Any hope lacrosse and four other sports had of being sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League were quickly dashed Tuesday.

The UIL's policy committee unanimously rejected proposals to make lacrosse, martial arts, gymnastics, European handball and bowling varsity sports. Those decisions were made without discussion during a Tuesday meeting in Austin, UIL spokeswoman Kim Rogers told the Austin American-Statesman.

Lacrosse currently is a club sport in 73 schools across the state, including several in the Houston area, according to the Texas High School Lacrosse League's Web site. Central Texas has the highest concentration of participating schools, with more than a third of them in the region, according to the American-Statesman.

Local schools with at least one team include Memorial, Cy-Fair, Stratford, Lamar and Friendswood.

Some, including Memorial, have boys and girls teams.

The THSLL's state tournament was held in Houston in mid-May.

Eighteen states sanction both boys and girls lacrosse in high school.

The UIL hasn't added a varsity sport since wrestling in 1999.

This is the first time lacrosse has officially been pitched as a varsity sport, UIL athletic director Charles Breithaupt told the American-Statesman.

"It's best if a school says, 'Our kids are already playing,' " Breithaupt said. "Generally, the council takes a wait and see attitude" about adding a sport, he added.

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