Aptos lacrosse didn't start with Pat Simmons. In 2005, Ari Melo put together the program's first team — a scrappy group of athletes trying a sport most of them had never seen played. No game records survive from that inaugural season, but Melo got the program off the ground at a time when competitive lacrosse was just taking root in Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz Warriors Lacrosse Association (SCCLA) was founded that same year, building the youth pipeline that would eventually feed players into high school programs across the area.
When Pat Simmons took over as head coach for the 2006 season, the program was still in its infancy. Simmons recruited athletes from other sports, taught them fundamentals, and fielded a team in what appears to be the SCCAL's first year of league lacrosse. The Mariners went 1-8, but the record was beside the point. Every practice, every road trip to face more established programs, was another step toward building something that would last.
Note: Complete statistics and roster information is limited for seasons prior to 2008. If you have photos, stats, or other information from this season, please contact us via Instagram @aptoslax.