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CCHS boys lacrosse team loves to serve and are honored for it

May 29, 2022 01:22PM ● By Catherine Garrett

By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

Being ranked No. 1 in the state the entire season following a state championship run last year involves a lot of time on the field dedicated to maintain an elite level of play. But, the Corner Canyon High boys lacrosse team have also been investing in causes outside of the sport to benefit others. For their “Season of Service” efforts, Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox honored the team with her first-ever Show Up Utah award which recognizes excellence for service in the areas of Service, Foster Care, Educator Wellness and Unified Sports in her new initiative of the same name.

In presenting the Chargers program with this award May 10, Cox said, “These lacrosse players, they came and they helped serve these dinners. They not only served, but they connected with the families as well, which I think was beautiful. These kids are making a difference in their communities. They’re an example to the entire state.”

It simply started with a service opportunity in mid-March through faceoff player Anthony MacKay’s mother, Nikki, who works with Utah Foster Care—a “Sunday Supper” to help athletes from the University of Utah and BYU serve dinner to foster children. CCHS lacrosse coordinator Allyssa Mallory said Nikki MacKay expected a few boys to come, but was surprised to see the entire Chargers team show up.

“What we didn’t fully realize is the natural evolution of this one event that turned into what we have deemed to be their ‘Season of Service,’” Mallory said.

The momentum to serve continued with collecting diapers and other items to be sent to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of their country, creating an anti-bullying video in conjunction with Unified Sports athletes, promoting and supporting the Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” campaign and even spending a day off beautifying Corner Canyon’s school grounds.

“What we found is that if these boys don’t have something to do on their day off, they don’t play as well, and the boys recognized that too,” Mallory said. “Serving in these ways actually benefits the boys just as much as those receiving any help.”

Most recently, on May 14, the Corner Canyon team went back to the origin of their sport—which stems from Native American roots—to mark more than 100 graves and restore some sunken gravesites at the Shoshone Tribe’s sacred Washakie Cemetery.

Brad Perry, Vice Chairperson of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation expressed his appreciation for the service provided from the Chargers players in helping them locate graves and “honor and protect” their dead. “These exemplary young men showed the utmost character to our land and people,” he said. “This group of young men are as good a group of young people as we have ever seen. We were truly honored by their presence and dedication. We want to say, ‘Thank you’ and ‘Take State!’”

For more information about Cox’s initiative, visit www.showuputah.org.