EL CAJON, CA (KGTV) -- Isaac Merfalen is the owner of Fantum Lacrosse in El Cajon. And he will be the first to tell you, he loves to work with wood.
"I've always had a passion for creating and just for making things."
But he's not building bird houses or pool decks. He's spent the last 10 years making, and customizing lacrosse sticks
"I just started out making sticks out of whatever wood I could find. It was all about figuring out which wood for sticks sticks were good, and which ones didn't work."
Isaac says it takes him about three days to customize a stick. And while players are using sticks made from titanium, plastics, and aluminum, he has stood behind his passion of creating with wood.
"It's dear to my heart to keep the tradition apart of the game," he says. "As we move forward, I'm kind of watching traditions go out the window. This game has been played for almost a thousand years, and it was up until the 1970's they only ever made wood sticks.'
And just like every other sport, lacrosse has been affected by the pandemic. Which in turn has been felt by Isaac. As he says, if kids are not playing, then they aren't buying sticks.
"I'm going to keep plugging away and making custom sticks for all lacrosse players who want something unique in their collection."
