Lake Tapps Lacrosse Club Coach, Volunteer Lauded by U.S. Lacrosse

The Washington State Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse has honored Lake Tapps high school head boy’s lacrosse coach Louis Lucchesi as its 2012 “Coach of the Year” and Lake Tapps volunteer Kathi Lucchesi as its “Person of the Year," according to a press release issued Wednesday by the organization.

Coaching in just his second season at the helm of the Lake Tapps program, Lucchesi led the Lake Tapps boys varsity to the quarterfinals of the Boys Division I state high school tournament with an 11-4-0 record (11-3-0 in the regular season including overtime wins over Curtis and Sammamish). The post-season appearance was the second straight at the Division I level for Lucchesi and the fourth in the eight-year history of the program.

With just four seniors among 23 student-athletes representing Auburn Riverside, Bonney Lake, Enumclaw, Sumner and White River High Schools, Lucchesi not only delivered a post-season berth, but helped guide three from his squad to the 2012 Boys Division I All-State Third Team; attackman Michael Lucchesi and midfielder Joey Lucchesi, both sophomores at Auburn Riverside High School and defenseman Hayden Powers, a junior at Bonney Lake High School.

“Lou Lucchesi is well respected throughout the coaching community,” said Dave Low, president of the Washington State Chapter of US Lacrosse.  “Because of coach Lucchesi’s great attitude, lacrosse knowledge, and emphasis on sportsmanship, high school lacrosse in the Lake Tapps community has a very bright future.”

As voted by the league’s coaches, the 2012 Person of the Year award was presented to Lake Tapps Lacrosse Club co-founder and volunteer Kathi Lucchesi for her significant efforts to promote, develop and aid lacrosse in the State of Washington.

Since co-founding the Lake Tapps club in 2002, Lucchesi has gone on to serve Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association as league secretary while serving as club secretary and varsity team manager for the past two season.  

“In helping to grow the Lake Tapps club from just one to 15 youth and high school level teams in just six years, Kathi Lucchesi represents the highest standards and best qualities possible of a contributor to our sport,” said Dave Low, president of the Washington State Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse.

The annual awards program recognizes individuals that have made significant contributions to the sport of lacrosse and their student-athletes and programs in Washington state. Bellevue High School assistant boy’s lacrosse coach Chris O’Dougherty was also honored as “Assistant Coach of the Year.”