Acompora Lacrosse Jamboree Set For Next Weekend In Northport

Louis J. Acompora

The 15th annual Acompora Lacrosse Jamboree, sponsored by the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation, is slated for next Saturday, April 30. As always, the jamboree features youth and high school varsity lacrosse games, and a healthy dose of CPR awareness.

It’s “an effort to increase the awareness for Public Access Defibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes,” Karen Acompora, co-founder of the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation, said.

In 2000, 14-year-old Louis J. Acompora collapsed after a blow to the chest during his first high school lacrosse game. He died from a condition known as commotio cordis, which developed as a result of the blow. Since his death, the Acompora family has worked to both promote CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) training, and to support the Northport lacrosse community.

The 15th annual event, which will be hosted on the turf fields at Veteran’s Park in East Northport, will consist of four varsity boys lacrosse games, one varsity girls lacrosse game and four youth lacrosse games.

The boys games are Port Jefferson against Mattituck, and Eastport-South Manor against Kings Park, both at 10 a.m.; Huntington against Riverhead at 12 noon; and Northport against Half Hollow Hills High School East at 2:30 p.m. The girls varsity game between Northport and upstate Wilton is also set for 2:30 p.m.

Prior to the two Northport games, sudden cardiac arrest survivors will be speaking, as well as members of the Acompora family.

“We will also focus on educating the athletes and spectators in Hands Only CPR, and the importance of early heart disease detection in youth through screening,” Karen Acompora said.

Members of the Long Island Lizards professional lacrosse team will also be in attendance. There will be barbecues, games and giveaways throughout the day.