April 12, 2007
Governor Sonny Perdue Signs Proclamation
Declaring Georgia Lacrosse Day:
Atlanta, GA (April 3, 2007) - Governor Sonny Perdue today proclaimed
April 21, 2007 to be ‘Georgia Lacrosse Day,’ which will be highlighted by the hosting of two college tournaments
on the same weekend in metro Atlanta. The SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) Championship Tournament at Northview High
School in Duluth for the third consecutive year, April 20-22nd. That same weekend, Milton High School will host the Southeastern
Women’s Lacrosse League (SWLL) Championship Tournament.
(From Left to Right) Mike Bodker (Mayor, City of Johns Creek), Ken Lovic (SELC Vice President, Head Coach, Georgia
Tech Lacrosse), State of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, Skip Schulze (Host Committee Chair, Northview High School Lacrosse),
Bill Magyar (Director, Georgia Lacrosse Foundation), and Neal O'Brien (City Council Member Post 4, City of Milton)The
growth of lacrosse across the country is unprecedented and Georgia has more than contributed its share to that growth. It’s
estimated that over 5000 youth of all ages are now participating in organized lacrosse activities in Metro Atlanta. This explosion
has not only fueled the growth of the SELC and the SWLL, but made the decision on where to hold the SELC tournament an easy
one for Doug Horn, SELC Tournament Director.
"We originally chose Northview because of the availability of the turf,
but the success and growth of the event year after year and the hospitality we’re shown in Johns Creek keep us coming
back," said Doug Horn, Director of the SELC.
The economic impact to the area will certainly be felt, with possibly
the largest influx of visitors to the new cities since their inception.
"The SELC will bring twelve teams, along with
their coaches and fans, so that’s easily a few thousand people over the course of the weekend," said Skip Schulze, Northview
High School lacrosse tournament director.
The SELC is a collegiate lacrosse club league based in the southeastern United
States. It was founded in 1987 to provide for organized, regional college level lacrosse competition and as an outlet for
high school players once they reach the collegiate level.
The SELC tournament will feature twelve teams in two divisions.
Last year, Georgia and Georgia Tech were joined by tournament champion Florida State, Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech
in the A Division. Many of those teams are making strong bids to be there again in April. In the B Division, both Emory University
and Savannah College of Art and Design participated last year when Eckerd College from Florida won the title.
"Each
year, the teams competing have raised their level of play. The players are better, the coaching is better and team preparations
are more in-depth than ever before. You’ll see All-Americans playing at various positions on these teams," said Horn.
