I’ll start with this admission: I have never been much of a lacrosse fan. During my more athletic days I never once considered playing the sport and it certainly never would have caused me to miss even one pitch of Little League as a youngster.

But are those reasons to keep it on the margins of prep sports?

The state of lacrosse is dramatically different than it was even five years ago, yet the growth in popularity has not meant inclusion on the prep level, at least not from the WIAA.

The Washington Stealth won a professional lacrosse championship in Everett. Programs have sprung up throughout the area at both public and private schools. Bellevue and Mercer Island have established themselves as programs to be reckoned with not only in Washington, but throughout the nation. They travel to the East Coast and Texas, beating established blue-blood programs. Prep Lacrosse games featuring teams throughout the area will be aired On Demand by Comcast this season, just like boys and girls basketball.

And the sport is only growing.

High school teams see increased turnout every year and the youth leagues are outpacing even that growth.

Of course the participants enjoy competing, regardless of official designation. But there is just no substitute for that sense of pride in the school community that is lacking for many who play.

There are plenty of capable and passionate individuals who are already helping to grow the game; coaches, referees, parents and those who work to pass on their love of lacrosse to the next generation.

It’s about time they get rewarded.