California’s only NCAA lacrosse team is shuttering. Here’s why

The Poets have played NCAA lacrosse since 1980. The program's end means there are no NCAA men's teams in California.

Just the image of a lacrosse player, stick held high, charging helmet-first across the field evokes “East Coast boy’s prep school.”

And that mid-Atlantic bias has existed for almost as long as lacrosse — dubbed the oldest organized sport in North America — has existed.

Since Native Americans from Iroquois tribes in Upstate New York began playing the game in the 12th century, lacrosse has been popular in the East and Midwest, but not so widespread in the West.

Lacrosse’s popularity in western states has accelerated in more modern times, but now, with the shuttering of the only men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association team in California, that slow march is at a standstill.

The Whittier College Poets put down their sticks for good on Saturday, April 22.

The loss of Whittier College men’s lacrosse, an NCAA team since 1980, means there are no NCAA men’s teams left in California, according to Matt Holmes, NCAA’s assistant director of media coordination and statistics. In the West, there are two teams in Utah and six in Colorado, he added.

And sure, the Poets play UCLA for its final match, but that California team is a club team, not an NCAA team.

The loss of lacrosse — coupled with Whittier College’s decision to end its football program — is poignant and pervasive for those close to the program.

“It’s kind of hard to get your head around,” said Rock Carter, executive director of Whittier College athletics.

Carter is making Saturday special for the Poets and their fans. In addition to the Purple and Gold tailgate, there will be an alumni gathering before the 1 p.m. game at Memorial Stadium, and there will be a special dedication for the seniors. And, no doubt, there will be tears.

“Lacrosse has a very strong following here,” Carter said by phone the day before the final game. “They’ve been the face of the athletic department.”

And, that’s because, unlike for other Whittier College sports, there are no NCAA men’s teams to play that don’t require rounding up some 40 players onto an airplane.

The financial situation at Whittier College has been in the spotlight ever since the school announced the end of its 115-year football program last fall.

That decision launched an alumni campaign to oust President Linda Oubré, claiming its her mismanagement that is behind the college’s troubles. Oubré strongly denies the allegations and said she has Board of Trustee approval and that she’s doing the tough job many at small private institutions are charged with during tough economic times.

The decision to discontinue football and men’s lacrosse, in addition to men’s and women’s golf programs, said Oubré at the time, was a difficult one. The college’s Board of Trustees came to it after a three-year review period.

In a statement on the Whittier College website, Oubré and Miguel Santana, board chair at the time responded to concerned alumni about the closures:

“The Poet programs sunsetting at this time are disproportionately more expensive to sustain than other sports that have thrived and remained competitive within our SCIAC conference.”

The college’s goal, continued the statement, is to focus on the 18 other NCAA teams that can be supported on campus and via conference play.

Still, the rationale for letting go of the program doesn’t take the sting out of the situation.

For former Whittier lacrosse player Joe McCarthy (1997), first hearing of the program’s demise was rough.

“Heartbroken is the easy word,” McCarthy said by phone.

McCarthy, who played lacrosse for three years under Coach Doug Locker, said he understands the challenges and budget constraints going on in higher education today, but he’s still skeptical the school made the right decision.

Those 40-some lacrosse players who have to travel for games? Well, that’s 40 more students to boost enrollment, too.

“That traveling (for games) is one of the best advertisements for Whittier College that the school has,” McCarthy said. “If you are an East Coast kid, would you rather play lacrosse in upstate New York or in Southern California?”

The dismantling of the program does leave Whittier men’s lacrosse freshman, sophomore and juniors without a home, Carter said. The college is sure to lose athletes, he said, but he didn’t know how many would transfer.

Carter said he was sad, sure, to see the program come to an end. But, he was trying to stay positive, he added.

“It was a decision that the institution made that they think will better our college,” Carter said.

To those 40-some athletes, Carter was grateful, saying they’ve given value to the department and have created a wonderful culture on campus.

“They’re great ambassadors to Whittier College,” Carter said. “There’s a lot we’re gonna miss about that.”