Annual summer event will showcase top boys and girls youth players from 16 states and four age groups, competing for national title

McLEAN, Va., Dec. 15, 2014 — (PRNewswire) — USA TODAY Sports Media Group President Dave Morgan announced today that USA TODAY Sports has entered into a partnership agreement with 3d Lacrosse, one of the leading training and event-staging organizations in the sport, to launch an annual championship showcase. For the first time ever, this annual event will pit the best boys and girls youth and high school lacrosse players from 16 states against each other to determine a national champion in each of four age groups.

The USA TODAY Sports Great State Showdown, to be held the first weekend in August, 2015, on Lehigh University's Goodman Campus in Bethlehem, PA, will be preceded by tryout and skill development camps in each of the 16 areas during May and June. The camps will feature the top coaches in the country training and evaluating boys lacrosse players from the eighth grade through eleventh grade, and girls players from ninth through eleventh grade.

The best players in each grade will be selected to represent their state in August at the Great State Showdown.

As part of the partnership, 3d Lacrosse will also work with USA TODAY High School Sports to provide USA TODAY High School Sports Weekly Super 25 Rankings of the top boys and girls high school programs in the country, as well as provide support in the selection of the American Family Insurance ALL-USA teams for both boys and girls.

"This is a great opportunity for us to get more deeply ingrained in our coverage of the fastest-growing youth sport in the country—by partnering with the leading lacrosse management organization in the nation," said Morgan. "The Great State Showdown is a concept that is long overdue in becoming a reality, and in addition to crowning champions, we think it provides a tremendous showcase for scholastic players looking to eventually play at the collegiate level."

"We are pleased to be working with USA TODAY Sports to launch what we collectively believe will be one of the most meaningful and largest lacrosse events in the history of the sport," said Greg Waldbaum, 3d Lacrosse President and COO. "State by state competition, by class, for both boys and girls is a void in the marketplace. 3d Lacrosse is committed to training players and hosting world-class events, and we could not think of a better product than The Great State Showdown or more appropriate partner than USA TODAY Sports."   

The inaugural 16 markets participating in the Great State Showdown are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Long Island, Upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, California, Illinois, Oregon/Washington, Ohio, and Texas. The intent is to add markets and younger classes, as appropriate, in the future.  

3d Lacrosse will use its management expertise to run the program, maximizing its extensive network of coaches and scouts to effectively identify, select and train the athletes in each age group. For more information, visit 3d Lacrosse.

About the USA TODAY Sports Media Group
The USA TODAY Sports Media Group encompasses all sports initiatives across USA TODAY Sports and Gannett's more than 120 well-known local media brands. It also includes the sports photography wire service USA TODAY Sports Images; leading high school sports destination USA TODAY High School Sports; the social news hub For The Win, and the hundreds of sites within USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties such as TheBigLead.com and mixed martial arts site MMAJunkie.com, among others. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

About 3d Lacrosse
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, 3d Lacrosse has become the nation's fastest-growing, premier lacrosse training, events, and select club lacrosse operations in the country. Founded by Jamie Munro, a former Division I coach, professional player, and frequent ESPNU analyst, 3d Lacrosse has operations, offices, teams and events throughout the nation and has trained more than 70,000 players since 2009. 3d Lacrosse is best recognized for its Box/Field Hybrid Development System, an instructional methodology which combines the best tight-stick handling and small-space skills from the successful Canadian Box game with the cutting-edge tactics and strategies now employed at contemporary NCAA Division I programs. Learn more at www.3dLacrosse.com.

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SOURCE USA TODAY

Contact:

USA TODAY 3d Lacrosse Gannett Co., Inc. USA TODAY Sports, Steve Kidera, Manager, Media Relations, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22017, 703-854-6077 Email Contact Or 3d Lacrosse, Brooke Farrell, Director of Marketing, 1301 South Jason Street, Unit K, Denver, CO 80223, 720-439-3027 Email Contact Web: http://www.usatoday.com