WC’s lacrosse team ‘gives back to the game’ by mentoring local youth

Members of Wilmington College’s men’s lacrosse team staged 10 weekly training sessions throughout the fall in which they introduced third, fourth and fifth-grade boys from Wilmington’s Denver Place Elementary School to the game they love.

Head Coach Brian Kingsbury encouraged his players to “give back to the game” as a means of community outreach through the after-school activity. He noted that lacrosse is not as widely known as the more traditional American sports of football, basketball and baseball. 

“When college athletes visit an elementary school to teach the sport of lacrosse, it benefits the community on multiple levels: introducing kids to a new game, providing mentorship and inspiring young students to pursue both athletics and higher education,” he said. “In this way, our team helps grow the sport and strengthen its presence in the community.”

Kingsbury, who’s in his first year at the Quakers’ helm, hearkened to the team’s initial meeting in August when he reminded his players that attending college and playing an intercollegiate sport is a privilege that relatively few can enjoy.

“At Wilmington College, where community service is a core value, volunteering at a local elementary school allows us to give back, grow the game and live out our purpose of serving others,” he said. “Engaging in service helps our student-athletes better understand the community around them, and it broadens their perspective beyond campus life.”

He said that he and his players are building a team culture in which they emphasize loving their community, showing empathy and leading with courage. “Our team actively practices these values,” Kingsbury added. “We are giving back, connecting with our neighbors and creating positive relationships with local youth — all of which contribute to a strong, service-oriented team culture.”

The lacrosse team’s work did not go unnoticed, as Brook McCoy, school counselor at Denver Place Elementary, expressed in a note to WC President Corey Cockerill, the school’s “sincere gratitude” for its new partnership with WC’s lacrosse team. 

“Our students looked forward to these sessions every single week,” McCoy said, noting the experience far exceeded simply learning the fundamentals of lacrosse. “They were genuinely inspired by the players’ leadership, encouragement and positivity — and they had so much fun.” 

McCoy lauded the lacrosse players for taking time from their busy schedules to not just show up each week, but to show up prepared, patient and fully engaged. “That truly meant the world to our students and to us. They were outstanding role models, and this mentorship has been nothing short of wonderful.”

McCoy shared that teachers at Denver Place noticed “meaningful positive changes” in several of the boys. “They displayed greater confidence, improved behavior and a sense of belonging that they carried with them throughout the school day.” Also, the experience motivated some to join a local lacrosse team, “which speaks volumes about the impact your athletes made.”

Cockerill thanked the lacrosse team leaders, coaches and staff who made the outreach program possible. 

“Brook McCoy’s words made it clear how meaningful it was for these young students to spend quality time with our Wilmington College lacrosse players,” she said. “When I think about how the College can best serve the local community in a true ‘college town’ fashion, this is precisely what I think of.”