before it gets too busy. We need to make sure teams give a call two or three weeks in advance to reserve the space and make sure they can get out here.”
With all of that in mind, there are logistical issues that cannot be ignored, but they tend to dwindle when the broader picture is taken into account. For example, Franks’ team was willing to tackle the challenges head on for the chance to experience something special.
“There were certainly challenges with coming out to Nantucket, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to get the kids out here,” says Franks. “They were looking forward to it for a few weeks leading up to the game and, for a lot of them, it was is a chance that they may not get again.”
As teams are increasingly adopting that sort of attitude, Nantucket’s and Martha's Vineyard's island programs are still searching for new ways to grow. There are always new ways to make transportation out there easier and the experience more enjoyable.
“What we’ve tried to implement is making the transportation as easy as possible," said Michael Morse, Regional Director of South Shore, Cape, and Islands. “We’re also trying to get the first four games for the island teams to be away and the last four to be home. That’s done with the weather in mind, so that teams coming over and can have an easier time.”
As solutions such as those are debated and ultimately implemented, there is every reason to believe that the island programs will continue to grow and prosper. Teams are hearing what a day on the islands can entail, and hopes to add a truly special day to the calendar are high.
“People are starting to hear about how we pick them up and the whole experience,” Gamberoni says. “Teams are starting to want to come out here for the day and we’re just as excited to show them what we’re all about. We’ve seen a lot more interest as of late and we really think we can provide a memorable experience for all the players that will last a long time.”
So while not always previously perceived as a desired trip, there are more and more teams seeking the chance to board the ferries and fight tooth and nail against the Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
teams. Challenges and obstacles will always exist, but with a determined attitude and experience that few others can rival, "island lacrosse" as a part of MBYLL should continue to grow.
“The island programs are growing and all the things the league now offers for them and opposing teams contribute to that majorly,” Hurd says. “It’s a great experience out there that encounters its challenges for sure, but we’re doing all we can to help the growth and we know they’re doing the same. It’s really been an exciting endeavor.”
-JS
photographs courtesy of the author and John Zarba (father of Colonials' player Colby Zarba from Martha's Vineyard)
To see these pictures and more great lacrosse shots, visit John's Facebook page: JZsportsimages
18 The Scoop / Summer '15