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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. After six years the Peekskill High School men's lacrosse team made the playoffs and the team's coach hopes its the start of more good things to come.
The team was honored Tuesday night by the Peekskill Board of Education for its playoff appearance and coach Jason Jakimer said he wanted to build a foundation to help the sport grow at the school.
"They've had their ups and downs in the past and they've had a number of coaches who have had great credentials but there was no stability from year to year," said Jakimer, a substitute teacher in the Briarcliff schools and a graduate student at Lehman College.
Creating stability in the program and maintaining high standards has also helped build a winning program, Jakimer said.
There is currently a modified team for students in seventh and eighth grade but students automatically go on to the varsity team when they get to high school.
"I try to develop the kids slowly," Jakimer said. "I don't put in kids who aren't on par with the rest of the team. I don't want anybody getting hurt. That's the thinking behind having a freshman and junior varsity squad. But I think the level of play that they get to experience with the older kids brings their level of play up as well so it benefits us."
Jakimer said he hoped to see an increase in youth lacrosse participation in the city in the next few years and he also wants the community at the team's games.
"I'd really like people to come out for the games, which start in the spring and would like to see kids get involved in the sport, get a stick in their hand and get them out there and playing with their friends," Jakimer said.
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