Cradling a come up: lacrosse expands in the Silver State

Beginning next school year, high school students across Nevada will have the option to try out for their school's lacrosse team.

The Desert Dogs spring break clinic is a prime example of the growing popularity of the sport in the valley.

Keegan Nohara is a loyal Desert Dog fan.

"I am a season ticket member. I go to almost all of them, a lot of the games," said Desert Dogs spring break clinic attendee Kegan Nohara.

And that's where he fell in love with the sport.

"We brought him to a Desert Dogs game about three years ago, and we're a hockey family. The moment he saw the Dogs game, he instantly lit up. He knew from then, he's like, this is what I want to do," said Keegan's father, Nolan Nohara.

During spring break, Keegan got the chance to step off the sidelines and get in on the action — training with some of his favorite players at the Desert Dogs clinic.

"My favorite part about this camp is you get to talk to everybody, have fun and just play around with the ball," said Keegan.

He's not just watching — he's learning to take his shot. For the past two years, Keegan has been playing with the Rough Riders. And now, he'll have the chance to play on a high school team.

"This past year, lacrosse just became a sanctioned sport in Nevada. So the team, the high school that he actually wants to go to, Palo Verde, they won a championship last year, said Nolan Nohara.

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, lacrosse will officially be a high school varsity sport in Nevada, a major game-changer for kids like Keegan.

Even the pros are ecstatic about it.

"Our games are getting more full and people around town, when I go get my haircut, they're kind of asking me questions about it. And you can see the interest around the city growing, and it's been awesome to be a part of," said Desert Dog forward Chris Cloutier.

His teammate is also excited for the game to expand in the state.

"The people are really excited about it. It's been an incredibly positive experience and the fan base for a city that hasn't historically had a ton of lacrosse is really excited about it and enthused. And it's just been a really, really great place to play," said Desert Dog forward Jonathan Donville.

As the sport continues to grow here at home, Keegan is right in the middle of the action. From sticks in the stands to reps on the field, his dream of going pro is now within striking distance.

Видео Cradling a come up: lacrosse expands in the Silver State канала 8 News Now — Las Vegas