"Stars & Stripes Lacrosse has been an amazing experience and we are fortunate to be a part of the Family. The instruction received, lacrosse opportunities and bonds built with teammates will last a lifetime."
"Being part of the Stars & Stripes family has been more than just playing Lacrosse. The coaching exceeds far beyond teaching the sport of lacrosse, it has taught life lessons and how to deal with adversity while having fun on and off the field. The close friendships that we all have developed will last a lifetime. We have been always proud to be part of the Stars & Stripes family. Can't wait to see what the next chapter brings."
"As a part of Stars and Stripes Lacrosse Club from the very beginning, our family can not say enough about what a great experience it has been! Through this program, our children have not only honed their lacrosse skills, but have learned the importance of teamwork, leadership, and, most importantly, family. Our club has competed at the highest level as Coach Karetsos has instilled confidence and character into it’s members. Stars and Stripes athletes learn that they have what it takes to “storm the hill” in lacrosse and beyond."
"The program you built was very special and helped me become such a better player, if it wasn’t for that program I would be no where near what I am today. You built more than a team and it helped so much and was such a joy to be a part of."
" When you're young playing youth lacrosse, you run into every type of coach. The loud and rude ones, the "go have fun" guys who don't do much of anything. The first time I rolled up to a field to play against Spyro's team, my first thought was that this guy must be brutal on his players, because you could hear him from the opposite sideline. It was easy to judge from over there and think, glad he's not yelling at me.
Then we got whooped, and rightfully so. I left thinking we stunk, their coach was loud, and their players were really good. At that age, I couldn't understand what I was actually looking at: the culture Spyro built. It wasn't the first or the last he had built.
I joined his team in sixth grade expecting to get chewed out for every mistake. That was never the case. I made the team and was instantly embraced by an all-encompassing family of Lehigh Valley lacrosse, one that has only extended its reach since I came up through the program.
I learned fast that mistakes happen, and you're going to hear about it. But here's what separates Spyro: the second you fix that mistake or respond to adversity the right way, he's right there hyping you up ten times louder than he ever got on you.
He understands his players and coaches each of them in the way that helps THEM grow.
That culture doesn't end when you step off the field. When you represent the team, you represent him, and he takes that personally, as he should. He grows boys into men, and his staff is a well-rounded group of coaches and fathers who care about the player's individual growth just as much as who that kid becomes long after lacrosse. What gets built and taught on that field translates to every other walk of life. I'm living proof: no task is too tall, you attack everything with all you have, and you let what happens happen.
The man is known for building cultures that outlast him and for the people and connections that come out of them. As I've started my own career in the finance world, I keep running into his former colleagues, and they all say the same thing: the culture he built is still standing, still being nurtured, years after he moved on. "
"Stars and Stripes is where my love for lacrosse began and took off. I was welcomed by an amazing coaching staff of which I am blessed to also call my friends. It not only helped me develop my skills to play lacrosse at the college level now, but taught me many life lessons. It taught me how to grow up, develop friendships and respect for everyone and taught me how to carry my own. It also introduced me to a group of great players and families that I look forward to seeing whenever the opportunity is available. These relationships I have developed with everyone apart of Stars and Stripes are not only some of the best I have, but they will last me a lifetime which not many people get. Overall Stars and Stripes is more than just lacrosse, it develops a bunch of useful skills and relationships that will help out in the future and I am truly blessed to have been a part of this family."
"There are moments in your life when you recognize you are a part of something very special and when your kids get to be a part of it - it makes it even better. We hear ourselves saying this after Stars and Stripes family events quite often. I use the word events because this is not only about lacrosse but the love, support, and life lessons our son has experienced while learning the game of lacrosse - but the life and support we feel from all the Stars and Stripes families. I think the moment our son’s lacrosse life changed was when Coach K put a long pole in his hand and said play LSM for me. Coach K sees the strengths in his players and helps them to develop from there. We saw our son light up on the lacrosse field and his passion for the game has never ceased since then. Our son is a better player, a better teammate, and a better person under Coach K’s instruction. Our family are better fans, better friends, and better people because of Stars and Stripes lacrosse. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for not only our son but ALL the Stars and Stripes players and families."