Lancer Lacrosse’s club status eliminated after losing previous sponsor

The boys’ Lancer lacrosse team, formerly an East club, is no longer affiliated with the school after losing their club sponsor David Muhammad and being unable to find a school employee willing to endorse their club.

District rules require sponsors to attend every event, meeting, and activity associated with the club. For the lacrosse team, this means all 24 games, daily spring practices and out-of-town tournaments to St. Louis and Wisconsin. Players attempted to recruit teachers to be their sponsor, such as marketing teacher Mercedes Rasmussen, but were turned down after requirements were reviewed because of the time commitment it would require. But, they will continue to look for a sponsor for future years.

The lacrosse team will no longer be recognized by pep club and will not be allowed to have a Lancer Day float if they are still unable to find a sponsor by next August. While the players acknowledge that these are not major changes for their team, they are also disappointed to lose these perks.

“It is a weird feeling not being associated with the school anymore,” Senior lacrosse player JJ Ruf said. “It is really unfortunate because [pep club] was a big way to get people to games by reaching out on pep club Twitter and at pep assemblies. We can’t do that anymore, so it will be a different demographic at the games.

Muhammad, who no longer teaches in the district, thinks sponsoring the team is a double-edged sword. While the team achieves great success and camaraderie, they also face disciplinary problems like drinking at school events and vaping in the locker room that can be hard to deal with. Muhammad considered quitting during his time as sponsor due to poor decision making by some team members but continued because the teamwork on the field brings Lancer pride.

“On one hand, they have become a really big part of our community and are very good,” Muhammad said. “Their games are exciting and they have a lot of community and parent support. That’s a fact, but also you can’t deny that those boys turn up and go to parties. There is going to have to be a culture change on the team. Teachers don’t want to be associated with that if they are going to be a headache.”

Muhammad wasn’t aware of the sponsor requirements when he was the sponsor, only attending games and meetings when he could. It is his assumption that the administration is being more strict on sponsor requirements this year due to the team’s past disciplinary problems. Athletic Director Debbie Katzfey denies that assumption, attributing the struggle to the time commitment it would take to be the lacrosse sponsor. 

Senior lacrosse player Will Mohr doesn’t think that lack of affiliation will affect the team or season. They will continue with the Lancer name and logo and still have the same players. He thinks that their successes will continue whether they have the support of the school or not. 

“There really is no difference between being a club and not being a club,” Mohr said. “We still have our own club bylaws and our teams enforces the same rules that KSHAA would enforce. We still are going to be run the same way so nothing is going to change except for the status of being a club.” 

He also acknowledged that he understands the reputation that Lacrosse has at East. He knows there might be negative connotations with being their sponsor, but thinks the good outweighs the bad. 

Although they don’t have pep club’s endorsement, the administration intends to continue to support the team by retweeting game times and sharing lacrosse accomplishments with their followers. The administration looks to support all student accomplishments, whether it is affiliated with East or not, according to Katzfey. 

“We are going to recognize our kids because kids are kids,” Katzfey said. “If you are a Lancer, you are a Lancer. As long as you are a student of ours, we are going to cheer you on and be happy for you and support you in everything you do.”

For Head Coach Will Garrett, the change doesn’t mean much. He said the team’s dynamic and success will stay the same under the Lancer name. 

“We will still be practicing on the East field. We will still have Lancers across our chest,” Garrett said. “I think students will still come to our games. It really just was a technicality, in my opinion.”