Fishburne Military School Lacrosse Is Packing On The Pounds

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 John Oliveri, BC Curt Rowell (Chesapeake, VA).

The Fishburne Military School Lacrosse Team has almost reached the half-way point in their Winter Lift-a-Thon and the pounds are piling up. Yesterday, 7 members of the team attacked the bench-press and racked up over 1100 pounds lifted.

Leading the team effort so far is Cadet Joseph Megel (Lottsburg, VA) who is now projected to contribute over 1000 pounds to cause on his own. Tonight Megel and his team mates will head to the squat rack to add to their totals. The Lift-a-Thon will conclude tomorrow evening with leg presses.

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.

The overall goal for FMS LAX is raise over $2000 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.

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.

If you are interested in supporting FMS LAX by sponsoring a lifter, it is not too late! Head Coach Jon Oliveri is still accepting sponsors. He can be reached by email at JOliveri@Fishburne.org for more details.

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.

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.