By: SCOTT BAIR - North County Times (San Diego/Riverside, CA.)

Shortly after returning from winter break, Jenny Seitz scheduled the annual sign-up day for girls lacrosse. Rancho Bernardo High's head coach posted a few flyers and put a message in the daily bulletin to announce the date, but she didn't go out and campaign for athletes.

That's why it was such a shock when she and assistant Rob Alarcon showed up in a campus classroom for the sign-up meeting.

"There was a line out the door," Seitz said. "We had over 100 kids sign up that day, which was way more than we've ever had and way more than we ever expected. We don't like to turn people away, but there were so many girls that we actually had to make cuts this year."

The enormous turnout is a dramatic change for Seitz and other North County lacrosse coaches. The numbers were low across the board and the talent level was subpar.

Neither is the case anymore. Not only has the sport's popularity increased, the skill level has risen exponentially.

"We were starting to draw basketball and soccer players to the sport," Seitz said. "You have to be athletic to play the sport, but now we're getting kids who know how to play lacrosse. There are programs in junior high schools now where the kids learn the basics, which means that by the time we see them as freshmen, they're ready to compete."

Lacrosse programs are being offered at many schools feeding into La Costa Canyon, Mt. Carmel, Torrey Pines and other North County high schools. The result is a better product with more parity across the board.

Last Saturday, the Torrey Pines boys' squad showed just how competitive San Diego lacrosse has become in just its third year as a CIF-sanctioned sport. The Falcons defeated perennial East Coast powerhouse Garden City (N.Y.) 8-7 in a home match that, according to the Torrey Pines staff, marks the first time a West Coast program has ever defeated a nationally ranked East Coast school.

"I think the country will have to start taking West Coast lacrosse seriously now," Torrey Pines coach Jody Silstrop said after the game.

"We've come a long way in a relatively short time. Kids on the East Coast grow up playing this sport and now that it's becoming popular, kids in this area are starting to do the same thing."

Torrey Pines attacker and 2003 CIF Player of the Year Cito Williams is part of that new wave of athletes that are lacrosse players first and foremost. Williams and his older Mike brother started playing lacrosse in the fourth grade and committed themselves to the sport.

Cito's speed and technical expertise gained with years of experience has paid dividends for the Falcons. He led Torrey Pines to its first CIF title last year. He also led his team to victory last against Garden City with a game-high four goals and two assists.

"When we were growing up, my brother and I were always known as the kids with the funny sticks," Cito said. "But now that (lacrosse) has picked up speed, people are getting interested in it. And it's not just kids at this school either. The level of competition has really picked up this year, even at schools that haven't been strong in the past."

The Falcons beat a nationally ranked team, yet lost to rival La Costa Canyon earlier in the season. The Mavericks feature All-American defender Sean McGonigle and a host of young, talented attackers that are familiar with the sport.

"It's great to see freshmen coming in with a base knowledge of the sport," La Costa Canyon boys coach Dallas Hartley said. "That allows us to focus on winning with the experienced athletes at the varsity level instead of teaching fundamentals. Now we can do that on the junior varsity level."

An example of developed talent is Mt. Carmel senior Ranessa Santos.

Santos hadn't touched a lacrosse stick before her freshman year with the Sundevils. Four years later, she earned a scholarship to play at UC Davis.

"Ranessa is proof that you can be successful at this sport even if you pick it up in high school," Mt. Carmel coach Tina Fedarcyk said.

"She's a natural athlete, but her commitment to the sport over her tenure here is what makes her so successful. Some of the best kids in the county aren't in any youth program."

Some are, some aren't. But no matter when people get involved, one thing is certain ---- lacrosse has become a legitimate, popular sport in very short amount of time.

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at sbair@nctimes.com.