New Jackson Lacrosse Program Popular with Hockey Players

Jackson Lacrosse goalie Hikaru Matzen has produced nearly 40 saves in net in the last two games.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 14, 2024 7:30 AM ET) A year ago, the only sticks and balls Western High School student-athlete Hikaru Matzen cared about were golf clubs and Titleists.

But the Western High School senior is one of nearly three dozen players participating in a cooperative program playing lacrosse for Jackson.

The team consists of players from Jackson, Western, Northwest, Lumen Christi, and Michigan Center.

Matzen joined the team a couple of months ago and is the starting goalie for Jackson. He learned the position using an interesting method.

“I spent a lot of time sitting in my room and watching YouTube,” Matzen said. “The Princeton (University) goalie is really good with a lower stance.”

Matzen played hockey for eight years and golf for the last three years. He made the switch to lacrosse during his senior season.

He enjoys the physical aspect of the sport and compares it to his experience playing hockey.

Jackson Head Coach David Flack said the program started about a couple of years ago when a lacrosse clinic was presented to students – pre-Covid. A number of the students are now high school age. 

When Jackson started the program a year ago – over Easter weekend – they had two nets donated by the Jackson Recreation Department, 14 sticks, and 20 balls. 

“It has been an amazing journey Flack said. “Spanish teacher Raquel Rodriguez has helped spearhead the project.”

Flack said the group reached out to the hockey community for players. The two teams are similar with players using sticks to help put an object into a goal.

But lacrosse may be more physical than high school hockey as players are constantly hacking at the players with the ball trying to jar it loose.

“We were picking up athletes where we could,” Flack said. “The physical nature of the sport draws a lot of guys to it. 

“The first time you go for a ground ball and don’t use good technique … you get welcomed to the sport rather quickly.”

Jackson practices at Dungy Field at Jackson High School and plays games at the former Lumen Christi Catholic High School soccer field. The team has also taken advantage of the indoor Al Glick Athletic Center at JHS the past few weeks due to inclement weather.

There are four 12-minute quarters with a fast pace as players are substituted out frequently from the sideline. 

Players started practicing on their own over a year ago.

“I told our guys to get a ball and stick and find a big concrete wall and start passing to yourself,” Flack said. “Catching and passing is where you start. After that learning how to run with the ball is important.”

Jackson is 1-2 on the season having won its first match 10-9 over Ypsilanti but losing to longtime programs Holt (8-6) and Tecumseh (9-5). Luke Bergkoetter and Jack Whyte have been two of the top scorers for Jackson so far this season. 

“We have a lot of tremendous athletes on the team … we are going to surprise some people,” Flack said.