May 29, 2019

Dear Governor Cuomo,  

We, the 4th grade students of Cottage Lane,  would like to make a proposal. Are you aware that New York does not have a designated state sport?  Other states like Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Maryland all have a state sport.

After learning about New York State symbols, we did research and found out lots of information about State Symbols of New York.  Your website was a great resource, New York State Symbols.   We noticed what was missing, a sport state symbol. This inspired us to research our own state symbol to fill that spot for a state sport!

As a result, we believe that Lacrosse should be the official New York State sport. Lacrosse was the first sport played in North America. Do you know where it was first played as an actual game? It was played in New York, by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) hundreds of years ago. The Haudenosaunee, inhabited much of the Northeast, including most of New York State and the game was originally known as Stickball.

Lacrosse was first played as early as the 12th century. The Native Americans used lacrosse to train for war and to improve skill, aim, speed, agility, and strength. The fields were hundreds of miles long with more than 1,000 people playing on each team. Lacrosse was one of their favorite sports to play because people could also improve being warriors to defend their land. That land is now known today as New York.

The people of the Haudenosaunee Nation today play in the World Games which is the World Cup for lacrosse. Thanks to the Haudenosaunee this sport is played today by both men and women of all ages. There is just so much history behind Lacrosse that involves New York. A great sport like lacrosse was invented in New York -the state we live in! We believe lacrosse is a great suggestion for New York’s State sport. How do we make it official?  Your help would be greatly appreciated.

From,

Mrs.Fluger’s 4th Grade Class
Cottage Lane Elementary
Blauvelt, New York
Rockland County