Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
Encyclopedia
The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club is an amateur field lacrosse
club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the nickname of the "Wolfpack" or "Mounties". In 1960, Sports Illustrated
called Mount Washington "one of the most successful athletic dynasties in history". The home field is Norris Field located on Kelly Avenue in Mount Washington, Baltimore, which has been shared with the all-girls Bryn Mawr School
since 1999.
was instrumental in the establishment of the club. In 1906, the club abandoned other sports in order to focus strictly on lacrosse. The club supported itself through home game gate receipts, which in 1969 was about $2.50 per ticket for the popular game against Johns Hopkins. Mount Washington's style of play focused on finesse and a slow-down tempo in order to counter the youth and athleticism of opposing collegiate teams.
Record keeping was somewhat lackadaisical in the club's early days, but according to Sports Illustrated, the team's record from 1925 to 1969 stood at 358–31–3. From 1959 to 1969, Mount Washington compiled a 94–8 record against top college and club competition.
Mount Washington has played as a member of the United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA, merged into American Lacrosse Association in 2007) since its establishment in 1960, and has won 13 USCLA championships. In 1967, Mount Washington represented the United States
in the inaugural World Lacrosse Championship
, which it won by defeating the teams from Australia, England, and Canada. During the 1960s, college lacrosse was dominated by the Naval Academy
, which won eight consecutive USILA championships during the decade. From 1960 to 1966, Mount Washington accounted for three of Navy's six losses.
In 1962, Mount Washington played a televised box lacrosse
competition against a Washington, D.C.
club. In sudden death overtime, the referee inadvertently resumed the game during a television timeout. Mount Washington scored to win the game, but a television official demanded a restart for the cameras, arguing that the box lacrosse league had been established in order to be televised. Despite the club's protests, the officiating staff complied, and Mount Washington scored to win the game a second time.
In the early 1970s, Mount Washington was displaced as perennial club champions by the Long Island Athletic Club (now the Hofstra Lacrosse Club), but returned to win three consecutive USCLA titles from 1975 to 1977.
In 1999, due to financial difficulties, the club sold Norris Field to the Bryn Mawr School
girls preparatory school for $250,000. Mount Washington and Bryn Mawr agreed to a 20-year contract to share the facilities, with the club having access at night for practice and on weekends for games.
, Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductees, and head coaches.
Some of the more accomplished Mount Washington members have been:
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the nickname of the "Wolfpack" or "Mounties". In 1960, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
called Mount Washington "one of the most successful athletic dynasties in history". The home field is Norris Field located on Kelly Avenue in Mount Washington, Baltimore, which has been shared with the all-girls Bryn Mawr School
Bryn Mawr School
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Founded in 1885, BMS is located in the Roland Park community of Baltimore, Maryland, USA at 109 W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore MD 21210.-The Bryn Mawr School Community:In...
since 1999.
History
The Mount Washington Club was founded in 1904, named for the affluent suburb of Baltimore City in which it is located. Johns Hopkins coach Bill SchmeisserBill Schmeisser
William Christian Schmeisser , known widely as "Father Bill", was an American lacrosse player, coach, and patron. He served as the head coach of the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays for ten non-consecutive years, and won eight national championships. He was also an active patron of the sport and promoter of...
was instrumental in the establishment of the club. In 1906, the club abandoned other sports in order to focus strictly on lacrosse. The club supported itself through home game gate receipts, which in 1969 was about $2.50 per ticket for the popular game against Johns Hopkins. Mount Washington's style of play focused on finesse and a slow-down tempo in order to counter the youth and athleticism of opposing collegiate teams.
Record keeping was somewhat lackadaisical in the club's early days, but according to Sports Illustrated, the team's record from 1925 to 1969 stood at 358–31–3. From 1959 to 1969, Mount Washington compiled a 94–8 record against top college and club competition.
Mount Washington has played as a member of the United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA, merged into American Lacrosse Association in 2007) since its establishment in 1960, and has won 13 USCLA championships. In 1967, Mount Washington represented the United States
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
in the inaugural World Lacrosse Championship
World Lacrosse Championship
The World Lacrosse Championship is the world championship for international men's field lacrosse. From its inception in 1967 through the 2006 event, it was sanctioned by the International Lacrosse Federation...
, which it won by defeating the teams from Australia, England, and Canada. During the 1960s, college lacrosse was dominated by the Naval Academy
Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse
The Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...
, which won eight consecutive USILA championships during the decade. From 1960 to 1966, Mount Washington accounted for three of Navy's six losses.
