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Lacrosse Across the World

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | March 23, 2018

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Lamar High School graduate Micah Stalarow recently moved to Israel to work with the Israel Lacrosse Association as the organization prepares to host 48 countries for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships this summer.

Micah Stalarow first became interested in lacrosse during his summers at Camp Champions starting at age 12. A couple of his friends were playing at camp and when he came home, he told his parents Gail and Norman Stalarow he wanted to play, too. And “the rest is history,” he said, describing how he got his first lacrosse stick not long after he returned from camp and “broke about a million windows.”

He loved lacrosse through his time at Lamar High School and now, he’s finishing up his college degree at University of Texas but he’s no longer taking classes at the Austin campus. He recently decided to make Aliyah (move to Israel and become a citizen) in order to commit to the Israel Lacrosse Association as the young organization prepares to host 48 countries for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships this summer in Netanya.

Micah had been involved with the organization in the past, including a summer-long internship with the organization which included a chance to play in the league. “I love what it’s committed to,” he said, “{The organization} helps bridge the Jewish community across the globe through sports.” So last year when it was announced that the World Championships were going to take place in Israel, he reached out to see how he could be involved. About six months later, he found himself making Aliyah. He said it felt like his life had come full circle. He’s taking classes online and juggling his schoolwork, his lacrosse work and acclimating to a new home, but he said it’s all “really worth it.”

Micah compares the championship to the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl and World Series. It’s a big deal. And there are opportunities for other young Houstonians who love lacrosse to get involved, too.

Head coach Casey Cittadino is holding a series of US-based tryouts to build the US contingent of the Israel team’s roster, including youth tryouts near Houston (age cutoff: Sept. 1, 2004). The Texas tryouts take place March 25 at 1 p.m. with a free clinic at 3:30 p.m. at Camp Sienna Fields (7725 Camp Sienna Trail in Missouri City). See more details here.

Along with the rest of the team, Micah is eagerly awaiting the FIL World Championships this summer and, in the meantime, he’s brushing up on his Hebrew skills.