While Park County remains in the throes of winter, the spring sports season is just around the corner with a lineup that ranges from track to soccer to … lacrosse?

The sport is popular back east, on the West Coast and even in Colorado’s Front Range, but it remains relatively unknown in Wyoming. When Scott Burlingame tells others that there’s a lacrosse team in Cody, “people are like, “I didn’t even know we had a lacrosse team here,’” he said.

In fact, the Cody Warriors Lacrosse Club has 10 seasons under its belt and is about to begin its 11th.

“We’re trying to grow it here,” said Burlingame, the president of the Cody Warriors’ board.

Since forming in 2014, the club has primarily drawn athletes from the Cody area, but in recent years, they’ve made an effort to branch out.

Six athletes from Buffalo and another from Lovell now play with the Warriors — and Burlingame said they’d “love” to add some Powell athletes to the roster.

Registration for the club is currently underway for boys and girls ranging from fifth to 12th grades. Practices for the high schoolers start next week.

The sport

Lacrosse shares elements with several other sports. Players wield a stick with a small net at the end, which is used to carry, pass and shoot a rubber ball that’s roughly the size of a tennis ball. The aim is to get the ball past the opponent’s goalie and into their net — all while avoiding defenders and their attempts to jar the ball free with their own sticks.

“If you like basketball, there’s a lot of basketball elements in there. If you like football, you’ve got the contact of football … the running of soccer,” said Warriors coach TJ Gionet. “It’s really a combination of all the sports that people like, mixed together, and something different that kids haven’t tried.”

Gionet said lacrosse can also help cross train for football — and he pitches the family feel and camaraderie of the Cody club.

Burlingame’s sons joined the Warriors as a supplement to hockey, and the sport became a favorite.

“Growing up, some of their best weekends were those game weekends, you know, hanging out with their friends,” he said.

A two-state schedule

While interest is growing in Wyoming, there are only a handful of communities with teams: Cody, Sheridan, Cheyenne and Jackson.

As a result, the Warriors play in the Montana High School Lacrosse League.

This year’s schedule includes trips to Billings, Bozeman and Sheridan, with a series of home games slated for May 9-10 in Cody. The roughly six-week-long season culminates in a state tournament on May 16-18.

About 20 high schoolers join the Warriors in a typical year and they’ve seen significant success: the squad is coming off three straight years of top three finishes.

Practices for the high school squad start Feb. 24.

Meanwhile, the fifth through eighth graders get going on March 31.

Gionet said the youth league kind of died off, but is now rebuilding, with around 10 members.

The youth are set to play in a tournament in Bozeman on April 26-27, and more contests could be added if there’s enough interest.

Fundraising for support

Lacrosse can be an expensive sport. Some clubs in the region charge as much as $1,200 per player, Gionet said, and a full set of gear can cost $700. However, Cody’s program is intended to be more affordable.

Registering with the Warriors costs $300 for high schoolers and $50 for fifth through eighth graders. Players must supply their own stick ($50-$150), but the club offers loaner helmets, chest protectors, gloves and elbow pads. It also provides scholarships to athletes who can’t afford the cost.

“We want to grow the sport,” Gionet said “So fundraising is a big one for us.”

The Warriors have some raffles underway that feature a slew of firearms and various gift cards among the list of prizes. Both Gionet and Burlingame expressed appreciation for the community members and businesses that support the team.

To register for the upcoming season, visit codywarriors.com or email codywarriorslaxinfo@gmail.com for more information.

(Editor's note: This version corrects the web address for the Cody Warriors Lacrosse Club.)