Minnesota Lacrosse

Janet is credited with making girls high school lacrosse a varsity sport in 2004. She was the point person for the push for girls varsity status with the MSHSL. Originally from PA, she played both field hockey and lacrosse in college and was a very successful head coach at Hopkins HS and the U of M. Her MN Lakers travel team was also very successful for many years and produced many outstanding college players. She also found time to serve as the president of the MN Lacrosse Assoc. – US Lacrosse Chapter. Janet is now teaching and living with her husband David and their two grown college kids in Morristown New Jersey. She is one of many transplants from Pennsylvania to have a tremendous impact o MN Lacrosse. She is in good company with Deb Wood, *Judy Baxter and *Laura Mark. * All HOF inductees

Howard is credited with making boys HS lacrosse a varsity sport in 2008. He tirelessly pushed the MSHSL to make it happen. He also founded and coached the Minneapolis Youth Lacrosse Association and HS program. He. like Janet Holdsworth, also found time to serve as the president of the MN Lacrosse Assoc. – US Lacrosse Chapter. Howard now splits his time living in Thailand (Bakery business consultant) and his Mushroom farming business and cabin in Minnesota. His two sons are in the restaurant business as co-owners of Wrecktangle Pizza chain with locations throughout the Twin Cities and Duluth. I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree, as both sons followed dad in the food industry.

The Art Ayers “Grow The Game in Outstate Minnesota Award”

Art was a friend to the game and in his memory we will be seeking to fund an award in his name to be given to ny one who is responsible for growing the game in outskate Minnesota. Art is credited with making girls and boys lacrosse a reality in the Mankato Area and coached and funded the Mankato East HS and Mankato State University teams for many years. He also served as president of the Minnesota Lacrosse association. MN Chapter of US Lacrosse,. He will be missed, but now remembered. Art is survived by his wife and four grown children.

This year the annual Art Ayrs “Grow the Game in outstate MN” award went to Allan Safranek who started the St Cloud Tech High School and first youth program in the Saint Cloud area. He, like most program builders. did it for his son with a shout out to Joe Grannis the first coach and SCSU alumni. Every year this award will be given to a outstanding promoter and builder of lacrosse in outstate Minnesota.

Can you help us find sponsors for both of these inspiring awards?
Please contact Hall of Fame president, Mark Hellenack to discuss at 952-457-4515. Thank You!

The Dr. Dan Ninham “Indigenous Lacrosse Award”

Dr. Dan Ninham, a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee has lead a life dedicated to promoting indigenous sports. An educator by trade in Bemidji, MN, We are seeking funding for the award to honor Dan’s lifelong work and are trying to use the image of the two Ho-Chunk ball players statue in LaCrosse, WI for the award. Dan has been teaching both the traditional wooden stick version played by the Native people of the Midwest and the modern version. He is credited for inspiring others in the Native community to do the same and bring the medicine game back as a part of the Native culture.

This year the annual Dr Dan Ninham Indigenous Lacrosse Award went to John Alexander Hunter who founded and runs Twin Cities Native Lacrosse and is the boy’s head lacrosse coach at Minneaplis Southwest HS. He, was influenced by Dr Ninham’s work and decided to help bring the game back to the Native people in the Twin Cities and Midwest.

Every year this award will be given to either an outstanding Native player, stick maker or promoter of the traditional wooden stick version of the game in Native communities throughout the Midwest.