A4 APG News February 11, 2021 Photo by Wikipedia user Toxophilus Photo by Flickr user dcJohn Jousting at Middelaldercentret in Denmark in June 2013. A photo from the 2005 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship in Annapolis, Maryland, between the Virginia Cavaliers and Northwestern University Wildcats. Maryland’s state sports: Jousting and lacrosse By JON BLEIWEIS, APG News became a very popular sport, and tournaments toward suspended rings. Using a long, fine- which encompasses Maryland, according to ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. were held in which knights, noblemen and tipped lance, the rider has 8 seconds to com- the Maryland State Archives. -- Maryland happens to have two officially even kings competed. plete the course and “spear” the rings, scoring In the United States, lacrosse became pop- designated sports. Jousting tournaments have been held points accordingly. From three equally-spaced ular on college campuses in the late 1800s, Jousting was designated as Maryland’s in Maryland since early colonial times but arches, rings are hung 6 feet 9 inches above beginning with New York University in 1877. official state sport in 1962, making Maryland became increasingly popular after the Civ- the ground and range in diameter from one- In Maryland, according to the Maryland State the first state to adopt an official sport. More il War, according to the Maryland State quarter inch to nearly two inches, depending Archives, the University of Maryland fielded than 40 years later, in 2004, Maryland made Archives. Retaining the pageantry and cus- upon the skill level of the contestant. its first team in 1910. In 1926, the first wom- lacrosse its official team sport. toms of medieval tournaments, modern com- Known as the oldest sport in North Amer- en’s lacrosse team in the country was estab- Jousting, the world’s oldest equestrian petitors are called “knights” or “maids,” and ica, lacrosse was played by native Ameri- lished at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. sport, developed in the Middle Ages as com- many dress in colorful costumes. Men, wom- can tribes probably for centuries before the Lacrosse made its Olympic debut in 1904, bat training for the cavalry, according to the en and children compete equally with skill and first account of it was written in 1636 by a with The Johns Hopkins University team rep- Maryland State Archives. Two armored com- horsemanship determining the class. French Jesuit missionary in Canada. Among resenting the United States at the Summer batants on horseback charged at each other in Tournaments conducted in Maryland are native Americans, lacrosse was played by Games in 1928 and 1932. an attempt to break the lance on their oppo- “ring tournaments,” according to the Mary- tribes throughout the Great Lakes region, The Lacrosse National Hall of Fame and nent’s armor or knock him off his horse. Even- land State Archives, which involve charging a and in what is now the southeastern United Museum is located in Sparks, in Baltimore tually losing its military connection, jousting horse at full-gallop through an 80-yard course States, and all along the East Coast, a range County. BY THE NUMB#RS VALENTINE’S February is DAY American Heart Valentine’s Day is Sunday, Feb. 14. According to an annual survey Month by the National Retail Federation and Proper Insights & Analytics, 52% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Learn more with these facts. $21.8 billion The amount Americans are projected to spend this year on Valentine’s Day gifts for partners, friends, pets and more. Consumers plan to spend an average of $164.76 on their loved ones. 145 million The number of Valentine’s Day cards Americans send each year. Valentine’s Day is America’s second-most-popular card-sending holiday, behind Christmas. SCHEDULE A HEALTH COACHING AT THE AWC TO DISCUSS EXERCISE, NUTRITION, AND OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR 1861 HEART HEALTH The year the first heart-shaped box of chocolates was created for Valentine’s Day. Richard Cadbury, son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, was responsible for this marketing idea. 1382 410-306-1024 The year the first mention of St. Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday appeared in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer. $35 The cost of a Valentine’s Day Top of the Bay meal kit for two. About Like us on facebook 41% of Americans will plan a special dinner or celebration at home this www.facebook.com/APGMd year for Valentine’s Day. By RACHEL PONDER, APG News Source(s): https://aberdeen.armymwr.com; https://www.goodhousekeeping.com; Follow our Instagram https://wallethub.com; https://nrf.com; https://www.history.com instagram.com/ aberdeen_proving_ground.