Hounds Highlights: Will Dadouris '20 Donates Lacrosse Equipment
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- During the Fall 2024-25 semester we are highlighting student-athletes and their work outside the playing arena. Our fourth feature is on former men's lacrosse goalie Will Dadouris.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- During the Fall 2024-25 semester we are highlighting student-athletes and their work outside the playing arena. Our fourth feature is on former men's lacrosse goalie Will Dadouris.
Alumni Will Dadouris '20 donated men's lacrosse sticks and heads to the Moravian University men's lacrosse team. On Friday, October 4th, Dadouris presented $3,500 worth of equipment to the program through his company, ReLax Collections.
Dadouris, recently obtaining his Doctorate in Dentistry at Rutgers University, was a former men's lacrosse goalkeeper for the Greyhounds. He wanted to give back to the Moravian community and utilizing his company was a perfect way to do that. The men's lacrosse coach, Coach Dave Carty, had been in contact with Dadouris who expressed interest in supporting the lacrosse program.
"I called up Coach Carty, and asked, what do the guys want? And he said, I think everyone could use a head, and all of the guys should get a complete stick," Dadouris said.
ReLax Collections, refurbishes men's lacrosse equipment to sell and donate around the world. The mission of the company is to sell new and used lacrosse equipment to promote education, while also introducing more athletes to the sport at an affordable price.
What's great about ReLax is that they sell their sticks at a fifth of the cost than most manufacturers. The gear would have cost between $10,000 - $15,000 if the team had purchased it on their own.
After starting ReLax Collections during his freshmen year of high school, the company has had time to flourish into the success it is today.
"I did a week trip to Jamaica and collected a bunch of gear…and everything started happening from there," Dadouris said.
ReLax Collections separates the gear they collect into different categories of usable and worn-out gear. The usable gear is cleaned and separated into smaller categories of helmets, gloves, elbow pads, etc. The separation makes it easy for donations, like this one where Dadouris could grab what he needs from the pile and go about his business.
Anything the company can't use they send to other companies or people that collect vintage gear that can't be worn.
"We try to really throw out as little as possible, mainly because nothing in lacrosse is recyclable," Dadouris said. "So all the shafts, all the helmets, they're plastic that is going to just sit in landfills."
Since the inception of the company, they have been able to save five full garbage trucks worth of gear that has been able to be back on the field, as opposed to being thrown out in a landfill.
"We started designing our own [sticks], trying to figure out a way of getting sticks at an affordable price, and this spring, we're finally able to make that happen," Dadouris said.
Each athlete was given the option of a new stick and 1-2 heads. ReLax Collections is currently working on creating and refurbishing women's equipment, as well.
"We started the design process already because that's free and our designer volunteers his time," Dadouris said.
Dadouris hopes to secure a design for the women's equipment in the near future so the company can start catering to them as well.
He was grateful to give back to the community that provided him with so much. Although he graduated in three years, he was able to forge lifelong relationships.
"It's amazing– the bonds I was able to make, both in school and on the team," Dadouris said.
The men's lacrosse team is set to begin their season on their home turf on Saturday, February 22nd against The United States Merchant Marine Academy, 1:00 p.m.
Story by Caillie Fish '25
