Cuthbert Directs Lacrosse Clinic

In the spring, Bryan Cuthbert coached the Palisades High boys lacrosse team to the inaugural City Section championship. As thrilling as that experience was, however, he is also committed to growing the sport at the grass roots level.

On Saturday morning Cuthbert directed a free lacrosse clinic at Lueders Park in Compton, where over 50 elementary school children from kindergarten to fifth grade participated in a youth program put on by the Los Angeles Lacrosse League and William Morris Endeavor.

“It was a real privilege to do this today,” Cuthbert said. “We’re right down the street from Foster Elementary School, where we do a clinic for fourth- and fifth-graders which has over 100 kids. That program developed last summer when we put on a demonstration that William Morris Endeavor does for the school it supports and through the Los Angeles Lacrosse League and now Pali High. It’s great to see this kind of turnout and we appreciate all of the support from Palisades for the financial and equipment donations. We’re here for the long haul and it means so much to these kids!”

Cuthbert, who is entering his second year in the Dolphins’ program, is hopeful each child will one day have his or her own gear and that the program continues spreading from elementary school all the way to the high school level.

“As far Pali High goes, the goal next season will be to maintain the level of excellence they’ve developed over the last decade,” Cuthbert said. “This past year it was a great honor to bring home the City championship, but I don’t feel we have to defend it because that means someone can take it from you. No one can take it from us — it will always live in our gym, but we want to add to that. We were seeded 16th in the Southern Section tournament so our ultimate goal is to get a higher seed, win the County and challenge Orange County.”

Joining Cuthbert at the camp were Pali High players and Palisadians Andrew Davidson and Jake Takakjian.

“This is my second year volunteering here and it’s fun seeing the game grow,” said Davidson, an attacker who scored 16 goals as a junior last season. “I play lacrosse year-round. It’s so big in my life that I want to pass it on.”

Davidson thinks the team will be even better this year and cited two goals: “We want to defend our City title and get further in the Southern Section playoffs.”

Takakjian, only a freshman, is looking forward to his first season with the Dolphins and jumped at the opportunity to volunteer.

“Coach emailed me about it and I thought it would be fun,” said Takakjian, whose older sisters Katie and Julie both played tennis at Pali High and are now at UCLA. “The game’s been fun for me, so why not share it?”

Takakjian was a goalie in AYSO soccer growing up and took up lacrosse in sixth grade at Paul Revere Middle School. He agreed winning City again is goal No. 1 for the Dolphins, but Saturday was all about the basics and making the sport fun for the children.