about us
West Texas Lacrosse, Inc. is a non-profit organization registered in the State of Texas with 501(c)(3) status. We encourage fitness through the sport of lacrosse and have big dreams to see lacrosse spread throughout West Texas to all ages of boys and girls. The program is in the early stages of league development and we will expand age groups in the near future as more families participate. We follow the guidelines of USA Lacrosse and require all participants to be current USA Lacrosse members.
Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in Texas. West Texans now have the opportunity to experience lacrosse as an exciting springtime sport. Lacrosse is a very physical game known as “The Fastest Game on Two Feet” and our intentions are to establish a foundation from which a healthy program can grow and enrich the quality of life in our part of the Lone Star State.
Our organization is managed by a Board of Directors and numerous volunteers to assist with the administrative and organizational duties. Our nonprofit lacrosse club depends on financial support from our lacrosse families, friends and corporate sponsors to help us develop a program that will eventually be among the elite in Texas.
HISTORY
West Texas Lacrosse (WTL) began in Spring 2014 with learn-to-play clinics to expose the sport to West Texas youth. We had an incredible response to the clinics that exceeded our expectations. This led us to bring in the Texas Tech Lacrosse Club to help coach the kids and bring more attention to the sport. We will continue hosting the learn-to-play clinics in order to provide new young players the opportunity to build skills and meet area players and coaches. Over the past few years, our youth teams have been able to participate in tournaments in Albuquerque, NM and we plan to build a competitive youth program for our younger players.
In 2022, WTL formed a new high school club team- the “Wildcatters”- and is now actively competing in the Texas High School Lacrosse League. The team is open to all high school players in Midland/Odessa and is coached by an experienced group of former college lacrosse players. As the sport grows at the high school level, we seek to establish more area teams to provide competitive play opportunities for all.
PRACTICE & GAME FIELDS
WTL has access to several turf and grass field facilities throughout Midland, including C.J. Kelly field, the Scharbauer Sports Complex with a main stadium field along with four additional sub fields (all of which have field lights), James ‘Doc’ Dodson Memorial Stadium, and numerous other city facilities.
Meet the Team
Joey Gabarda
I started playing lacrosse in the 5th grade at St Hugo of the Hills Catholic School in Bloomfield Hills, MI. 8 grade won the State Championships. I played High School Lacrosse at Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, MI. I finished my career at Northwood University in Midland, MI where I played colligate lacrosse for 4 years in division II,
-Graduated with a BBA in Automotive Marketing from Northwood University in Midland, MI
-Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity – Michigan Iota Chapter
-National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Academy DCA 191-30
-Owner of Classic Honda of Midland – Purchased from Lithia Motors in May of 2015.
-Two children who attend The Trinity School of Midland.
I believe sports is an essential part of every child’s development as it teaches them the necessary skills to be successful in life. Lacrosse is a team sport which gave me the ability to work with my peers, develop leadership, courage as well as master coordination. A great deal of my success in life today comes from playing lacrosse and I would like to share my vision with today’s youth.
DOM DIBIAGGIO
Midfield
Unionville (PA) high school 4 year letterman 1x all league midfielder
Texas A&M club lacrosse 2x all league defensive midfielder
William C. Klingensmith IV, M.D.
My tradition in lacrosse is a family one starting with my mother and her two brothers. They grow up in Baltimore, MD where both my uncles were All American lacrosse players. My mother introduced my bother and me to lacrosse in elementary school. We all fell in love with it right away. I played team lacrosse from seventh grade through high school where we won 2 state championships. In college and Medical school I played club lacrosse. My passion for the game has never left me. As a founding member and President of the Board of Trustees for West Texas Lacrosse I am making a commitment to bringing the great American sport of lacrosse to the youth of west Texas. I started by reaching out to friends as well as others in the community that are willing to help build interest as well as a league.We are fortunate to have many contacts to draw on from my involvement in my children’s school, church, the midland medical society, and work at the hospital.
MATT PARDEE
Coach Pardee started playing Lacrosse in 2003 as a Freshman at Gloucester High School in his hometown of Gloucester Massachusetts [MIAA District 5 North East Conference]. He played Junior Varsity in his first year while learning to play. Sophomore to Senior year he was starting Varsity, playing Close Defense and Long Stick Midfield. His senior year he was nominated and voted by the conference coaches committee to the 1st Team All-Conference team and subsequently chosen as Captain. After High School, Coach Pardee was recruited to play Defense and LSM for the Salem State University Vikings [NCAA Division 3 Little East Conference] where he graduated with a degree in Geology and was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year by his team in the 2009 and 2011 seasons, while having started all regular-season games from 2008 to 2012; he was unable to play in the 2010 season. After finishing his degree program and graduating, the Oil and Gas industry took him to Oklahoma City from 2014 to 2020 where he worked for Chesapeake Energy and worked on his Master in Geophysics at Oklahoma State University. While in OKC his LAX was limited to yearly Alumni Week scrimmages against the current players at his Alma Mater, weekend summer league tournaments with his old teammates and he volunteered with the Edmond Huskies Club Lacrosse team in 2017 as a Defensive Coach. Matthew moved to Midland in late 2020 where he lives with his wife Kaitlyn, their 3 dogs and is the Geologist for PBEX Resources. He sees West Texas Wildcatter Lacrosse as an amazing opportunity to share his love of the game, his passion for competition and the great importance that teamwork and dedication to self-improvement have on the development of young men and women. The future of this sport in Texas and New Mexico looks incredibly promising and he looks forward to doing all he can to see it flourish in years to come.
