Fishburne Lacrosse Pumping Up for Season
Fishburne Lacrosse prepares for Lift-a-Thon in the Caissons weight-room. l to r: Cadet Bobby Goetz (Blacksburg, VA), Cadet Joseph Megel (Lottsburg, VA), Coach Jon Oliveri, BC Curt Rowell (Chesapeake, VA).
The Fishburne Military School Lacrosse team will be taking to the field this spring with a new focus and fervor that many will be able to trace back to a cold, December week. Captain Jon Oliveri, the team’s new head coach, has already begun organizing the Caissons and setting some high standards. This, in turn, has motivated the team to launch their Winter Lift-a-Thon.
Aside from encouraging players to use their off-season for building endurance and strength, the Winter Lift-a-Thon is playing an important role in building team cohesion and morale. Players are already setting lofty goals for themselves and putting in the sweat-equity to reach them.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, team members promoted their Lift-a-Thon to family and friends and recruited individual sponsors who pledged a certain amount per pound lifted by a Caisson LAX player during a total of 3 lifts: bench press, leg press and squat.
Through this campaign, the team hopes to demonstrate unity, determination and strength while raising funds for new equipment and lacrosse sticks. Players note that if the Lift-a-Thon is successful enough, additional funds raised may be used to set up a lacrosse scholarship fund to be given to a cadet who excels in the classroom and on the lacrosse field.
Oliveri, who has taken the reins of the program this year, has been playing lacrosse since he was in 3rd grade. Upon graduating high school he went to play for SUNY Oswego and at Suffolk County Community College where he was heavily recruited by division 2 and 3 schools including Lenoir Rhyne University and SUNY Oneonta. He has also officiated the sport since 10th grade with 3 years at the varsity level. CPT Oliveri graduated from Stony Brook University with a BA in Hispanic Languages and literature and his MAT in Spanish education. He came to FMS as a foreign language instructor and coach this year.
As far as expectations for the upcoming season, Oliveri notes. “I plan to share my love for the sport and just have a great time…as I always would say to my teammates: “Let’s chillax and play some Lax”. That being said, I am strict when it comes to team discipline. I am thrilled to be coaching the sport that I love and that has had a huge impact on my life.”
For now, the winter means focusing on training and team-building in preparation for the season. Setting the pace for the Lift-a-Thon is Cadet Joseph Megel (Lottsburg, VA), one of the 2014-2015 team captains, who is projected to hoist a total of 1000 lbs for the cause.
The Winter Lift-a-Thon will take place December 8th-12th. If you would like to sponsor a player, please contact Coach Oliveri at joliveri@fishburne.org as soon as possible.
Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. Boasting a 100% college-acceptance rate for the past 10 consecutive years, FMS has also been designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academics. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation, accredited by US Army Cadet Command. For more information visit www.fishburne.org.
