With Mount Blue Sky’s snow-covered caps and other famous peaks visible in the distance, families packed the sidelines to watch the action across boys and girls divisions. Organized as a celebratory cap to the spring season and a pre-summer kickoff, Jam Town represents the alignment of two established events to bring the Colorado lacrosse community together.
The Rocky Mountain Jamboree, launched in Golden by the Baruch family in 1991, was in its early existence considered the de facto state championships for Colorado lacrosse. Prior to being acquired by the Premier Lacrosse League, Summit Lacrosse Ventures began operating the Colorado Youth Lacrosse Association in 2017 and, a year later, the Jamboree.
Boom Town Lacrosse was founded in 2011 by professional athletes Connor Martin and Dillon Roy when the two met as members of the Denver Outlaws. The company operates a variety of events throughout the state. Until joining forces with PLL Play this year, Boom Town hosted its own Colorado Lacrosse Championship, usually at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Through its dedicated staff and unique events, Boom Town has helped shape a constructive culture of youth lacrosse in Colorado. Its motto is simple: let the kids play.
“Boom Town Lacrosse was thrilled to partner with the Summit team and PLL Play at Stenger Sports Complex this past weekend for the first ever Jam Town,” said Boom Town Lacrosse Director Matt Soran, who starred locally at Regis Jesuit High School before going on to play Division I lacrosse at Drexel University.
“It was refreshing to see the lacrosse community unite and bring the action to one central location.”
From a family that’s been deeply immersed in the game for decades, Soran knows a thing or two about lacrosse events. His father, David, and his uncle, Jim, are co-founders of the Vail Lacrosse Shootout, the longest-running tournament in the sport’s intriguing past.
“Jam Town reflected all the best aspects of youth lacrosse in this area and celebrated it accordingly,” Soran said. “A special thanks to our partners at PLL Play who helped us make Jam Town rock in Year 1.”
Sunday built up to intense finales, with the Rocky Mountain Rattlers Venom teams claiming the 7th and 8th grade boys division championships. Afterward, the victorious squads gathered by tournament headquarters, where they donned their championship t-shirts.
A tradition at past Boom Town events, the signature makeshift trophy — a chrome-spray-painted helmet worn years ago by Con Bro Chill himself, with a cup affixed to the top — was passed around by team members and each group posed with the Colorado state flag to mark the special occasion.
