How Peruvian Heritage and Lacrosse Guide Jordan Chavez

USA Lacrosse is happy to join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history and culture of the United States.

Across the country, Americans with Hispanic Heritage are picking up lacrosse sticks and falling in love with this game. For some, the connections made through lacrosse have brought them closer to their heritage, as more and more Hispanic countries adopt the game and participate in international competitions.

From youth players to those in the professional ranks, Hispanic Americans are a crucial part of the lacrosse community — and each person has a unique story to tell. In partnership with Lacrosse the Nations, we will highlight proud Hispanic Americans in the game of lacrosse and their family stories on our social media platforms.

We are grateful for you. We support you. You help make this sport special. Te estamos agradecidos. Te apoyamos. Ayudas a que este deporte sea especial.

 

 

 

 

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This is Jordan Chavez. #HispanicHeritageMonth "My grandfather migrated to the U.S. along with my grandmother from Peru. He worked very hard and long nights, paving highways and roads, in order to provide for his family. My grandfather's hard work allowed my father to play several sports, which created a drive for him to be extremely competitive in any sport he played. This drive was instilled in me and allows me to stay competitive when playing lacrosse." Jordan Chavez Heritage: Peruvian Location: Stamford, Conn. #linkinbio for his story

A post shared by US Lacrosse (@uslacrosse) on Sep 25, 2020 at 10:00am PDT

Jordan Chavez

Heritage: Peruvian
Location: Stamford, Conn.
High School: Stamford
Position: Close defense/LSM

What does your heritage mean to you?

My heritage means a lot to me because it makes up who I am as an individual.

What is your family's immigrant story?

My grandfather migrated to the U.S. along with my grandmother from Peru. He worked very hard and long nights, paving highways and roads, in order to provide for his family. My grandfather's hard work allowed my father to play several sports, which created a drive for him to be extremely competitive in any sport he played. This drive was instilled in me and allows me to stay competitive when playing lacrosse.

How were you introduced to lacrosse?

During my sophomore year, [Coach Mike Nazzaro] gave me the opportunity to try the sport and helped coach me to a better understanding of the game

What role has lacrosse played in your life?

Lacrosse has allowed me to remain active and out of the streets. I've gained more exposure to colleges and most importantly experienced a brotherly bond between my teammates all while having Coach Nazz not just as my coach but as a mentor.

We're proud to collaborate with Lacrosse the Nations to share stories during Hispanic Heritage Month. Lacrosse the nations (ltn) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission of unifying the lacrosse community to improve education and health while creating opportunity and hope for children around the world. They primarily serve Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama and the United States.