Six Decades of High School Lacrosse in Colorado
Tradition connects student-athletes to something bigger than themselves — their team, school, and community.
Founding History
Lacrosse has been played competitively at the high school level in Colorado for more than 60 years, beginning in 1965. The sport became a CHSAA-sanctioned activity in 2000.
Although many coaches and volunteers have contributed to high school lacrosse over the years, several pioneers were instrumental in introducing and developing the sport in Colorado. Early leaders included Hank C. Toll, Hank W. Toll, Chuck and Fred Froelicher, Chard Smith, and Bill Cooper.
The Froelicher brothers, originally from Baltimore, brought their passion for lacrosse to Colorado. Fred played at Colorado College and later helped establish programs in Townsend, Montana, and Greenwich, Connecticut, as well as at Gettysburg College. Chuck, a Johns Hopkins graduate, became a prominent leader in Denver’s educational and athletic communities. He served for over 25 years as headmaster of Colorado Academy, co-founded the Colorado Outward Bound School, and later became executive director of the Gates Foundation.
Cousins Hank C. Toll (Princeton) and Hank W. Toll (Williams College) moved to Denver in the early 1960s. Along with the Froelicher brothers, Chard Smith, and Bill Cooper, they brought lacrosse to young people in Denver. They wanted sports to be open to everyone, so they made sure kids of all backgrounds could join. Hank C. Toll later became the first lacrosse coach at Denver East High School.
Their hard work and support helped lacrosse grow across Colorado. Chard Smith, a Yale graduate, became the first coach at Kent Denver. He donated equipment to schools and recreation centers in the area and helped many young players advance to college lacrosse.
Bill Cooper, a Korean War veteran and 1947 West Point graduate, played high school lacrosse at Loyola in Baltimore. He played a pivotal role in organizing officials in the early 1960s, which was essential for formalizing and expanding the sport. Cooper later started the program at Heritage High School and was instrumental in developing lacrosse in Denver’s southern suburbs.
Today, Colorado is recognized as a national lacrosse hotspot, with strong participation from youth and high school through the collegiate and professional levels. The sport’s continued growth relies on dedicated advocates. Consider introducing a child to lacrosse, becoming an official, supporting local youth leagues and high school programs, and keeping the game's values and traditions alive.