Maverik Lacrosse announced that it will sponsor the 13th Annual Jay Gallagher Memorial Lacrosse Tournament sponsored by the Jay Gallagher Memorial Foundation and the Garden City youth lacrosse program. Over 100 teams, 4000 players and coaches are registered for the June 19th and 20th tournament at Garden City schools.
We are very grateful for Maverik and John Gagliardis generosity during these hard economic times, said Dr. Anthony Randi, founder and director of the Jay Gallagher Memorial Lacrosse Tournament. It means allot to us to have such a well respected member of the Long Island lacrosse community come on-board to help us grow our tournament and add another tie to the lacrosse community in Long Island.
The Jay Gallagher Memorial tournament annually raises funds and public awareness for the Andy Foundation, Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation and the Miracle Foundation. The tournament memorializes Jay Gallagher, Andrew Palmeri, Mollie Biggane, Ryan Kohart and Dave Leistman.
Jay Gallagher for whom the tournament was named after was a 1970 graduate of Garden City High School where he co-captained the varsity lacrosse team. Jay was one of three captains at Cornell University his senior year, where he played defense for four years. Jays love lacrosse continued after graduation, he was an assistant coach for North Carolina, Syracuse, Rutgers and Cornell from 1981-1985. Jay passed on January 9, 1992, at the age of 39 from melanoma. However, Jays presence is still impacting the lives of underclassman at Cornell through the establishment of the John W. Gallagher Memorial Scholorship Fund.
Ryan Kohart and David Leistman were both outstanding high school and college lacrosse players and residents of Long Island who lost their lives in the tragedy of September 11th. Ryan was a graduate of Garden City High School, a four year-letterman at the University of North Carolina and the recipient of the Jay Gallagher Award recognizing The Outstanding Freshman in The North Carolina Lacrosse Program. Dave also grew up playing lacrosse on Long Island for Sewanhaka High School, he lettered all four years at Adelphi University and played on the 1979 Division II national championship team. Following graduation Dave remained active in Long Islands lacrosse community coaching both boys and girls teams in the Garden City Rams Lacrosse program.
It is amazing to see how quick Tonys tournament has grown in participation and notoriety, said John Gagliardi, founder and President of Maverik Lacrosse. We are proud to have the opportunity to help raise awareness for melanoma and help Tony take his tournament to the next level.
