Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/12/15
From Press Release
Summers at NXTsports are a three-month stretch of never-ending craziness.
Between NXTevents and Showcase Lacrosse events, Cradle Lacrosse, Trashcan Lacrosse, NXTsoccer and NXT at EA camps, as well as NXT Lacrosse Club’s summer season, there isn’t much time to rest. There’s always something for everyone to do and it doesn’t lend itself to much rest and relaxation.
That’s why Cradle Avalon is always one of the biggest summer highlights. It’s another one of Cradle’s top-notch camps, but with the peaceful background of beautiful Avalon (N.J.) and the Atlantic Ocean, there’s something a little bit different with Cradle Avalon. It offers one final chance to join The Cradle Life, but Cradle Avalon is proof that The Cradle Life doesn’t just extend to four to eight-year-olds. Rather, it also gives NXT LC players an opportunity to give back to the game.
“Wrapping up the summer lacrosse season with the Cradle Avalon crew is one of my favorite NXT traditions,” NXT LC Boys Director Marty Kupprion said. “There’s just something special about being at the beach and having fun. That, coupled with our Cradle curriculum and fun coaching staff, make this week a blast. From the moment that the kids checked in and got their NXTsports sunglasses to their final rendition of the Cradle song on the last day, these Cradlers were fantastic. The parents were able to give us some tremendous feedback since they seemed to be able to sit back and enjoy the show every day while we ran their kids ragged. Some of my favorite highlights included the goal celebration station, Coach (Dylan) Brown’s impromptu dance parties and the NXT high school players that showed up every day to help the youngest players enjoy their experience. I know that everyone is already looking forward to next summer.”
Four NXT LC Boys teams were represented, led by a seven-man crew from the newest program alums, NXT 2016. Kevin Todd (Spring-Ford/Richmond) and Eric Carr (Academy of the New Church/Gettysburg) left their mark on Cradle Avalon every day, while Luke Bianchino (Salesianum/Delaware), Ryan Terefenko (Wilson/Ohio State), Jake Hvazda (Spring-Ford/York), Eric Haab (Episcopal Academy/Boston University) and Mike Nelson (Southern Lehigh/Vermont) also helped out. NXT 2018 teammates Cam Fiore (Seton Hall Prep) and Jerry Bardol (Upper Dublin) and the Hawkins brothers, Grant (2020) and Griffin (2023) rounded out the NXT LC coaching staff.
“It’s always so rewarding to see the players want to give back,” Kupprion said. “They’re under absolutely zero obligation to be there, but they want to be around the program. They want to give back. They want to help more kids enjoy the game and that’s just incredible to see. We couldn’t be more thankful for all of the guys who helped out.”
Those players helped out for what was the biggest Cradle camp in history. Fifty players took the opportunity to see what Cradle is all about and left with huge smiles on their faces.
“Parents from all over the country, especially the East Coast, come to Avalon for vacation. They want something fun for their kids to do and there’s no better way for their kids to have fun than to join in at Cradle Avalon,” said Brown, NXT’s Director of Education. “When their kids experience Cradle Lacrosse for the first time, the parents end up following later in the summer to launch Cradle in their area. We had an absolute blast with these kids before they get to go hang out at the beach for the day and we hope to see them again at Cradle this fall.”
Cradle’s fall season gets underway Sept. 12. Click here for more information, and much like in Avalon, you never know who might be helping to coach Cradle!
Check out pictures from Cradle Avalon at the Cradle Lacrosse Facebook page.