THE NCAA's

I can still remember when Gordon received his first NCAA lacrosse assignment and how excited he was. Like so many officials, he worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a youth official, then becoming a high school official, and ultimately earning the opportunity to officiate at the NCAA level. He loved the game, respected the craft of officiating, and worked tirelessly to improve every year.

One of his proudest accomplishments was receiving his first NCAA playoff assignment while working at USA Lacrosse in Baltimore. It was a significant milestone in a journey that he had earned through hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for the game.

During his time at USA Lacrosse, Gordon was fortunate to be surrounded by incredible mentors. His manager, Charlie Obermayer, was not only an outstanding leader but also someone who truly cared about Gordon as a person. Charlie understood Gordon's struggles with mental health and stood by him during difficult times. He was always in Gordon's corner, and over the years their professional relationship grew into a genuine friendship.

Gordon was equally blessed to learn from some of the most respected names in lacrosse officiating, including Walt Munze, Jim Carboneau, Al Blau, Matt Palumb, Mike Hyland, and of course Kevin Forster, who became one of Gordon's closest friends. Kevin is a straightforward, no-nonsense official affectionately known throughout the lacrosse officiating community as "The Dream Crusher." Naturally, Gordon eventually earned the nickname "Junior Dream Crusher."

For lacrosse fans, the final two weeks of the college season are sacred. The playoffs culminate on Memorial Day Weekend and the Final Four, the biggest stage in the sport for both the men's and women's Division I, II, and III championships. Those of us who are true lacrosse mavens never miss it. There is simply nothing else like it.

This year, Charlie did something incredibly thoughtful. He secured a game ball from the NCAA Men's Final Four semifinal between Princeton and Duke in Charlottesville, Virginia, and had Gordon's initials placed on it. The officiating crew for that game, Referee Joe Cieslak, Umpire Josh Blaisdell, Field Judge Dan Bennett, and Box Official David Taibl, all knew Gordon well. What made it even more special was that each of them wore Gordon's "Take Care of Your Crew" bracelets during the game.

Every week, I receive notes, emails, social media messages, and texts from people around the country, and often around the world, sharing stories about Gordon. They tell us how much he impacted their lives, how much they learned from him, and how deeply they miss him.

Those messages make me smile. They make me cry. Most of all, they remind me what a beautiful soul Gordon is. I rarely speak about my son in the past tense because his influence is still very much present in the lives of so many people.

Charlie's gesture filled my heart in a way that is difficult to describe. I have always believed that Gordon would have worked a Final Four and eventually a National Championship game. As his father, perhaps I am biased, but I also know how talented and respected he was. He was that good.

While Gordon is no longer with us physically, I have no doubt he was smiling down on that crew, proud of the game they were working and wishing them all a great day on the field.

Charlie, thank you for this incredible tribute to Gordon. It meant more to our family than you will ever know. Moments like these remind us that Gordon's legacy continues to live on through the people he influenced, the friendships he built, and the lessons he shared.

And perhaps no lesson was more important than the one he repeated so often:

"Take Care of Your Crew."

Please consider donating to the Gordon J. Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation to help us keep Gordon’s legacy alive.

Mental Agility Donation

Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for help. In an emergency, please call 911.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).
For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).

A Journey of Healing, Lacrosse, and Connection

This August, Mary Jo, our three-legged Staffordshire Blakely, and I set out on an unforgettable journey from Atlanta, Georgia to Casper, Wyoming. It wasn’t just about getting from one place to another, it was about experiencing the country mile by mile, and ultimately, about the mission that awaited us at the end of the road.

We chose to slow down and savor the trip. In St. Louis, we stood beneath the soaring Gateway Arch, that symbol of westward exploration and limitless possibility. Later, in North Platte, Nebraska, we paused to honor the memory of Wild Bill Cody, whose spirit of adventure still lingers in the plains. These stops weren’t just sightseeing; they were reminders that America’s story is best told when you stop long enough to listen.

As a family, we’ve traveled west many times before, to the Grand Canyon, Zion, Sun Valley, and more, but always by plane. This time, driving the open highways gave us something new. The landscapes unfolded slowly, allowing us to feel the vastness of the country in a way you can’t from 30,000 feet up. It’s an experience I believe everyone should take in at least once.

