Onondaga Historical Association is extremely happy to announce that we have received a signed lacrosse stick from the Gait brothers (Paul and Gary), who took collegiate and professional lacrosse by storm in the late 1980s through the early 2000s.
Gary Gait, former star Syracuse Orange Lacrosse player (four time All-American) and the current head coach for Syracuse University’s Women’s Lacrosse Team, played 17 years in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power, and Colorado Mammoth. In 1991 with Detroit, he was named the NLL Rookie of the Year, and later in his career he was selected the league’s MVP a record six times, including five in a row (1995-99). He was also an All-Pro every season. In recognition of his extraordinary NLL career, he was selected as one of five charter members of the league’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Gait also played five outdoor seasons in Major League Lacrosse. He made his MLL debut with the Long Island Lizards in 2001 before taking over as player-coach of the Bayhawks the following season.
Gary’s brother, Paul, won a full scholarship to Syracuse University with his twin-brother Gary. Together, they led the Orange to three national championships in four years. Three times Paul earned All-American standing and was named MVP of the 1989 NCAA Championship tournament.
The Gait brothers founded GB Lax Company with their own line of lacrosse equipment, located in Syracuse. Throughout the decade, the Gaits played in the Western Lacrosse Association, the National Lacrosse League, and Major League Lacrosse. Paul starred for Detroit, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Washington, Long Island and again Washington. Paul retired after the 2002 NLL season. However, during the 2005 NLL season, Paul returned to the NLL to play for the Colorado Mammoth with his brother. He retired for good with Gary after the 2005 season. The National Lacrosse League hall of famer is fourth all-time on the NLL point total list with 712 points in 13 seasons.
The brothers are also well known for their creativeness. Below, Gary jumps over the cage for a risky, but amazing, wrap around style goal.
The brothers also teamed up for some eye-popping goals, as we see below in this “Hidden Ball Trick”
Information in this post was gathered from Syracuse University and Inside Lacrosse Magazine.