.

“He has a big vision for a 15-year-old kid,” said Michelle. “We really are proud of him and want to support him in any way we can.”

@MikeZhe603
mzhe@laxjournal.com

To sign up for the Learn to Lacrosse clinic: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wb-learn2lax-summer-clinic-2024-tickets-916730494587?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=&utm-share-source=mobile-search-results