Most know the sport of lacrosse at the University of Arizona is an upper-level club team with plenty of national success but how many know that the sport of lacrosse was an actual varsity sport at Arizona and was, in fact, the most successful Wildcat team ever? Arizona elevated lacrosse from a club (1962) team to a Division I team in 1964 and 1965 was a magical year. Arizona rescinded varsity status in 1966.
Arizona was already the third club team “West of the Mississippi” when it was formed in 1962 and it became the first full varsity team “West of the Mississippi” in 1965. Coached by legendary head coach and former Arizona football standout Carl Runk (32-13 at Arizona and 262-161 at Towson University), the team went a perfect 11-0 in 1965 and claimed the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Western College Lacrosse Association Championship.
Games were played on the Polo Field (Now Banner University Medical Center) and the football stadium. The squad was moved back to club status the following year by Arizona and the team went 2-6-1 after losing a great senior class and 12 letter winners from the undefeated season.
Runk moved to Maryland to coach Towson in 1968 and he led the program for 31 seasons, winning a national title in 1974, which is the only NCAA men’s championship for the school to this date. He passed away on November 24, 2024 at the age of 88. The Arizona Lacrosse program inducted Runk into their Hall of Fame in 2019 and he was honored by the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coach Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
Also, Amphitheater beat Flowing Wells 2-1 on December on Tuesday, December 14, 1965. It was the first ever high school lacrosse game in the state of Arizona and the Arizona squad helped host the match.
LINK: MORE HISTORIC VENUES HERE
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