Jul 30, 2018
Texas native Mike Delloro has been around lacrosse for most of his life.
He started playing the game during his middle school days in San Antonio, continued through his time at Central Catholic High School, and then became a club player during his collegiate and post-collegiate days.
He has coached at both the high school and college club level, and continues to coach with various summer travel teams. In addition, Delloro is the founder of both the Texoma Lacrosse Club in Denison, Texas, and the Durant (Okla.) Lacrosse Association. He serves as program leader for both organizations and also coaches all the youth and high school teams.
Delloro is also an advisor trying to help launch a college club team at his alma mater, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, located in Durant, with hopes of playing an MCLA schedule in 2019. He, of course, will serve as coach.
“Lacrosse has always been a passion of mine,” said Delloro, a US Lacrosse Level 3-certified coach.
In 2015, Delloro decided there was, somehow, room for more on his plate. He created the Heart of America Tournament, dedicated to providing emerging and JV-level high school boys’ programs with an end-of-season championship opportunity.
“This is an event for school teams, not travel club teams,” Delloro said. “We want to give newer teams which might take their lumps against more developed programs during the season a chance to play for a trophy.”
The tournament, played in early May in Durant, typically features an eight-team field, and has had participants from five different states — Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas and New Mexico. The 2018 championship was won by the Andover Vipers from Wichita, the first non-Texas winner in the tournament’s four years.
“We wanted a level playing field with teams that are closely matched in skill level,” Delloro said. “Every game is so closely contested. This is a great way to finish off the spring season.”
Delloro loves to see the competitive spirit that has developed among the participating players. Skill competitions — like fastest shot, most accurate, fastest player and Braveheart contests — provide bragging rights and create the feel of an all-star weekend.
“These kids are invested and want to get better,” Delloro said. “The passion that the players and teams bring is outstanding.”
Interestingly, the continued growth of the sport in northern Texas and southern Oklahoma, which Delloro has helped to fuel through his efforts, may force changes to the event in the future. Delloro notes that the tournament may evolve into two competitive divisions, and may soon add a girls division too.
“I feel like this region is ready to really start flowing,” Delloro said. “I’d love to see the floodgates open.”
Delloro’s selfless commitment to the sport, evidenced on so many different fronts, has not gone unnoticed by those in the lacrosse community.
“If there was a man of the year for Texas and Oklahoma, I’d put his name in that hat,” said Tim LaBelle, US Lacrosse’s regional manager for the Southwest.
With four years now completed, the Heart of Lacrosse Tournament is achieving what its founder had envisioned.
“We wanted to give these players a chance to have fun and enjoy themselves without the pressure of league play,” Delloro said. “We simply wanted to provide a stage for them to perform, to excel, and to honor the game.”
Originally Posted Here
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