For Immediate Release
WILMINGTON, Mass. (April 6, 2022) – 3STEP Sports, the nation’s largest and most impactful club and event operator, has added a key piece to the lacrosse division by acquiring the Top Gun Fighting Clams and Littlenecks lacrosse club, one of the oldest and most successful clubs in the country.
Based in Boston, the Clams are an elite high school program with top coaches in the area, while the Littlenecks focus on youth to eighth grade. Both programs have robust indoor leagues in the offseason, as well as comprehensive weekly trainings to maximize off-season player development. At the high school level, the Clams run the Clams Elite Lacrosse League (CELL), while the Littlenecks power the Littlenecks Elite Lacrosse League (LELL).
The Clams were founded by Justin Walker in 2003, after starting out as a group of more sporadically compiled all-star players that emerged from camps and leagues that the group also ran. Once the Clams became known as such, the program’s impact on the development of a majority of eastern Massachusetts’ best lacrosse players was immediate. Walker identified the Clams as one of the only lacrosse clubs in the region and began focusing on ways that they could make just as big of an impact off the field as they could on it. So, the Clams transitioned to a year-round college placement service, focusing on their on-field performance and academics, while also using Walker’s relationships to connect players to the vast network of college coaches.
“We were the first club to focus on college placement and that’s become our calling card,” said Walker, who is entering his 22nd season as head boys’ lacrosse coach at The Rivers School. “It was groundbreaking and we’re really proud of it. We’re much more than a very competitive club. We’re a service for kids to help them to get into college.”
Every player in an age group practices together, like a college program, and all players have the mobility needed to find the on-field experience necessary for their development. Each event selected by the directors prior to each season features a unique combination of the club’s players best suited to that event. All players have the chance to train with their age group’s very best. Most importantly, every player earns their right to be on the field at the most competitive and cherished tournaments.
Over the years, 780 kids from the program have gone on to play in college and more than 50 college coaches have been connected to Clams. Walker says joining 3STEP will give his players more competitive options and create more opportunities for those who want them.
The 3STEP reach spans 40+ states and serves more than 3.1 million athletes across eight sports through industry-leading events, nationally spanning club programs, premier media content and more. The mission of 3STEP is to be the standard of the youth sports experience and create consistency in the industry.
“The Clams and Littlenecks have been a staple in New England for a long time,” said 3STEP Founder and CEO David Geaslen. “They are known for excellence on and off the field. Bringing them in elevates our lacrosse group.”
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To learn more about 3STEP Sports, go to www.threestep.com.
For more on the Top Gun Fighting Clams, go to www.topgunlax.com
Contact:
Walker Jones, 3STEP Sports: walker.jones@threestep.com
Kevin Flight, Elevate Communications: kflight@elevatecom.com or 617-861-3657
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