The Colorado Lacrosse Foundation (CLF), the Colorado Chapter for US Lacrosse, has announced that Jon Barocas, Lloyd & Rhonda Cisneros, Jamie Duke, and Michelle and Jeff Secor have been selected as part of the 2011 class to be inductees to the Colorado Lacrosse Foundation’s Hall of Fame.

Each one of the inductees has played a vital role in the growth and expansion of lacrosse in the state of Colorado.

Jon Barocas

Jon’s leadership as Head Coach at East Manual/Denver East High School is legendary.  His combined teams won over 75% of their games and produced nine Colorado State Championships.  He has coached 31 High School All Americans, two, two-time NCAA Division I All Americans and players who have participated on eight NCAA Championship teams.  Jon served as Assistant General Manager for Colorado’s first professional lacrosse team, the Denver Rifles and currently serves as Director of College Scouting for the Denver Outlaws.  He is also well-known for his coaching of many teams in the Vail Shootout Tournament.  His playing career began at Graland Country Day School and continued at George Washington and Kent Denver and with many of the club teams in the state.  Jon is a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Association which is known today as the Colorado Lacrosse Foundation and the Colorado High School Lacrosse Coaches Association.  In addition to many Colorado Coach of the Year honors, Jon was named National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2006.  He has also been named as an assistant coach for the Israeli National Lacrosse Team that will compete in the 2014 world games here in Denver. Jon’s passionate style and demand for perfection have impacted hundreds of athletes;  those who have played for Jon often comment he continues to coach and mentor them after their high school playing days.

Lloyd & Rhonda Cisneros

If one is familiar with or interested in lacrosse in Colorado, they will surely come in touch with Lloyd and Rhonda Cisneros.  “Call Lloyd and Rhonda Cisneros” is a common refrain for anyone interested in becoming an official or playing lacrosse.  This team has been active in Colorado Lacrosse for over thirty years, Lloyd has been a lacrosse official for over 34 years and is a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Officials Association.  Lloyd has introduced the game to hundreds of youth and was the Head Lacrosse Coach at Wheat Ridge High School from 1986-1987 when they were Colorado State Champions.  He was named “Man of the Year” by the Colorado High School Lacrosse Association in 1999 and “Official of the Year” by the National Federation of Lacrosse Officials.  However, it is how Rhonda and Lloyd impart their wisdom and knowledge and their mentoring style that has endeared them to hundreds of officials and players over the years.

Jamie Duke

Jamie Duke has been involved with the game of lacrosse since 1991 when he co-founded what is now known as the Denver Bandits Lacrosse Club.  With a son and two daughters who wanted to play, two years later he co-founded a girls club (Creek Indians) which now plays under the Cherry Creek Youth Sports organization.  Jamie’s lacrosse career began at Denver Country Day school (now known as Kent Denver) where he learned the game and then played at Hamilton College.  Returning to Denver, he played for the Denver Lacrosse Club in the early 70’s.  His early work and passion for the youth game has blossomed into organizations that count over 10,000 participants in Colorado.  And, Jamie’s work in the lacrosse community continues.  He currently serves as treasurer and is on the Board of Directors for Lacrosse The Nations, a non-profit organization using lacrosse to improve the health and education of children in need.  Jamie has served on the Boards of the Colorado Lacrosse Foundation, Colorado Ski Museum, Kent Denver School and the Metro Denver Executive Club.

Michelle and Jeff Secor

“For the love of the game” aptly describes this duo’s involvement in the growth of the women’s game in Colorado and the US.  Michelle first played for Colorado College’s women’s club program and then became an assistant coach.  She continued to coach when the program was elevated to Varsity status in 1995.  Michelle also coached the Cheyenne Mountain High School team for two years, trained and assigned youth officials for the last four years and has been an official herself for the past three years.  “Jeff the Ref” began officiating the women’s game in 1992 and became nationally rated in 1998.  He is a prominent authority on the women’s game and for many years, wrote a column for Lacrosse magazine.  Jeff has been a member of the National Umpiring Committee since 1992, has officiated the Division II Championship game four times and has trained and mentored hundreds of officials across the country.  The growth of the game, especially in the southern part of Colorado can be attributed to this couple’s dedication and passion for the sport.

A dinner honoring the 2011 class of inductees will be held on November 12th at the Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows. Along with honoring this year’s class of inductees, the CLF will celebrate the game with a focus on TEAM.

This is the one of the premiere lacrosse events in Colorado. Don’t miss you chance to be part of this special event. Get your tickets today!

Congratulations to all of this year’s inductees.