What happens when you combine the heart of Rudy, the speed of Chariots of Fire, almost any Adam Sandler film and the intensity of Top Gun? Something a lot like the Aquinas lacrosse team.

This is Aquinas’ first year with an official lacrosse team. With the hiring of head coach Luke Griemsman, Aquinas lacrosse has made the transition from a rag tag bunch of skilled enthusiasts to a uniformed and well-ordered machine.

Lacrosse is all grown up now — with matching uniforms, a crack coaching staff and a new class of freshman to swell the ranks.

This year’s team is comprised of nine returners, one transfer and a staggering ten freshman.

Sophomore middy Matt Schousen enjoys playing with the new class.

“The older guys are meshing great with the new guys,” said Schousen. “It adds a new dynamic.”

Excitement seems to be the magic word for the program this year. The new class is excited to play, coach Griemsman is excited to coach and Brett Barnes is “excited to lay people out. It’s the best part.”

Players praised the new coach.

“He brings great experience with him,” said Barnes.

Freshman Middy Jacob Jeffers called him “the most knowledgeable coach I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with.”

While, Matt Schousen, after echoing the same sentiments of others, went on to say that “when it comes down to it, he is just a great guy.”

One of the biggest challenges facing the team this year is simply getting the word out about the sport of lacrosse and garnering a fan base. Unfamiliar words like cradle, middy, d-pole and ball may be keeping some at bay, but concepts like “knocking the other guy down” and “shooting the ball as hard as you can as quick as you can” should strike a familiar chord.

“It’s a great athletic contest. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the nation,” said Griemsman. “It’s fast paced, and a combination of a lot of different field sports that people already enjoy.”

“These games are high scoring and there’s a lot of ball movement.”

“You’re going see people get laid out,” said Barnes. “All you have to do is come.”

Another word, like “excitement” that kept coming up was “support.” As the club became a team, the school gave them official support (and snazzy helmets). Now, fans need to do the same.

Although official games won’t start till the spring, Aquinas will get their first sneak peak of the Saints in action right after the soccer games this weekend when they scrimmage Ferris State at 6:30 p.m. on the turf field.