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The primary purpose of Madison Area Lacrosse Association (MALA) is to promote the game of lacrosse in a safe and sportsmanlike environment. MALA wants kids to grow up playing a game of speed, position, and finesse, rather than physical intimidation. The goal is to conduct all our activities in a manner that will set an example of good sportsmanship and friendly competition for our young players.
MALA Board Meeting Location
The MALA board meetings are held monthly at the Vantage Building West, located at 7818 Big Sky Drive, right across from the Point Theatre parking lot. Come in the front door, up the stairs and the meeting room is directly in front of you.
History of MALA
In May 2001, Drew Malcom moved from Minneapolis to Verona to live with his cousin, rising high school freshman Brett Schnirring. Drew had played for a high school club team in Minnesota, and brought his crosse with him to Verona. Brett became quite inquisitive about the game of lacrosse. He bought sticks and invited his friends to play catch with him. The interest was contagious, and that summer 14 soon-to-be freshmen boys started practicing together.
Mark King, video coordinator for UW Badger hockey team, who had played lacrosse at Marquette, found out about the boys’ practices and volunteered to coach them. He held twice-weekly practices that summer, working on the most basic skills.
In late August Bill Glenn, parent of twins in the team of boys, arranged a “tournament” with “teams” from Verona, Superior, Madison Memorial and Milwaukee. When the weekend arrived, only Verona and Superior fielded teams at Verona’s Badger Prairie Park. Superior’s team of high school boys beat the Verona nearly freshman boys 6-3 on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday. Sid Flanders and Bruce Kahn presided over the games as referees.
The boys’ enthusiasm for the game grew tremendously from that experience. They pressured Bill Glenn to form a league of teams in the Madison area to play. Bill used his contacts in the youth hockey organizations, plus Mark King’s contacts at UW to generate enough interest to field eight high school boys teams in the spring 2002 season. Bill helped find coaches, fields, and players. His wife Deb Glenn formed the Madison Area Lacrosse Association to govern the league. Ken Bice recruited and scheduled the referees.
In the 2003 season, the Madison league grew from 8 to 11 teams. In 2004, the conference split into 8 varsity and 4 JV teams and today is still adding teams.
2007
10 Varsity Teams
Madison LaFollette, Madison Memorial (Varsity Only), Middleton, Oregon, Regents, Sauk Prairie, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee
10 JV Teams
Janesville (JV Only), Madison LaFollette, Middleton, Oregon, Regents, Sauk Prairie, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee
In 2008, the league anticipated future growth and decided to split the league into two divisions. The league has continued to grow, althought a faltering Oregon team split up players onto other area teams.
RED Varsity WHITE Varsity
Madison Memorial Janesville
Middleton Madison LaFollette
Regents Stoughton
Sauk Prairie Sun Prairie
Verona Waunakee
RED JV WHITE JV
Middleton Red Janesville
Middleton White Madison LaFollette
Regents Stoughton
Sauk Prairie Sun Prairie
Verona Black Waunakee
Verona Orange
Growth Information Chart located on the WLF Website at www.wisconsinlacrosse.com
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