In 1962, Mount Washington played a televised box lacrosse
Box lacrosse
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla, LAX or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played in contrast to the traditional field lacrosse game...
competition against a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
club. In sudden death overtime, the referee inadvertently resumed the game during a television timeout. Mount Washington scored to win the game, but a television official demanded a restart for the cameras, arguing that the box lacrosse league had been established in order to be televised. Despite the club's protests, the officiating staff complied, and Mount Washington scored to win the game a second time.
In the early 1970s, Mount Washington was displaced as perennial club champions by the Long Island Athletic Club (now the Hofstra Lacrosse Club), but returned to win three consecutive USCLA titles from 1975 to 1977.
In 1999, due to financial difficulties, the club sold Norris Field to the Bryn Mawr School
Bryn Mawr School
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Founded in 1885, BMS is located in the Roland Park community of Baltimore, Maryland, USA at 109 W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore MD 21210.-The Bryn Mawr School Community:In...
girls preparatory school for $250,000. Mount Washington and Bryn Mawr agreed to a 20-year contract to share the facilities, with the club having access at night for practice and on weekends for games.
Players
The Mount Washington Club has been amateur throughout its history, with practices and games coming in the spare time of its players. Many of them have been professional businessmen, bankers, lawyers, and stockbrokers. These have included numerous college All-AmericansUSILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
, Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductees, and head coaches.
Some of the more accomplished Mount Washington members have been:
- James "Ace" Adams, Johns Hopkins†
- Frederick A. Allner Jr., PrincetonPrinceton Tigers men's lacrosseThe Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
† - Gordon A. Armstrong, Johns Hopkins†
- Henry Fenimore Baker, SwarthmoreSwarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
† - Ernest J. Betz, Maryland†
- Avery F. Blake Sr.Avery BlakeAvery F. Blake Sr. was a college lacrosse player and coach. He served as the head lacrosse coach at his alma mater, Swarthmore College from 1931 to 1959...
, Swarthmore† - Andrew "Buggs" Combs, Maryland
- Gary Clipp, UMBC‡
- Joseph W. Cowan, Johns Hopkins†
- Agostino M. DiMaggio, Washington College†
- Frederick H. Eisenbrandt Jr., DukeDuke Blue Devils men's lacrosseThe Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse team represents Duke University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
† - William L. Fewster, Johns Hopkins†
- L. Myrton Gaines Jr., Princeton†
- Gary GaitGary GaitGary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
, SyracuseSyracuse Orange men's lacrosseThe Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
† - Paul GaitPaul GaitPaul Gait is widely regarded as one of the best lacrosse players of all time and is the current Vice President of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League...
, Syracuse† - Melvin R. Greene Jr.Ray Greene (lacrosse)Melvin R. "Ray" Greene is an American former lacrosse player. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1981.-Early life and college:...
, Johns Hopkins† - Lorne Randolf Guild, Johns Hopkins†
- Frederic M. Hewitt, Maryland†
- William U. Hooper Jr., VirginiaVirginia Cavaliers men's lacrosseThe Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
† - William Harkinson Hudgins, Johns Hopkins†
- Jim Kappler, Maryland‡
- Benjamin H. Kaestner III, Johns Hopkins†
- Henry Benjamin Kaestner Jr., Johns Hopkins†
- Thomas N. Keigler, Washington & Lee†‡
- Andrew M. Kirkpatrick, St. John's College†
- John C. Knipp, Johns Hopkins†
- Richard M. Kowalchuk, Johns Hopkins†‡
- Alvin B. Krongard, Princeton†‡
- Phil Lamb, Swarthmore†
- F. Gibbs LaMotte†
- John D. Lang, Johns Hopkins†
- Jim "Hy" Levasseur, Virginia‡
- James C. Lewis, NavyNavy Midshipmen men's lacrosseThe Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...
† - Skip Lichtfuss, Washington & Lee†‡
- A. Arlyn Marshall, Johns Hopkins†
- Robert G. Merrick Jr., YaleYale Bulldogs men's lacrosseThe Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse team represents Yale University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Yale competes as a member of the Ivy League and plays their home games at Reese Stadium in New Haven, Connecticut. The Bulldogs have captured the Ivy League...
†‡ - Mark MillonMark MillonMark Millon is an American lacrosse player currently playing for the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse.Millon was a college player at the University of Massachusetts, where he gained honors as a 3 time All American , leading UMass to three births in the NCAA tournament...
