Author’s Note: I found this through a Twitter thread and wanted to excerpt it and post it.  The article is from the online site Prep Zone and authored by Olivia Granaiola.

Excerpt:

As the inaugural season of boys’ lacrosse at Forest High School (Ocala) comes to an end, it looks like the Wildcats have set themselves up for a bright future.

The boys’ team, coached by Kyle Strausser, ended the regular season with a winning record of 7-6, including a 4-2 record in the district which earned them a spot in next week’s district tournament.

This special season was highlighted by a school that took a chance, a dedicated coach, and the players who made it all happen.

Strausser, a native of upstate New York, moved to Florida during his freshman year of high school and made a shocking discovery.

“I was heartbroken to discover little to no lacrosse in the state of Florida,” Strausser said.

After all, upstate New York is the home of lacrosse.

So, when he had the chance, Kyle Strausser became Coach and brought his everlasting New York State of Mind to Ocala, Florida, where he guided everything from boys with years of experience to boys who had never picked up a stick.

Read the rest HERE