Windermere Prep coach wins professional lacrosse championship

WINDERMERE — In the moments after JoJo Marasco and the New York Lizards won the Major League Lacrosse Championship on Aug. 8, the text messages and tweets of congratulations began pouring in.

The Lizards secured the Steinfield Cup with a 15-12 victory over Rochester in front of 8,674 at Kennessaw State’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium, northwest of Atlanta. The texts and tweets came from family and friends dating back to Marasco’s youth in New York and college days playing for powerhouse Syracuse. It was, after all, just his third season in the pros.

And then there were the messages from Florida.

Marasco, who will be entering his third year as the head coach for the boys lacrosse program at Windermere Prep next spring, was flooded with congratulations from the players and families associated with the private school in West Orange, commending him on a championship performance that saw him get one goal and two assists.

“Congrats to WPS lacrosse coach JoJo Marasco and the New York Lizards on winning the MLL championship!” read a tweet from the school’s athletics account, @WPS_Athletics, mirroring what the school had displayed on its electronic marquee near its athletic facilities.

For Marasco, it only served to make the highlight of his lacrosse career that much sweeter.

“It’s unbelievable, just the amount of respect … everyone from Windermere Prep has been so amazing,” Marasco said.

Marasco, who is also a middle-school teacher for the Lakers, said he was relieved to finally get over the championship hump after a collegiate career for the Orange that was full of close calls — including a loss in the 2013 Division I National Championship to Duke.

“To lose in so many semifinals and championships from high school all the way up … it’s a dream come true,” Marasco said. “I’ve been training all my life for this.”

Marasco, who talked about the surreal feeling he was encompassed by as the fans at the stadium counted off the final seconds of the contest, added that two Windermere Prep families — the McClellans and the Darrows — even made the trip to Georgia for the game.

Under Marasco’s leadership, the Lakers have improved both seasons — going from 5-7 in 2013 to 7-4 in 2014 and 8-4 this past spring. At just 24 years old, Marasco said those same players that were sending him congratulations are able to relate to him and his instruction on the practice field.

“Being a younger guy, I’ve been able to develop some great relationships with the kids,” Marasco said. “These kids just have great respect, and they also are very hard workers.”

And, though Disney is plenty close, Marasco said his basking in the championship will be relatively short-lived. After all, it’s back to work at school on Wednesday.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].