Clifford "Cliff" Kigar, a mechanical engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, has been successful in his lacrosse career, and continues to grow in this historical sport. Playing both for leisure and competitively, Clifford Kigar carries on the traditions of America's oldest sport, with roots branching back to the 1400's.

1. The History and Origins of
Lacrosse
Cliff Kigar

2. Introduction
• Clifford "Cliff" Kigar, a mechanical engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in Troy, New York, has been successful in his lacrosse career, and continues to grow in this
historical sport. Playing both for leisure and competitively, Clifford Kigar carries on the
traditions of America's oldest sport, with roots branching back to the 1400's.
Started by the Native American Indians, the game of lacrosse first became truly popularized
and known after a Jesuit priest named Jean de Brebeuf saw it being played in the 1600's.
Originally called stickball, it was renamed to 'lacrosse' when the priest remarked that the
sticks, curved on the end, looked like a crosier, a staff carried by bishops. The French
priests which originally took an interest in the game brought it back to Canada, where it
began to develop a large following.
In the early days of the game, Native Americans would sometimes play with teams of
hundreds of people, and matches could take place over several miles. In 1856, the Montreal
Lacrosse Club developed rules limiting the number of players, and introducing rubber balls
and more sophisticated sticks. By 1860, it became Canada's national game, and today, it is
played in over 500 colleges throughout North America.