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As far as lacrosse hotbeds go, Yorktown is up there with the best of them.
Randy Davidoff knows that as well as anyone.
Today though, the 1990 Yorktown High School graduate is about as far away from his hometown as you can imagine. But hes still very involved in the game.
In fact, you might say hes found his own lacrosse paradise. Ive been here in Hawaii for about 15 years and moved here to attend grad school and for a bit of adventure and just never really left, Davidoff said.
Davidoffs time in Hawaii has coincided with the growth in the game not only seen in Westchester and throughout the continental United States, but in our 50th state. Honolulu hosts the annual Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational Tournament, which was held in late October for the 21st straight year, and it attracts some of the top players in the world.
Davidoff has played an integral role in the sports growth at the grassroots level. He founded the Hawaii Youth Lacrosse Tomorrow Foundation.
The weather is beautiful about 360 days out of the year, Davidoff said. As you see in football and baseball, Hawaii develops some amazing athletes. Not only do I see potential to develop some great young players who may end up going to mainland colleges, but Hawaiis geographical location and diverse population makes it the crossroads between the U.S.and Asia.
With lacrosse starting to take hold in Asia, I think it is a very viable dream that one day Honolulu will host international youth lacrosse tournaments. Hawaii is already known for hosting some amazing international soccer tournaments, why not lacrosse?
Spoken like a true former Husker.
I think back to my earliest days playing in about fifth grade for Coach Mitch Lieberman, said Davidoff, who now plays in an adult league. The only place for miles and miles away to buy lax gear was the Sports Barn and you could throw around on the neighboring field/pasture which happened to have a goal.
I was third-string attack and fourth-line midfielder. We won the state championship in 1989. I had a broken leg but great party at Mr. Murphs (Yorktown lacrosse co-founder Charlie Murphy), and then we lost in the final in 1990. I have found that fourth-string midfielders from Yorktown are actually quite good when not playing against other Yorktowners.
* You can find out more about the Hawaii Youth Lacrosse Tomorrow Foundation by checking out its page on Facebook.
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