Mission of TVYLA: to provide access to lacrosse for all Teton Valley youth and to enhance our community by instilling qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and self-esteem through the sport of lacrosse.
Our Board:
Jason Chircop (Chair)
Jason started his lacrosse career in Longmeadow, MA where he was a high school All-American and captained his high school team to a Massachusetts Boys Lacrosse State Championship. Jason then attended Colorado College where he played four years of NCAA division 3 mens lacrosse and captained the team his senior year. Jason is passionate about youth athletics and has been a part of TVYLA since it's inaugural season.
Emily Nichols
Emily is a Montana native who grew up in a gym with her father who coached basketball. She ran track, cross country and played basketball in middle school and enjoyed playing basketball, throwing discus and javelin in high school. Lacrosse was not a common sport in the west as she grew up, so when she found the opportunity to expose her two daughters to a new sport, she was excited! Her daughters Ida and Hazel are enthusiastic about the TVYLA program and Emily is excited to help the program grow!
Derek DiVenere
Raised in Essex Vermont, Derek started playing pickup lacrosse in 8th grade and grew as a player as the sports popularity was rapidly increasing in the state. A culmination point for both the sport and a player was when Essex Junction High School won the last Mountain State Club Title before Varsity Lacrosse became a fully sanctioned sport in 1990. Three varsity years alongside great players from all over New England at St. Michaels College and a move out west playing summer pickup games evolved into in a volunteer position with Jackson Hole Lacrosse Club identifying coaching talent for a rapidly growing program in Jackson from 2010-2014. A founding member, 2015 brought a small group of players and parents together to establish a program in Teton Valley to share the game of lacrosse with a great community.
Hilary Ordonez
Hilary grew up in Charlottesville, VA where she rode horses until she picked up a lacrosse stick and got hooked. She played attacking midfield for STAB and then at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Lacrosse was life for a while, and was the basis for many life-long friendships and core values, namely honesty, integrity, and teamwork. After moving out west after college, Hilary missed the lax community and was thrilled to get involved with the fledgling TVYLA program! She has served on the board since 2016 and is excited to help develop the lacrosse program for our Idaho kiddos.
David Hudacsko
Dave grew up in Bridgewater, NJ where he had the privilege to play for Bridgewater-Raritan High School with outstanding coaches such as Coach Chuck Apel. There was a core crew of friends that had known each other for years playing a variety of sports since they were 5 & 6 years old. This on- and off-the-field friendship was key in bringing home the first state title in school history. College lacrosse followed at University of Vermont where he was captain of the division 1 team while playing defensive midfield with a focus as the face-off man. He remains close friends with everyone that I was able to play lacrosse with, which is the real reward in his opinion. He hopes that being part of the TVYLA will provide boys and girls in our community the opportunity to appreciate teamwork, enjoy this type of camaraderie and develop life-long friendships.
Crystal Osbrach
Crystal grew up in Crozet, VA and played lacrosse and field hockey at Western Albemarle High School. Crystal loves to be a part of the game in both coaching for TVYL and participating on the board. She believes in the value of sports in both building communities and instilling values such as honesty, integrity, and hard work.
Todd Witek
Lacrosse found Todd at the age of 12 in Littleton, Colorado. He was schooled under the tutelage of Reverend George Brown. He went on to play for two different high schools in and around Denver, the later went on to compete for State Title. Lacrosse found Todd once again went he was going to UNC Greeley, CO with many former Denver HS players! Continued onto briefly play for University of Colorado (intramural squad).
Including the old guy team that Todd and his friends formed in Victor, ID in 2006(ish), he's been blessed to play (and coach) with such amazing talent at hand my whole life.
Anthony Owens
Anthony Owens grew up in Idaho where Lacrosse was not a common sport. He and his wife moved to Victor in 2007. He has two boys named Tristen and Teegan who both started playing Lacrosse at a very young age. Tristen started playing the sport when it first became a club in Teton Valley. Anthony has had a passion for it ever since. He enjoys watching his kids and fellow teammates grow, practice, and play as a team. He feels it is such a great program for the youth and our community and wanted to give back to the program. He decided to do this byjoining the board and helping grow the program.
Our Staff
Heather Frei
Heather Frei's appointment as the Executive Director of the Teton Valley Youth Lacrosse Association is an exciting development for the organization. As the first ED, she brings a wealth of organizational experience and dedication to the role. Her background as the former Emergency Communications Supervisor for the Teton County Sheriff's Office shows her commitment to public service and community. After a decade of service, she decided to focus more on spending time with her family, which is a commendable choice. Heather and her family have deep roots in the Teton Valley community. Her son, Whalen, and daughter, Ella, are actively involved in local schools, and Ella's early participation in the lacrosse program exemplifies its growth as a valuable asset for the community. With Heather's leadership and passion, it's clear that TVYLA is in capable hands as it continues to grow and maintain its Wolverine culture for years to come. Her dedication to both her family and the lacrosse program is commendable, and it's exciting to see her take on this important role.
Rachel Fortier
Rachel’s diverse background in sports and her passion for both team and individual activities make her a valuable asset to the Teton Valley Youth Lacrosse program as the Girls Program Director and High School Girls Team Coach. Growing up near Washington, D.C., she engaged in a wide range of sports, including lacrosse, tennis, cross-country, track, equestrian activities, and ski racing. Her love for sports, especially team sports, has had a significant impact on her life. Her move to Teton Valley for skiing might have been the primary motive, but her involvement with the lacrosse program has been a pleasant surprise. Her passion for growing both the program and the sport of lacrosse in the region is evident. Her experience and enthusiasm will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success and development of the program in the Teton Valley community.
Sean Gilboy
Sean's journey in lacrosse from Heber, UT, to Teton Valley is an impressive one. Starting out with friends at the age of 13, he became a pivotal part of Wasatch High School's Varsity lacrosse team and even served as a captain during his senior year in 2018. His passion for the sport led him to continue his involvement as a Varsity assistant coach at Wasatch High School during the 2018/19 season. Upon moving to Teton Valley in 2019, Sean's commitment to lacrosse didn't waver. He got involved in the program in the spring of 2021, and his dedication and leadership qualities must have stood out. Being named as the Boys HS Head Coach in the Spring of 2023 and subsequently the Boys Program Director in the Fall of 2023 is a testament to his passion and the trust placed in him by the organization. Sean is enthusiastic about growing the game of lacrosse in Eastern Idaho, particularly in our community, and his experience and leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of TVYLA.
Matt Schreiber
Matt was born in Jackson, but attended high school in the Seattle area where he played lacrosse at Vashon Island High School . He attended and played at Division 3 Nazareth College for a single season, then at Central Washington University for their inaugural club team. His coaching career started in 2003 at Garfield High School in Seattle. After moving to Sandpoint, Idaho he coached the high school varsity and junior varsity teams until 2014. During that time he had 12 players go on to play in college at both the varsity and club levels. He has coached summer lacrosse camps for Last Best Lacrosse, Rhino Lacrosse and Treasure State Lacrosse. Prior to the COVID shutdowns, Matt worked for USA Lacrosse’s Coach Development Program traveling around the West teaching coaching clinics. Matt has also spoken on culture building at the annual USA Lacrosse Western Conference in Las Vegas. Matt is a woodworker and currently lives in Tetonia with his wife, a firefighter/paramedic for Teton County Fire and Rescue, his 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son who both play lacrosse.