Royal Bay Secondary SchoolB次元官网网址檚 lacrosse academy has been producing the next generation of the sportB次元官网网址檚 top athletes for the past five years, with many graduating to play Div. 1 NCAA lacrosse at universities down in the U.S.

On Wednesday (Dec. 14), dozens of the programB次元官网网址檚 alumni, current members and their families gathered at the school for the programB次元官网网址檚 first-ever alumni night, for some fun scrimmages and plenty of catching up.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really great to be back here to see the current team, see all the guys going through the program, itB次元官网网址檚 also great to be able to catch up with all your buddies who have been away at school,B次元官网网址� said 2021 graduate Noah Manning. B次元官网网址淭his is the first one weB次元官网网址檝e done, but we are all hoping it becomes a yearly thing.B次元官网网址�

Manning also had another reason to enjoy the event: his younger brother Grayson Manning is currently in Grade 11 and going through the lacrosse program, so it provided a chance for some friendly brotherly competition on top of catching up with old friends.

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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of those opportunities to celebrate the program. It has produced a lot of really great lacrosse players. ItB次元官网网址檚 also Christmas, so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to have a good chunk of the community out here,B次元官网网址� said Nichola Manning, the brothersB次元官网网址� mother. B次元官网网址淲e spent a lot of time with these people with two kids playing lacrosse, so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see them from the parentB次元官网网址檚 perspective as well. ItB次元官网网址檚 lots of fun.B次元官网网址�

The Greater Victoria region has always been known as a hot bed for lacrosse in Canada, and programs like Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 lacrosse academy has been a significant contributor to it in recent years. As an academy, rather than a simple school team, the students going through it are practicing lacrosse each and every day, leading to a bond Noah Manning said is hard to find anywhere else.

B次元官网网址淭his program means a lot to a lot of people, thatB次元官网网址檚 why you see so many people here tonight,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淟acrosse is a really uniting sport, whether it is friends on the sidelines or the players themselves,B次元官网网址� added Nichola Manning. B次元官网网址淭he coaching is also a lot more than just playing lacrosse, itB次元官网网址檚 guiding them through the recruiting process, itB次元官网网址檚 being a good person generally.B次元官网网址�

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justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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