
World Lacrosse 2024
Donation protected
- Hello, my name is Tyler Kolodka and have found this to be a humbling experience. My story started in 2019 when I received a phone call just based on my last name and someone in the stands watching a Junior B lacrosse game. The question was "Do you have any Polish Heritage?" At the time I honestly had no idea. We have been Ukrainian our entire life. Some digging found that in fact my Grandfather was born in a town that was part of the Polish Republic in 1923 when he was born. And supporting documentation was found in box stamped in 1948. This all lead for me to play in the World Juniors representing Team Poland. This in itself was an honor and an amazing experience. As we know Covid came into play and we lost a year of lacrosse. In 2021, I was on my way to represent Poland again in the World Juniors in Winnipeg however Covid once again played a part in cancelling. However the Poland Lacrosse Federation reached out to me and offered another opportunity to travel to Wroclaw, Poland and play with the U21 team in the European Men's Lacrosse Challenge. After day one, I was not only playing with the U21 team but called up to also play with the men's team. A ton of Lacrosse and memories of a life team. I was prepping to hopefully be a part of the National field team however was sidelined with some injuries. In 2023 I represented Team Poland again at the Laxnai tournament in New York where this was a platform for tryouts for the National Team for the 2024 World Lacrosse tournament, where 28 countries will be represented. I was humbled once again where a spot on the team has been offered. As an amateur athlete the costs involved are astronomical. And its for this reason I find myself reaching out to share my story. I will be leaving for Prague, in the Czech Republic to train with the National team in April. And from September 20-29, 2024 will be representing Team Poland at the Worlds in Utica, NY. The cost to the team for the Worlds is $50,000 US which is shared amongst the athletes. This covers such things as accommodations, food, travel to and from, equipment and trainers. I did struggle with the idea of reaching out and asking for help but it is important to share feel l good stories. When I was 11 years old and my babysitter Sam was finally able to convince my mother that Lacrosse was an amazing sport, I'm most certain that none of us knew then that I would proudly be representing a National Team on a World Platform. Furthermore for a heritage I had know idea that I came from.
"dumny z bycia Polakiem
Organizer

Tyler Kolodka
Organizer
Beamsville, ON