Wait, Lacrosse IS Maryland's Official State Team Sport? (And Jousting Is Still a Thing Too?)

(Pic: our cheeky AI take on merging Maryland Jousting and Lacrosse players.)

Did you know that lacrosse is already Maryland's official state team sport? The legislature made it official in 2004 — which, it turns out, a lot of Marylanders never knew. And yet ask anyone in the state what sport defines it, and the answer is immediate: lacrosse. Some things are just obvious.

What's less obvious is that the state's official sport (the non-team one) is still jousting. Yes, really. Since 1962, the state has officially recognized the medieval pastime of knights on horseback spearing rings as its defining athletic pursuit. So Maryland now has two official sports — one that represents the state's quirky historical footnote, and one that represents literally every spring weekend in every community across the state.

Honestly, that's very Maryland. We'd expect nothing less.

Jousting's Claim to Fame

To be fair to jousting, Maryland didn't just stumble into this designation. As the world's oldest equestrian sport, jousting was developed in the Middle Ages as combat training for the cavalry. Two armored combatants on horseback charged at each other in an attempt to break the lance on their opponent's armor or knock him off his horse. Eventually losing its military connection, jousting became a very popular sport, and tournaments were held in which knights, noblemen, and even kings competed.

Jousting tournaments have been held in Maryland since early colonial times but became increasingly popular after the Civil War. Retaining the pageantry and customs of medieval tournaments, modern competitors are called "knights" or "maids", and many dress in colorful costumes.

Maryland tournaments still take place today. When the state legislature made it official in 1962, Maryland became the only state in the nation with jousting as its sport of record. For a fun family adventure you can visit Medieval Times in Hanover Maryland. Experience jousting, feasting and fun!

Charming? Absolutely. Representative of Maryland's sporting soul? That's where lacrosse comes in.

Lacrosse's Deep Maryland Roots

Lacrosse didn't arrive in Maryland from a rulebook — it arrived from the land itself. Native American tribes played versions of the game long before European settlers arrived, and it became popular on Maryland college campuses in the late 1800s. The Johns Hopkins University's men's lacrosse team was formed in 1883, while the University of Maryland began as a club team in 1895. In 1926, the first women's lacrosse team in the country was established at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. From those early days, the state developed what became known as "Maryland style" play: a unique combination of finesse, speed, and passion that built a long line of national powerhouses at every level.

High school programs in Baltimore and the surrounding counties became legendary feeders for college dynasties. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has won 44 national titles including 9 Division 1 titles since lacrosse became an NCAA sport.

The University of Maryland Terrapins have claimed multiple national championships. And Maryland-born players have represented the United States on the Olympic stage. The sport runs deep here — in the culture, in the schools, and in the DNA of spring weekends across the state.

Why It Deserves the Recognition

Ask any Marylander what sport defines the state and the answer is almost always the same. Lacrosse is as synonymous with Maryland as crabs, the Chesapeake Bay, and Old Bay Seasoning. It's the sport parents sign their kids up for, the sport that fills high school stadiums, and the sport that gives Maryland bragging rights on the national stage year after year.

Spring in Maryland means one thing: lacrosse. The fields fill up, the sticks come out, and the state collectively holds its breath through tournament season. The legislature recognized it in 2004. The rest of Maryland had known it for decades.

So Jousting Is Still... Official?

Yes. Jousting remains Maryland's official state sport — the non-team one. Which means Maryland is now the proud owner of two official sports: a medieval ring-spearing competition, and the fastest game on two feet. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Celebrate Maryland Lacrosse

If you love the game and the history behind it, Men's Lacrosse in Maryland: Pride of the Old Line State by Tom Flynn is a must-read. Tracing the sport's roots from its Native American origins through Maryland's rise as a national powerhouse, it's 176 pages of everything that makes lacrosse in Maryland special. Available now at The Maryland Store.