Los Alamos Youth Lacrosse 12U goes undefeated, wins Santa Fe Jamboree title

Los Alamos Youth Lacrosse’s 12U team went undefeated through five games at the Santa Fe Jamboree and brought home the tournament championship trophy, a clean sweep that turned a spring travel weekend into a statement about the strength of the program in Los Alamos County.

Steven Richardson, Matt Martinez, Elijah Martinez, Corbin Wakeford, Daniel Certik, David Hargather, Quentin Adams and Iszakiah Chacon helped carry the roster through the April 25-26 event, which drew opponents from El Paso, Santa Fe, Ark Valley and Albuquerque. The team’s bracket run ended with the trophy in hand after a Sunday playoff slot, a short but demanding stretch that asked the players to stay sharp across five games in two days.

The result carries weight in a town where youth sports often depend on volunteers, parent carpools and a steady stream of borrowed gear. Los Alamos Youth Lacrosse says its purpose is to teach and promote the game in a fun, safe and sportsmanlike environment, with an emphasis on skill development, sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, fair play and a love of the sport. The league also says each player needs a USA Lacrosse membership to register, and that it rents most equipment while families still need to buy mouth guards and cleats.

That behind-the-scenes structure matters for families as much as the wins do. Tara Key serves as president, Ha Hill as treasurer, Kiersten Steck as vice president and secretary, Jered Steck as youth head coach, James Miller as HS boys head coach and Elizabeth Allen in development of the girls program. Their work gives younger players a place to learn the sport early, which can help sustain interest as athletes move into middle school and high school programs later on.

The championship also fits a longer arc for lacrosse in Los Alamos. The league was recruiting boys and girls new and beginner players as far back as 2019, and in 2022 Los Alamos hosted nearly 140 youth lacrosse athletes from Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, El Paso and Las Cruces at Overlook Park. More recently, Los Alamos Reporter covered a local U10 team heading to the Santa Fe Jamboree for a season opener in 2025, another sign that the program has been building competitive experience across age groups.

Santa Fe Lacrosse, which hosted the Jamboree, describes itself as a 501(c)(3) community sports organization centered on community building, inclusion and excellence. Its youth schedule places U10 and U12 play at the City of Santa Fe Municipal Recreation Sports Complex, where Los Alamos’ newest title added another chapter to a regional lacrosse network that now reaches beyond one weekend and one trophy.