Wimmer Solutions teams came from behind to win both the Master’s and Elite divisions at Kapiolani Park on Sunday, and as CEO Matt Sauri explained as he accepted the awards, the teams had a little extra motivation.
Each year, Wimmer pledges to donate to non-profits if they win the tournament. This year, the recipients are Boys and Girls Club of King County, Washington, Sticks to Schools, the Team Jesse Foundation, Lacrosse the Nations and the Paul Rabil Foundation. Additionally, college savings programs will be set up for two youth players in Maine, who Wimmer player Malcolm Chase coaches, to help with their education as their father has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
While addressing his team the night before the championship games, Sauri said, “We can count on the talent in this room to make it happen. With this as motivation we can win.”
After a Tahitian Hula halftime show, it was all Wimmer in the third quarter as goalie Brett Queener held Dirty to just one goal and got the crowd into the game. Terry Kimener’s goal from MLL two-point range opened the fourth quarter, Pannell added a man-up goal and Drew Snider scored his second of the game to put Wimmer on top, 10-6. Dirty Lax threatened late in the fourth with three straight goals, but Max Seibald landed a huge check and picked up the ground ball as Wimmer ran down the clock to be crowned champions for another year.
In the Masters championship game, Wimmer was tied 4-4 with Tri City Canada at the break and fell behind early in the second half. But three goals in the final minutes led Wimmer to the title, 9-6.
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