LYNBROOK LACROSSE HISTORY (OVERVIEW)

IN 1957 JOHN CANNELLA, A RECENT GRADUATE OF CORTLAND STATE, STARTED A LACROSSE PROGRAM IN LYNBROOK HS THAT WOULD FIRST COMPETE IN THE SPRING OF 1958.  AS A RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS, A PROGRAM BEGAN THAT WOULD BE INSTRUMENTAL TO THOUSANDS OF LYNBROOK YOUTHS FOR OVER  THE NEXT 50 PLUS YEARS.  MR. CANNELLA - THE FATHER OF LYNBROOK LACROSSE - WENT ON TO COACH THE TEAM FOR SIX SEASONS BEFORE BECOMING THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT LHS.  HIS PROGRAM WAS TO BECOME THE PRIDE OF THE LYNBROOK COMMUNITY.

COACH JACK KALEY TOOK OVER THE REINS FROM COACH CANNELLA FOR THE NEXT 4 SEASONS BEFORE HE MOVED ON TO EAST MEADOW HS AND NY TECH WHERE HE ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS. COACH BILL GROOM SUCCEEDED KALEY FOR THE NEXT 4 SEASONS AND IMPROVED BOTH THE SCHEDULE AND QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM.  IN 1972 COACH TONY SEAMAN TOOK OVER THE TEAM FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND STEADILY MADE IT ONE OF THE BEST IN NASSAU COUNTY.  SEAMAN WENT ON TO THE COLLEGE LEVEL (C.W. POST, UPENN, JOHNS HOPKINS, TOWSON STATE) TO BECOME ONE OF THE WINNINGEST COACHES IN LACROSSE HISTORY.

IN 1982 COACH LARRY GLENZ INHERITED A WINNING PROGRAM AND EXTENDED THAT TRADITION FOR THE NEXT 27 YEARS.  LYNBROOK WON 2 STATE, 3 LONG ISLAND, AND 5 NASSAU COUNTY TITLES AND COMPETED AS A TOP TEAM EVERY SEASON.  NUMEROUS LYNBROOK PLAYERS WENT ON TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND MANY RETURNED TO SUPPORT THEIR ALMA MATER AS COACHES ON EVERY LEVEL FROM THE YOUTH PROGRAMS TO THE LYNBROOK VARSITY.  COACH BILL LEIGHLEY, ASSISTANT LYNBROOK VARSITY COACH FOR 15 SEASONS, HAS EARNED THE POSITION AS THE NEW LEADER OF THE PROGRAM IN 2009 AND IS CERTAIN TO PROVIDE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR HIS PLAYERS.

THESE 50+ YEARS OF TRADITION HAS GIVEN WAY TO THE CREATION OF THE "LYNBROOK LACROSSE ALUMNI AND FRIENDS" ORGANIZATION.  IT IS AN ORGANIZATION OF MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL AGES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR LIVES TOUCHED IN A POSITIVE WAY BY THE PROGRAM STARTED BY MR. CANNELLA.  IT IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE LYNBROOK COMMUNITY AND A BROTHERHOOD / SISTERHOOD OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS THAT HAVE BECOME MEN AND WOMAN.  

GO BROOK!