April 18 marked a memorable night in Central Catholic High School history as the team hosted the first boys lacrosse match on Bill Hundman Memorial Field. The excitement brought a few parents to tears as the Saints lacrosse players flashed wide grins underneath their helmets between hits and grunts.
Central Catholic’s energy was as vibrant as the green field that radiated amidst the gray sky when Sam Keller ’25 fought the mixture of wind and rain, fired past the Bloomington-Normal Co-op goalie, and earned the first Saints lacrosse goal. A second point was added to the scoreboard by Boe Moews ’23.
While the Saints opponent won 2-4, Athletic Director Hud Venerable said he could not be prouder of the student athletes or more grateful for the leadership of Head Coach Vince Rasa who organized the Central Catholic lacrosse program allowing the Saints to compete at the IHSA junior varsity level this Spring and will lead to competition at the varsity level next year.
“To pull this whole thing together, and then to look as good as we looked tonight with minimal practice… I am blown away,” Venerable said.
Within three weeks of practice, Rasa turned 17 Central Catholic boys, most of whom had never held a lacrosse stick, into functional field players with the basic skills of ball control, throwing, and catching. It was only a few days before the match that the team finally focused on game play, and even that practice was limited due to the new team still waiting to get equipment.
Rasa, who played soccer at the collegiate level, said it was his two sons’ experience playing lacrosse at a sports camp in 2008 that ignited his desire to learn the ins and outs himself and coach.
“They came back that summer saying ‘dad we found the sport, we love it, and we get to hit people with sticks,'” Rasa said with a chuckle.
In 2010, the Rasa family relocated to Bloomington-Normal from the East Coast for Rasa’s job at State Farm. In response to there not being a youth lacrosse team in Bloomington-Normal, Rasa founded The Warriors and a community sparked with lacrosse enthusiasts of all ages in Central Illinois.
Rasa has coached at all levels including Illinois State University, which he retired from this past October. He was enjoying the slower, empty nest, life with his wife when he received the call from Central Catholic High School Director of Operations Jim Appio who shared Central Catholic’s vision for a team.
“I made a promise to Jim and Hud, and I said if you guys are ever in a pinch this first year and you need somebody, let me know,” Rasa said.
While he never foresaw himself as the head coach, he said he is thrilled to lay the lacrosse foundation at Central Catholic. Also, he looks forward to working with his two assistant coaches, Lucas Segobiano and Matt Baucner who are both lacrosse players with high talent and acumen.
Players, parents, and even the student section, show that there is an infectious energy of the sport already at Central Catholic. Rasa said the popularity is not too surprising as it reflects the national trend of lacrosse being one of the fastest growing sports. There is a lot of inclusivity in a sport with a fast moving ball, intensive sprinting, and physical play—kids aren’t sitting on the bench long.
“They are subbing in and out on the fly,” Rasa said. “It’s fun, there is not a lot of standing around waiting to get in.”
Rasa is happy the kids have lived through a game and know what to expect. He plans to be competitive this year as he mentioned that “wins and losses are always in the back of my mind.” But ultimately, he feels his expectations for the Saints team are more focused on setting the foundation for years to come.
