Wimmer Wins at the Hawai'i Lacrosse Invitational
We're proud to announce that the Wimmer Solutions Elite lacrosse
team won its second title in a row at the Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational, winning 5-4 in
the championship game held Sunday at Kapiolani Park in
Honolulu.
This year, Wimmer welcomed a few new additions to our roster: Ben Rubeor, Connor Martin, John Galloway and Kyle Menendez joined our
Elite team. In true Wimmer fashion, the Elite and Masters teams
supported each other on the field and off: with Elite players
pitching in to coach the Master's squad, and a few of the Masters
players joining the Elite group, including CEO and team organizer
Matt Sauri, Recruiter Andrew Vincent, and
Operations Manager Adam Messick. The final Wimmer goal was scored
by another familiar member of the Wimmer community, Kevin Mincio,
with whom Matt biked across the US this summer in support of the Team Jesse
Foundation.
In line with Wimmer's Community Engagement Program, and its
focus on promoting health and wellness through team activities,
Matt put out a challenge to the Wimmer teams competing in both the
Masters and Open divisions. As Matt explains,
"For the past few years, the Wimmer contingent has played for a
cause; it's always been something separate from us, something that
pulls the team together. This year, we upped the ante by
allowing players to propose charities that they felt passionately
about and aligned with our values at Wimmer Solutions. After the
votes were tallied, each player whose cause had been selected got
up in front of the entire group at the team dinner and talked about
its worth. This strategy proved key, as the games got tight
and we pulled together for this cross-section of causes."
In the end, four charities benefitted, each receiving $5000:
- Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership
HLL is a youth organization that builds leadership skills and
social responsibility through lacrosse. They provide a safe
and structured setting for our players, guiding them both on and
off the field through coaching, mentoring, and academic
intervention. Broadening players' experiences and skill sets
prepare them to become effective leaders in the Harlem
community.
-
Supersonics Lacrosse
A non-profit organization that provides an after school tutoring
and delinquency prevention program to the West Seattle community.
The program, provided free of charge, is designed to divert at-risk
youth from becoming involved with a gang or delinquent peer group.
Juvenile crime statistics indicate the majority of offenses
occur in the afterschool hours. The program combines a
lacrosse team with tutoring in an afterschool program to occupy
those high-risk hours with a positive, healthy, and constructive
experience.
- Starlight Children's
Foundation
Starlight helps seriously ill children and their families cope
with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment,
education and family activities. Starlight's entertainment,
education and family-centered programs distract children from their
pain, help them better understand and manage their illness, and
connect families facing similar challenges, so that no one feels
alone. While doctors work to heal children's bodies, Starlight
MidAtlantic heals their spirits through programs that are a unique
blend of technology-driven tools and fun-filled special events; in
the hospital, in the community, and on the Web. Starlight has
partnered with 154 hospitals and treatment centers th provide
ongoing support to more than 216,000 children and family
members.
- New
Beginnings
New Beginnings provides services to those whose lives have been
affected by domestic violence - physical, emotional, or sexual
abuse. Some who use our services are in physical danger. Others are
living with controlling partners in relationships that are
emotionally abusive. New Beginnings' mission is to provide shelter,
advocacy and support for battered women and their children; and to
change attitudes and social institutions that foster and perpetuate
violence.
Wimmer Solutions lacrosse team members and employees will
deliver the checks to the benefitting organization in person over
the next few weeks.
"It was an overwhelming experience to represent Wimmer Solutions
and our culture of Care Creates Community," commented
Elite team player Andrew Vincent. "The chance to play for those
truly great causes was an absolute honor."
For more information about the Invitational, check out the Hawai'i Lacrosse website,
or read the Inside Lacrosse recap of the championship
game.
Elite Team Roster:
Attack
Gary Gait
Lindsay Dixon
Ben Rubeor
Garrett Billings
Matt Sauri
Connor Martin
Paul Dobbyn
Kevin Alexander
Midfield
Anthony Kelly
Max Seibald
Jack Lingo
Justin Smith
Terry Kimener
Darren Liptrot
Marc Bissell
Brett Queener
Chris Taylor
Andrew Wasik
Adam Messick
Kenneth W. McCafferty
Defense
Kyle Hartzell
Mike Evans
Josh Rachman
Kyle Menendez
Dejon Hush
Chase Caruso
Andrew Vincent
Malcolm Chase
Mike Strong
Goal
Kevin Mincio
John Galloway
