By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/14/22
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Shootout for Soldiers (SFS) returned to Philadelphia Wednesday at Episcopal Academy.
It wasn’t as big a turnout as the three previous events held in 2017-19, but its impact was just as great.
“The time coming back from COVID is a healing time for everyone to get out here for fun,” said Alexis Brandolini, the SHS Director of Strategy and a former lacrosse standout at Academy of Notre Dame.
“Nothing looks quite like these games. It’s a chance for families and for parents to get out and play. One game started with a water balloon fight! That’s why we say healing – and healing for the veterans who need support like never before.”
Typically, the SFS featured a 24-hour event with teams playing for an hour, even on two fields at a time. Wednesday’s event went for 12 hours on one field, but after two years off the importance of SFS is perhaps even greater.
“In our first game, we had 7th and 8th grade boys and we made sure they understood who they are supporting and why we are playing the medicine game,” said Chris Bates, the Philly Shootout For Soldiers Chairperson and Episcopal Academy head coach, who helps organize the event with EA girls coach Josie Tomaino. “When you remind yourself of the core mission we’re trying to accomplish here, there’s a greater purpose.
“This is a chance to play the game with no stress and without the pressure of college coaches watching, or and winning and losing. It’s about the community coming together to support a wonderful cause.”
“We’re just coming out of COVID. It will take us a little bit to (make it bigger), but I know Philadelphia will support this.”
Shootout for Soldiers is a lacrosse event benefiting American veterans. Over $5 million has been raised since its inception 10 years ago in Baltimore. There are events this summer at seven locations; still coming are SFS on Long Island (July 21-22) and in Upstate New York (Canandaigua, July 30-31) and Baltimore (Sept. 10-11).
Wednesday’s event featured 13 teams, free clinics run by PLL coaches through Performance Academy, and plenty of t-shirts, caps and other Shootout for Soldiers accessories.
The Philly website can be found here – and the top fundraising teams and individuals are noted. So far $31,438 has been raised for the Philly event and donations are accepted year long by clicking here.
“We are trying to do our part to grow the game and we use the platform of lacrosse to support the American veterans and foster community engagement,” said Erik Mineo, the Shootout for Soldiers National Executive Director. “Our goal for this is to bring it back to Philadelphia.
“We are working on the numbers and growing it, but just being here and having the place for people to come while creating the space for athletes to and players and families to connect is the key.”
The highlight Wednesday was the annual Veterans Lacrosse Game at 7 p.m., preceded by a Blackhawk FlyBy at 500 feet and a spectacular rendition of “God Bless America.”
“Donations are always up on the website – also here on the national website – for people in other areas. And we still have Long Island, Canandaigua and Baltimore to go.”
Mineo said expansion of Shootout For Soldiers is coming – hopefully in Philadelphia in the Fall. Already SFS has partnered with the PLL, the NLL and USA Lacrosse.
“As we innovate and expand to the future, we know lacrosse doesn’t just take place in the summer and on the field,” he said “As a sneak peak, we are planning our first ever Shootout For Soldiers box indoor lacrosse edition right here in Philly.
“We want to be all things that connect lacrosse.. We’re going to be fundraising year round at a lot of tournaments. We want to bring our values to those tournaments, so young players can learn why they are playing and what they are playing for.”
Brandolini noted that many youth players participated this year to open the event – the Tigers XXVI, Freedom and Team PA (boys) and Marple Mavericks and WissLax (girls) as well as Philly Blast.
“Some of the kids who played in earlier events in Philly are now in college so now it’s time to educate the younger ones who had never been to a Shootout,” she said. ” Some of these kids don’t have a veteran to talk to so it’s a real nice opportunity to understand military customs and traditions.”
Amelia Divalerio, a rising freshman at Marple Newtown and a member of Delco LC, played for the Marple Mavericks as a first-timer at SFS. “I think it’s really cool how we all came together to play a sport we love to help people and to show our pride for America.
“It’s really important because all the little kids get to see other people doing what they like and something that supports a cause. It will get them interested. Soldiers need all the support they can get and there’s a lot of togetherness.”
Rowan Hilden, another rising freshman at Marple Newtown High and the Marple Mavericks thought the fundraising was a key component to the community service lesson. “I think that rising money together, having fun and playing a sport we love, for all ages is great,” said Hilden, who plays for the Phantastix. “We’re not just coming to play lacrosse, but to help raise money for veterans.”