Our final destination was Casper, Wyoming, where on August 8th and 9th we hosted a lacrosse clinic for three different age groups, followed by a Flex 6 Lacrosse Tournament for the Central Wyoming Boys & Girls Clubs and the wider community. Yet what drew us there wasn’t just sport, it was the deeper purpose of the inaugural LaCROSSe Out Violence & Suicide weekend, a collaboration between USA Lacrosse, Central Wyoming Counseling Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, PROSPER Together, Natrona County Health Department, Natrona Collective Health Trust, and so many others who believe in the power of community and mental health awareness.

Nearly 250 young people gathered over those two days at the Casper Soccer Complex, learning a new game, building friendships, and stepping into conversations that matter: about mental health, resilience, and suicide prevention. As I reminded the participants, lacrosse is called the “Medicine Game” in Native traditions, and its healing power was felt in every drill, every laugh, and every honest conversation.

This event had been in the works since April, when my good friend Jim Cowser (Central Wyoming Counseling Center), who had worked with Gordon over the years on mental health writings, invited me to come to Casper. Jim asked me to speak about mental health and suicide prevention, fully aware of the lasting impact Gordon had on so many. From that moment, the vision began to grow. Jim’s colleague Kendall Hickman brought us together week after week, carefully organizing alongside Ashley Bright (CEO, Central Wyoming Boys & Girls Clubs), DC Martinez (Athletic Director, CWBG), Anna Kinder (Executive Director, Natrona County Health Department), Dr. Kent Corso from PROSPER Together, Carol Salveson (Project Kenny) and my colleague and friend Lyn Porterfield, Regional Director of USA Lacrosse. Each person poured themselves into the weekend, shaping it into something that became larger than we could have imagined.

Along the way, there were moments of reunion and new friendship. I got to catch up with one of my former players, Carter Boicourt, who is now building a career in Casper and eager to help establish a local lacrosse league. I also had the unexpected joy of meeting Mike and Heather McKenna of Atlas Flight School, who supported Erin Switzer’s parachute entrance. Over dinner the night before, Mike had us all laughing with his sharp wit, and we talked through the logistics of how Erin would safely land his jump, a fascinating glimpse into the teamwork and precision behind the spectacle.

And what a spectacle it was. On Saturday, Erin — a former U.S. Marine Corps Reconnaissance operator, elite BORTAC agent, and now a powerful voice for resilience — parachuted onto the field before delivering a keynote that struck the youth to their core. He reminded them that strength isn’t just about toughness, but also about vulnerability, and that asking for help is never weakness.

Fourteen local organizations set up booths, families shared meals from food trucks, kids ran across fields with their new lacrosse sticks, and for a few days, Casper felt alive with hope, healing, and connection.

As I shared with the crowd that weekend: “This is the first of many events to grow the game of lacrosse in Wyoming. But more importantly, it helps young people and their parents understand that there are many resources to help them with mental health challenges.”

I said several things to the audience that day and one was one of my favorite quotes by Charles Schultz who wrote Penuts “Be Yourself—Everyone Else is Taken”

Embrace who you are, your quirks, your struggles, your gifts.

Mental wellness starts with authenticity. Pretending to be someone you're not is exhausting—and isolating.

We need to create space for people to be real, to show up as themselves without fear of shame.

On the drive back, Mary Jo and I (and yes, Blakely too) took a detour to see Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument — both breathtaking in their scale and power. It felt fitting to end the journey there, reflecting on vision, resilience, and the pursuit of something greater than oneself.

The road from Atlanta to Casper was long, but every mile mattered. This trip reminded me that whether in small towns or big cities, sports and community can come together to change lives. Lacrosse was the reason we came, but healing and connection were what we found.

So has everyone knows we met a new Crew while on our journey and using Gordon’s motto “Take Care of Your Crew” because that is what we did except for Blakely who was carted all over the place and spoiled rotten :)

If you’d like to learn more about the incredible organizations we worked alongside, I encourage you to explore the following:

• Central Wyoming Counseling Center

• Casper-Natrona County Health Department

• PROSPER Together

• Salvation Army Casper Corps

• Atlas Flight School

• https://projectkenny.org/meet-the-team/

  For those of you that need help please see the resources below:

  Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for help. In an emergency, please call 911.

  If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).

  For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).

  Please consider donating to the Gordon J. Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation to help us keep Gordon’s legacy alive.

  Mental Agility Donation