By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – Dom Boone, a 2020 De Pere High School graduate, played a sport not many people know about.
“Lacrosse is not the most popular,” said Dom, the son of Brent and Jill Boone. “Even kids in my high school had never seen it before. When I go to a local park to shoot around into a net, I’m sure half the people watching don’t know what I’m doing. When I tell someone I play lacrosse, I have to explain how the game is played.”
Lacrosse is the oldest organized sport in North America.
“My first two years playing, it was only players from De Pere High School,” said Boone, who describes himself as fun, outgoing and personable. “My junior year, we merged with West De Pere and became known as De Pere Central.”
Rivals in most other sports, Boone said having the West De Pere boys join the team was fun.
“Since it was lacrosse, there wasn’t much of a rivalry between the two schools,” he said. “Most of us knew each other, and nobody cared what school we came from – it was good for the team.”
Lacrosse at the high school level in the state is not WIAA sanctioned, so funding is limited.
Boone also said the cost of the sport turned players away.
“Since it’s not school funded, many kids didn’t play,” he said. “A stick can cost $200. Throw in shoulder pads and a helmet, and it can get expensive. I’m sure some kids thought, ‘I can run track for free, why play lacrosse?’”
He said he likes the uniqueness of the sport, which has roots to earlier Native American days.
“My older brother – who plays at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis – and I played together for one year when I was a freshman,” Boone said. “One of my most memorable moments was assisting on one of his goals during our first game together.”
One of his most embarrassing moments also led to a concussion.
“Between games one time, I wasn’t wearing my helmet,” said Boone. “My best friend hit me with a shot in the head. I had a bad concussion for two weeks. A lacrosse ball is made of compact rubber. It’s not as hard as a hockey puck, but it still hurts.”
He played for head coach Charles Jacobs.
“Mr. Jacobs is a great guy and coach,” Boone said. “He always supported us and listened to his players. He took into account what the players wanted and wasn’t controlling.”
Boone will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to possibly study marketing/business management.
His dad grew up in the Chicago area and wrestled in high school, while his mom is from Escanaba, Michigan.
“My mom ran cross country,” said Boone, who was born in Lower Michigan. “I also have three younger sisters – two will be juniors at De Pere and one will be an eighth-grader.”
In his free time, Boone likes to skateboard, play video games, hike and be outdoors.
He also likes the National Football League, the Chicago Bears, blue moon ice cream, sledding, playing pond hockey, skiing, the month of November, Thanksgiving and cats.