In Iowa, when kids are just getting started in the vast world of sports, basketball, baseball, softball, and football come to mind. Lacrosse usually doesn’t cross the minds of youth athletes and their parents.
After moving from northern Virginia, where lacrosse is much more prevalent, Jeff Kueter placed his daughter Kate in a club based in Des Moines where she played her entire prep career. Once she graduated, Jeff found he had a lot of time on his hands, and that became the “genesis” of the Kingfisher lacrosse club, according to him.
“Why not have a Lacrosse team here?” It started out with just a meeting, and then, “people came out of the woodwork asking how they could help.”
People from the greater Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area started either volunteering to coach or were curious about how they could get their child involved. What started as a small group of ambitious families and community members creating lacrosse clinics has now grown into a competitive club with over 100 athletes competing or learning the sport.
“The story of lacrosse in the greater Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area can’t be without Solon. It got started on the SRNA and was the main practice field up until this year.”
Along with being able to use the Solon Recreation and Nature Area (SRNA), the Gafft family and many others helped create a community within the club. Finnegan “Finn” Gafft joined the club in the beginning after his family moved to the Solon area. Denise, Finn’s mother, was looking for an activity for him to do.
“The Solon rec center had been advertising it, and I was looking for soccer, and said, ‘Lacrosse? What is that I had never heard of it? Let’s look at it.”
Denise explained that someone in the community encouraged them to get Finn started, and once they signed up, they tried to get as many people as possible to join. Six years later, Finn, now playing for the 14U boys, continued to successfully recruit more and more of his friends in the Solon community. Jeff explained that “a lot of those young men picked up a stick for the first time.” Even though the sport is new, the 14U team placed 3rd in the club championship. Even though hardware and medals are always sweet to bring home, Denise’s favorite moment from the tournament was the camaraderie of the boys.
“The first game, they were pumped, and they were ready to go and take on the world. All the parents on the sideline come together as a parent group supporting them all on. The amazing support across all of the fields is just such an amazing vibe.” Jeff and Denise both stressed the importance of building a community amongst the families and players.
Lacrosse in eastern Iowa is starting to grow, which was Jeff’s vision when starting the Kingfisher Club. At Liberty High School in North Liberty, Isabella Eatmon has started a lacrosse club, making a big step toward making the sport available in high schools across the state.
Kingfisher makes a statement at state championships
ILAX (Iowa Lacrosse Association)’s annual Youth State Championships were held June 6-7 in Ankeny with Kingfisher well represented in the double elimination format where champions were crowned for 10U, 12U and 14U (boys and girls), and high school.
Kingfisher’s high school boys took 2nd place, 14U boys took third with eight Solon boys on the 14U team and 2-3 on the high school team, according to Shannon Hansel. ILAX’s website also shows Kingfisher’s 12U and high school girls teams taking the championships.
Iowa Lacrosse Association 2026 All Stars
10U boys – Elliot Bray, Gage Giebelstein, and Mack Long
12U boys – Hunter Heathman, Jaxson Fishell, Maverick Hansen
14U boys – Milo Gange, Henry Scott, Kaiden Morman
10U girls – Cassidy Schuler, Elsie Hellenthal, Elsie Degel
12U girls – Millie Hale, Lis Fee, Greyson Hines
14 U girls – Kylin Wood, Grace Haws, Carsyn Schuler
Interested in lacrosse?
The main season for competitive lacrosse in the spring, starting around March and ending in the beginning of June. There are many different clinics all year round that teach fundamentals and get kids on the field. More information regarding upcoming clinics can be found on their website, kingfisherlacrosse.com, their Facebook page www.facebook.com/KingfisherLax, or by emailing Kueter at [email protected].