Eastside Rams boys lacrosse program returns

BY CLIFF TUMETEL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It’s a new year for all of us, and for the Eastside boys lacrosse program, 2024 finds the team ready to once again take the field. 

The last season they played was in 2020 when it was cut short by COVID; ever since then, the program has been on a little hibernation.

Spearheading this comeback is new head coach Chip Skinner; he grew up playing basketball but fell in love with lacrosse, and it’s all thanks to his children. 

“I grew and loved it because of my kids. They started back with an old program called GLAX, which was run by the Millinoffs, who I still talk to, and I consider them mentors,” Skinner said. 

Skinner is no stranger to Gainesville lacrosse; he’s been the assistant coach for the Gainesville Hurricanes junior varsity lacrosse team and later on for their varsity. He has also served as head coach for the Buchholz Bobcats JV lacrosse team. 

Later on he took a year off to manage his Gainesville Area Lacrosse Inc. (GALAXI) program, a non-profit organization that helps mentor youth lacrosse athletes around Gainesville. 

“[I’ve been] helping whatever high schools needed help. I was over at GHS, I helped over at Newberry, just showing up at practices, if their coaches reach out,” Skinner said. “Hey, I can help you out, give me your guys that are struggling, let me know what they need to work on, and I would go and do that.”

Now a new chapter begins for him, as he will take on the role of head coach of the Eastside boys lacrosse team, and so far he’s liked what he’s seen during conditioning. 

He said his team has been very positive and supported each other through it all.

“The boys are working on their stick skills on their own, they send me videos, so it’s really positive; everybody is super encouraging,” Skinner told Alachua Chronicle. 

That’s exactly what Skinner loves seeing. He also plans on building a family-type culture in this program, and with everyone lifting each other up, it’s looking bright. 

Now that they’re back, the Rams will be the “new kid on the block” compared to other programs, but Skinner wants his team to compete in every game.

“We are behind the Buchholz, Oak Halls, and even GHS and Newberry because we’re going to be a new program,” Skinner said. “We have to bring these boys up so that we can be competitive in games here in our first year and continue to build for the future.”

Also sharing that excitement were his two daughters because they graduated from Eastside High. When they heard the news that their dad will be the head coach of the boys lacrosse team, they showed their Eastside spirit. 

“They were ecstatic; they were like, ‘It’s about time, you know Eastside is the best side,’” Skinner said laughing.  

The season opens for the Rams on February 12 when they face the Gainesville Hurricanes.