Oliver Coan (286) & Garrison Weidner (286)

As winter very slowly but surely comes to a close, the warmer weather brings spring sports, one of them being lacrosse. The lacrosse team has had a turbulent few years: from winning championships a couple of years ago to not even making the playoffs last year. Now, many are wondering about what is in store for them with the upcoming season. The sport is one of tradition, with roots dating back centuries. However, the program has only been at Central for a relatively short amount of time. We sat down with the founder of Central’s lacrosse program, Mr. Innamarato, to discuss “The Medicine Game.” His time spent playing professionally, travelling the world, giving Central students new opportunities, and investing one thousand dollars of his own money to help the team every year when he was the coach have benefited the Central community exponentially and will for years to come. 

What was the public league like when the team was founded here?

“Northeast and Washington were the only two good teams. Everyone else was horrible. However, when we entered, we beat Northeast in our second game. They were the previous champions. In the first game, we beat Mastery Charter 10-0. When we played Washington, we got our butts kicked!”

What’s your history with the sport? Who introduced you to the sport?

“My high school didn’t have a team. I didn’t start playing until I was in college. I was a hockey goalie prior to that. I was associated with the Philadelphia Wings throughout high school. My brother and I actually ran the fan club. I got involved with the Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association, which I now run. I ended up being at Wings camp twice to try out. I was on the USA team and the Army team. I’m not in the Army, but they needed a goalie and a coach! I’ve played on various teams throughout the years and various leagues. I’ve travelled the world. I finally stopped playing at fifty [years old], but I still run the local league, which is in its fortieth season.

I grew up in Philly. There have been many versions of the Philadelphia Wings. I remember when I was a little kid, my older brother had a Wings pennant. In the 1980s, they came to Philly and did this USA-Canada Series, and I fell in love with it. It was unbelievable! I was a goalie, and I thought I should try it out, but it took a few years.

My brother and I started the [Wings] fan club. We ran a bus to an away game before they even started their first home game. I was fifteen or sixteen, and there I am, running bus trips with adults who weren’t good with their alcohol. I was the adult.”

What made you want to start a program here at Central?

“There were [Central] students who were playing on a co-op team with Delaware Valley Charter High School, which no longer exists. After the first year of that, some of the players came to me because they knew I had a lacrosse background, and they asked me. I was busy, I was doing a lot of stuff – I was a little reluctant. But one of them just said, ‘Listen, we want to play with a Central uniform on.’ That struck me.

I designed the uniforms, helmets, and all that type of stuff. Even though I’d been helping them develop their skills, that ended up being key to our success. I gave them an identity. We had really sharp uniforms, really sharp everything. They wanted to play hard.”

Lacrosse is a growing sport; what is something that lacrosse brings to the table that other sports don’t?

“Sportsmanship–when you play the sport, you know everybody. I’ve known people at tournaments, old teammates who I would have to play against, but always at the end of the day, we’d hang out. Very rarely have I encountered people with whom I’ve had a problem. 

I would also say opportunity. A lot of colleges offer scholarships for it. I made sure my team was very diverse, because it reflected the community of Central. It definitely opens up opportunities.  A lot of the skills come from other sports. I would explain offense and defense in terms of sports like basketball or hockey.”