The Love of the Game

Over the past two years, our country has lost many of our beloved friends, family, and neighbors. We’ve seen heartbreak and tragedy that will live with us for years to come. For the Flower Mound High School Girl’s Lacrosse program, the heartache of losing a loved one is no stranger to them. The loss of Craig Belmont was felt throughout the team, as well as the entire community.

Program Director and Varsity Head Coach of Flower Mound Girls Lacrosse, Gabby Sinmaz, met Craig in 2014. “I’ll never forget the moment I met Craig,” Gabby recalled. Craig was one of the first lacrosse parents that she had the privilege of meeting. “I was recruiting youth players at a tournament and was learning about different town programs, as I was new to the area and Texas lacrosse,” said Gabby.

“As I was jotting down notes from the sideline, Craig approached me and made a joke to ‘watch out for #0, she’s a beast’ which was in reference to his daughter, Brynn,” she said.

From that moment, Craig and Gabby became quick friends. “It was apparent he was so invested in the players and the program, that he could give me the most detailed player/team breakdown that I could have ever asked for. He then introduced me to all of the Flower Mound parents including his wife Beth and expressed that if I needed anything to reach out,” Gabby recalled. A characteristic that she notes he was known for within the North Texas girl’s lacrosse community. Gabby learned the impact and influence he had as a volunteer youth girls coach as she witnessed the players’ success over the years as they grew in the game.

It’s clear to the team and the entire district, that Craig was Flower Mound Girls Lacrosse’s biggest cheerleader. Craig was always first in line to volunteer his time to the players and program. “There are no words to describe this loss. His presence in the stands will be greatly missed and he will forever be in our hearts,” Gabby said. “So much of his legacy will be carried out through his daughter Brynn. As a senior and team Captain this season, and soon to be a collegiate Division I lacrosse player, we are confident she will bring his spirit and passion to the field.”

It’s plain to see that Craig Belmont made a lasting impact on the players and this program. “His electric personality made you feel like you’ve known him your entire life,” Gabby said. “He was a one in a million human.”

The team plans to hold a memorial game in their upcoming 2022 season honoring Craig. If you’re looking for ways to support the Belmont family, you can visit Craig’s GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/in-the-loving-memory-of-craig-belmont. The team will be posting updates
on any community events to celebrate Craig on their
Instagram page @flowermoundgirlslacrosse.