Lacrosse Builds a Team, a Community and an Olympic Dream

Diasporan players have also participated in camps and clinics in Armenia, helping introduce the sport to young Armenian athletes and build connections that the organization hopes will shape the future of lacrosse in the country.

Recruitment happens through several avenues.

“We rely on our social media outreach and word of mouth; we search recruiting sites for youth through early college players and we try to connect with youth camps and events to spread awareness,” Gevorkyan said.

In Armenia, the organization is currently supporting lacrosse in “15 or 16 sports academies,” according to Gevorkyan.

The organization also has a developmental program called Team Armenia, which is open to anyone who has Armenian heritage. The program allows players to participate in local and international tournaments while Armenia Lacrosse works to expand opportunities for high school and youth players. The goal is to make lacrosse more accessible to young athletes in the country and eventually create a pipeline of players who can compete for the national teams.

One father said he learned through a local Armenian newspaper that the team was being formed. His sons had played lacrosse throughout their lives, and the opportunity seemed like a natural fit.

“My sons played across his whole life, though it would be a great idea, and we made a phone call, and one thing led to another, and here we are,” he said.

“As, like, an older guy, I’m just happy to be a part of a team, honestly,” Palandjian said.

He also described the opportunity to mentor younger players.

“But just to be able to be a leader and not be as emotional as we were when we were younger and just have perspective on the game and on life. It’s been pretty cool, just helping people get, like, job interviews and talking off the field and all that stuff,” he said.

Shahe Katchadurian described the range of ages within the program as an opportunity for older players to share what they have learned.

“It’s cool to shed some of the light that, you know, we’ve gained from growing up, playing college across, and now being in the workforce, you know, there’s a lot of knowledge that we share to them, and we just want to help them grow, and, uh, you know, succeed in whatever they’re going to do,” he said.

Atayan said the younger players also affect the older players.

“I think the cool part is just the perspective they give us, you know, they, as younger guys, they have to look up to us, because we’re older, have a little more experience. So we’re held accountable, but at the same time, they just bring a new energy to it, and they make lacrosse super fun again, almost like we’re teenagers playing,” he said.

Declan Palandjian added that having more younger players brings fresh legs: “I definitely appreciate the youngsters’ fresh legs. I probably don’t have the gas tank I used to, but it’s nice to be able to run hard and then come off knowing you’ve got a young, fresh guy going on.”

For the parents watching, the experience has also become about more than athletics.

One parent described watching her child play as a source of pride because he is representing his country and heritage.

“You know, it’s a sense of pride that he’s playing for his country and all his heritage,” the parent said.

The team’s travel has also helped build those relationships.

The players described traveling internationally with Armenia Lacrosse, including a trip to Portugal.

“We’ve been lucky enough to travel a bunch for Armenia lacrosse. Notably, I was able to go to Portugal last year, and we had a great time on and off the fields. diving into Portuguese culture a bit and playing a lot of fun lacrosse,” Katchadurian said.

Atayan added, “Yeah, second, the Portugal trip, it was the first time I got to play with everybody. I’d known Shahe growing up, and then kind of knew Declan from a distance, and got to meet Nick, and it was, like, the first time we were all together, and that was just pretty special, because it all clicked right away.”

For Gevorkyan, representing Armenia through lacrosse carries significance beyond competition.

“Lacrosse has been such a huge part of my life and has given me so much. It is called the Medicine game in that it is a sacred gift designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit,” he said. “Sharing that connection with other lacrosse players and other Armenians is very special and has been amazing to witness these last couple of years.”

Gevorkyan said representing Armenia is an honor and a responsibility.

“It is an absolute honor to be able to be a part of this. We all have so much pride in who we are, our history and where came from,” he said.

“Coach [Morgan] Radners from the women’s side always says this is so much bigger than us and just to be able to help leave this program better than when I got here is something I strive for everyday so that we can continue to grow and give opportunities to young men and women in Armenia and in the diaspora,” Gevorkyan added.

That identity is also intentionally incorporated into the program.

He said the national teams participate in language and history courses and incorporate Bible studies into the program’s weekly messaging.

The program’s immediate focus is the European Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Spain in November and qualifying for the World Championships.

Beyond that is the goal that repeatedly came up when the players were asked about the future of Armenian lacrosse.

“2028 Olympics,” they said.

When asked if there was anything else, the response was simple:

“Olympics, Olympics and more Olympics”

For the players, that means more than competing under an Armenian flag.

It means helping build something that can outlast them.