ALLEGANY TERRITORY - Four Seneca Nation members, traveling on Haudenosaunee passports issued through the Onondaga Nation, are part of the Under 19 Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team competing at a 13-team international tournament in Turku, Finland.
Seneca players include Zach Williams, a midfielder; Frank Brown, midfield/attack; and Zach Miller, a midfielder. The 27-member team, including Seneca Ansley Jemison, assistant coach, will compete against teams from the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, among others.
"We are all thrilled to see Seneca players and a coach on the Iroquois Nationals," said Seneca Nation Council Member Arlene Bova. "This is great exposure for all our Haudenosaunee players, coaches and fans and we know the team will do well. We are also proud that they are travelling on their native passports, recognized by Finnish authorities as those of sovereign nations."
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Zach Williams is part of the Under 19 Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team competing at a 13-team international tournament in Turku, Finland.
The team leaves Sunday and returns July 25.
"The American Indian Program has been extremely generous and has provided me with a camera to document the trip through photos," Jemison said. "I am honored to be able to travel as a representative of the Haudenosaunee people. We have a very strong team and we feel as though we will be able to compete with the United States, Canada and Australia, all of which are perennial powers in this tournament."
The last time the tournament was held, in England in 2010, the Iroquois Nationals were denied entry to compete because they insisted on using their native passports to travel and British authorities refused them entry.
The 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse U19 Men's World Lacrosse Championships will be played in Turku, the first European city to hose the event. Teams registered, in addition to the Nationals, include Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Iroquois Nationals, Netherlands, Scotland, United States and Wales.
Team members also include, Hank Delisle, attack, Mohawk; Orris Edwards, attack, Onondaga; Seth Oakes, attack, Mohawk; Ky Tarbell, attack, Mohawk; Anthony Patterson, defense/midfield, Tuscarora; Johnny Powless, midfield, Mohawk; Quinn Powless, midfield, Mohawk; Randall Staats, midfield, Mohawk; Brendan Bomberry, midfield, Mohawk; Jake Bomberry, midfield, Mohawk; Wenstar Green, defense/midfield, Mohawk; Lyle Thompson, midfield, Onondaga; Vaugh Harris, midfield, Cayuga; Chris George, defense, Mohawk; Kyle Isaacs, long-stick midfield, Cayuga; Jesse Jimerson, long-stick midfield, Cayuga; Tyler Lafonte, defense, Hiawatha; Korin Sunday, defense, Mohawk; Thomas Oakley, defense, Mohawk; Trey Adams, goalie, Mohawk; Warren Hill, goalie, Mohawk; Dalston Day, attack, Mohawk; Tyson Bomberry, defense, Oneida; Kobi Johnson, goalie, Mohawk.
The coaching staff, in addition to Jemison, includes Gewas Schindler, general manager, Oneida; Freeman "Bossy" Bucktooth, head coach, Onondaga; Jim Barnes, assistant coach, Mohawk; Marty Ward, assistant coach, Cherokee; Delby Powless, assistant coach, Six Nations; Jason Johnson, assistant coach, Six Nations.
