Returning to the Game

A young Stephen "Bones" Kelly # 14 who now number 24 for UNC Tar Heels

Following my second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division I lacrosse finals and loss to Hopkins in 1985, I stopped playing lacrosse for a year. But after a year of coaching at the High School level I got the itch again. With encouragement with from my college coach John Desko, I returned to lacrosse playing for the first time in the Glastonbury, Connecticut Summer Lacrosse Tournament in 1986. The tournament featured some of the top Division I players from the Long Island, New Jersey, Hudson Valley, and New England regions. The competition was incredible and that’s what I thrive on—competition—I am the same way as an academic. This is where I became friends with Cornell and Calvert Hall alum Frank Kelly (Stephen's father). Frank was the first lacrosse player I met who like me made a decision during college to make the Lord Jesus Christ look good on and off the field with my life. Frank would go on to found the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Lacrosse Ministry http://www.fcalax.com/. 

My Syracuse Teammates: http://lacrossememoir.blogspot.com/search?q=%22Tom%22