Acompora Challenge Spreads At Annual Lacrosse Jamboree

By Carina Livoti

clivoti@longislandergroup.com

Wilton accepted the Northport’s varsity girls challenge to become CPR certified as a team. (Photo / Emily Yoo)

The 14th Annual Acompora Lacrosse Jamboree challenged athletes to more than lacrosse excellence on April 25—the Northport girls varsity lacrosse team also challenged them to learn CPR.

On March 30, the Northport squad started an initiative called “The Acompora Challenge” for CPR/AED training. The challenge calls for whole athletic teams to become CPR/AED certified.

Team captain Emily Yoo came up with the idea as a way to honor the Acompora family. What better way to do that than on the day of the Acompora Jamboree, a day of fun, lacrosse, and education and a tribute to Louis Acompora and the sport that he loved?

The Acompora Jamboree featured youth games, where Long Island’s young athletes got down to business.

Louis collapsed after a blow to the chest during his first high school lacrosse game in 2000. He passed from a condition known as commotio cordis as a result of the blow. He was 14 years old. Since Louis’ tragic passing, the Acompora family has worked to promote CPR/AED training and support the Northport lacrosse community in every way possible.

While all teams who participate in the jamboree are required to attend a CPR training, they do not become certified.

In keeping with the Acompora family’s mission, CPR information, complete with dummies, was available to attendees.

In honor of the Acomporas’ dedication and in “Ice Bucket Challenge” style, the Northport varsity girls team at the jamboree called out Wilton Girls team, from Wilton Connecticut, who accepted the Acompora Challenge that afternoon. The Tigers played a close match against the Connecticut team that morning, losing 6-8.

While the girls were unable to meet their goal of challenging the Northport boys before their game against Sachem North that evening, that did not stop the girls from seeking out other teams.

“Northport boys lacrosse has not accepted the challenge from our team as of yet, but that didn’t stop us—we were able to get the Smithtown East boys lacrosse team and their coach to take the challenge,” Yoo said.

The boys played Sachem North, coming out with a 13-15 victory, keeping up their nearly spotless win-loss record, which includes just one loss against Syosset.

The jamboree also featured several youth games, a lacrosse clinic, food and representatives from the Heart Screen New York program, which helps organize free heart screenings for adolescents, young adults, and adults.