Cinnaminson Lacrosse Up for Sportsmanship Award

CLARIFICATION: The deadline to vote (via Facebook) in the MedExpress contest is Saturday, Sept. 14. Winners will be announced Sept. 15.
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The Cinnaminson boys lacrosse team is being recognized for its heartwarming show of support for a team member and his family.

Last season, team captain John Caruso, after learning his teammate's mother, Donna Morton, had been diagnosed with breast cancer, organized an effort to rally around the family.

Team members purchased pink socks and wore them for every game and bought shirts with "Cinnaminson Lacrosse" written in pink letters on the front, with “Failure is not an option” on the back. For the team's Senior Night, the stadium was decorated with pink balloons, and at halftime the team removed their jerseys and showed off their shirts.

The team also collectively pitched in to buy chances on a special edition lacrosse stick that was being raffled off in a national competition—run by Maple Shade-based RuffLax—with all the proceeds donated to breast cancer research. The boys presented Morton with the stick at halftime of their Senior Night game.

"It was so touching," said Morton. "Words can't express how I felt that night. It touched my son. It touched my husband. It was an amazing night."

Morton was diagnosed in December 2010 and said it's "been a rocky road," though she's doing well today.

"For those boys to think enough of me to do that ... it shows what those boys are truly about," she said. 

"It was very moving," said Ann Wright, whose son, Mark, plays for the team. "They're to be commended for that."

Terry Caruso, John's mother, said of her son's efforts to support the Mortons, "That's just the kid he is. He's just very considerate."

For their kindness, the team has been entered into MedExpress's excellent sportsmanship contest, along with 78 other teams from across the country.

The winner of the contest—determined by the number of Facebook "likes" each team receives—will receive a $3,000 prize for the team. Second place is $2,000, third place $1,000, fourth $500, and fifth place gets $250. Cinnaminson is currently in 10th with 349 likes.

To help Cinnaminson get to the top, like the boys lacrosse photo on the MedExpress Facebook page.

The deadline to vote is Saturday, Sept. 14. Winners will be announced Sept. 15.

"They deserve to win," said Morton. "They really do."