, UMassUMass Minutemen men's lacrosseThe UMass Minutemen men's lacrosse team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. UMass had competed in the ECAC Lacrosse League, but as of 2010 transferred to the Colonial Athletic Association . They play their home...
†‡ - Butch Marino, Delaware‡
- Walter O. "Kid" Norris, St. John's College†
- Ray Van OrmanRay Van OrmanRay Van Orman, D.V.M., was an American veterinarian and college football and lacrosse coach. He served as the head lacrosse and football coach at Johns Hopkins University, from 1920 to 1935 and 1926 to 1935 respectively, and the head lacrosse coach at Cornell University from 1940 to 1949...
, CornellCornell Big Red men's lacrosseThe Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Cornell competes as a member of the Ivy League, of which they have won 23 conference championships. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22...
, (coach)† - Sifford Pearre, Johns Hopkins†
- Dave PietramalaDave PietramalaDave Pietramala is the current Head Coach for the Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse team. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in lacrosse history, and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as both a...
, Johns Hopkins‡ - Robert B. Pool, St. John's College†
- Quint KessenichQuint KessenichQuint Elroy Kessenich is an American sportscaster for ESPN and ABC television covering lacrosse, basketball, football, wrestling, and horse racing. He is a former All-American lacrosse goalkeeper. He attended the Johns Hopkins University from 1987 to 1990, where he was a two-time winner of the...
, Johns Hopkins - Karl "Rip" Rippelmeyer, Navy†
- Milton R. Roberts, Johns Hopkins†
- Bill SchmeisserBill SchmeisserWilliam Christian Schmeisser , known widely as "Father Bill", was an American lacrosse player, coach, and patron. He served as the head coach of the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays for ten non-consecutive years, and won eight national championships. He was also an active patron of the sport and promoter of...
, Johns Hopkins† - Al Seivold, Washington College‡
- Joseph Seivold Jr., Washington College†‡
- Rob Shek, Towson‡
- Fred B. Smith Jr., Johns Hopkins†
- Steven B. Stenersen, North CarolinaNorth Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosseThe North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
† - Thomas S. Strobhar, Johns Hopkins†
- Edward M. Stuart, Johns Hopkins†
- Fritz R. Stude, Johns Hopkins†
- Ferris Thomsen, St. John's College†
- John C. Tolson, Johns Hopkins†
- F. Morris TouchstoneF. Morris TouchstoneFrancis Morris Touchstone was an American lacrosse coach. He served for 29 years as the head coach for the United States Military Academy's men's lacrosse team and is their all-time winningest coach by number of wins. While at Army, he led the Cadets to three national championships and 42 of his...
, ArmyArmy Black Knights men's lacrosseThe Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
† - Reginald V. Truitt, Maryland†
- John TuckerJohn Tucker (lacrosse)John Tucker is a retired American professional lacrosse player and the former head coach of the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.-Playing career:...
, Johns Hopkins - Doug TurnbullDoug TurnbullDouglas Clayland Turnbull, Jr. was an American lacrosse player. He was the first player, and remains one of only four, to have been named to the USILA All-America first team all four years of his college career. Turnbull played college lacrosse and football at Johns Hopkins University. In 1923, he...
, Johns Hopkins† - Jack TurnbullJack TurnbullJohn Inglehardt "Jack" Turnbull was an American lacrosse player and 1965 inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He lends his name to the Jack Turnbull Award, given to the nation's best collegiate attackman.-Biography:...
, Johns Hopkins† - W. Brooke Tunstall, Johns Hopkins†
- Dick Watts, Johns Hopkins†
- Charles E. Wicker, Maryland†
- Ralph N. Willis, Princeton†
- William C. Wylie, Maryland†
- Church Yearley, Johns Hopkins†
- † = National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee
- ‡ = U.S. national team player
Championships
- 1967 World Lacrosse ChampionshipWorld Lacrosse ChampionshipThe World Lacrosse Championship is the world championship for international men's field lacrosse. From its inception in 1967 through the 2006 event, it was sanctioned by the International Lacrosse Federation...
(representing the United StatesUS LacrosseUS Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
) - 1960 USCLA championship
- 1962 USCLA championship
- 1964 USCLA championship
- 1965 USCLA championship
- 1966 USCLA championship
- 1967 USCLA championship
- 1975 USCLA championship
- 1976 USCLA championship
- 1977 USCLA championship
- 1990 USCLA championship
- 1991 USCLA championship
- 1993 USCLA championship
- 1995 USCLA championship