Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/28/09
Team Harley, a team comprised of 45-plus players from Philadelphia and Baltimore, claimed the Grand Master’s Warrior Division Championship last weekend in the 8th Annual Florida Lacrosse Classic in Weston, Fl.
Team Harley (No. 2 seed) defeated the defending champion and 
top-seeded Slo Moes, 13-4, in the finals after whipping Patriot Lacrosse, 17-3, in the semifinals. All proceeds from the tournament, held at TequestaTrace Park near Ft. Lauderdale, raises money for youth lacrosse throughout Florida.
The team was sponsored by Hannum’s Harley Davidson and featured many players with Philly ties. They included: Zach Colburn, a three-time World Team USA member and a member of the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame (Eastern Chapter), who played his collegiate lacrosse at Penn; Gary Martin, a Radnor youth lacrosse and Philadelphia Fever coach and former Wings player and assistant coach; J.R. Castle, former Penn Charter and NC State standout, who played with the Wings during the team’s inception and who has coached at the youth level for the Springfield Athletic Association and at the high school club level with Duke’s Lacrosse Club; Jim Trobridge, Brandywine Youth Club coach; Tommy Hannum, head coach of Downingtown West and a former Wing; Marc Hahn, a former Wing; Al Brown, long-time member of several area Central Atlantic Lacrosse League club teams, including Kelly’s and Berwyn Tavern; and Joe Schaller, former Franklin & Marshall All-American.
The team was sponsored by Hannum’s Harley-Davidson.
Since its inception in 2002, the Florida Lacrosse Classic has helped support 60 new youth lacrosse programs throughout the state by raising over $88,000, accordng to tournament board director Don Clinton.
“We made it our goal to encourage the growth of the sport by providing our expertise, guidance and resources to new start up programs throughout the State of Florida,” he said. “Playing lacrosse in Florida was essentially limited to private high schools and a few community club programs for high school aged boys.
“Eight years ago we decided that in order to grow the sport we needed to start boys and girls playing at a much younger age thereby providing upward pressure into the system. We embarked on a mission to get a stick into as many elementary, middle school and high school age hands as possible. Using the funds generated from the Florida Lacrosse Classic, and with the cooperation of Brine/Warrior, the Foundation teamed up with many hard working volunteers to support over 60 new youth programs throughout the state.”
Eagles and Gray Eagles fare well in Florida
The Eagles, based out of Philadelphia and organized by Bob DiPuppo, finished 2-2 and in fifth place in the Brine Division tourney. Meanwhile, the same group played as thje Gray Eagles and finished fifth in the Super Grand Master’s (50 and over) tourney, dropping several games by one goal. The team is a charter members of the tourney, having gone every year since its inception in 2002.
