Royal Bay Secondary schoolB次元官网网址檚 boysB次元官网网址� and girlsB次元官网网址� lacrosse academies have seen a boom in enrolment and show no signs of slowing down.

In the past two years since the boysB次元官网网址� academy began, it has grown from 17 junior and senior athletes to 85. While the majority of students are from the West Shore, a few come down from the Cowichan Valley as well.

Academy director and head coach Lucas MacNeil said the West Shore is a hot bed for lacrosse, much of which can be attributed to the success of the Victoria Shamrocks. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just booming out here. ItB次元官网网址檚 the fastest or second fastest growing lacrosse community in the province and when you look at Royal Bay and the facilities that we have, why wouldnB次元官网网址檛 you want to come here?B次元官网网址� said MacNeil, adding students between grades 9 and 12 earn credits for the class, during which they learn on-field skill development, off-field strength and conditional, sports psychology and nutrition. B次元官网网址淲e just try and get these kids to play as many games as they can.B次元官网网址�

RELATED: Royal Bay lacrosse coach pleased with results

The junior and senior squads have seen success in recent months, competing in tournaments in Seattle. In December, the seniors went 3-1 and the juniors lost in the semi-finals of a Seattle tourney. Locally, the junior and senior teams competed in the Spartan Shootout at Claremont Secondary, when the juniors went undefeated and the seniors went 2-2.

B次元官网网址淭he progress is there and the kids are starting to see what the outcome is of their effort and energy during the class,B次元官网网址� said MacNeil, adding the academy gives players the opportunity to travel as well. B次元官网网址淭raveling is a big part of learning. When you travel, you learn how to behave, you learn how to conduct yourself with youB次元官网网址檙e representing a school and a school district.B次元官网网址�

Thanks for coming out today ! This is the result of the kids hard work and how much the community supports its youth. So incredible! I love this place!

B次元官网网址� Gordie Logan (@GordieLogan)

Luc Gagnon, a Grade 9 student at Royal Bay, said heB次元官网网址檚 learned a lot during his last five months with the academy. B次元官网网址淚 love lacrosse and itB次元官网网址檚 a great academy. ThereB次元官网网址檚 great people to play with, a great coach,B次元官网网址� said Gagnon, who also plays field lacrosse with the Victoria Titans and the West Shore Whalers. B次元官网网址淵ou learn passing and catching and a lot of team play, what matters to the whole team and the importance of commitment to a team.B次元官网网址�

For those interested in getting to know more about the program, Royal Bay is hosting an info night on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Registration for the academy begins on Feb. 1 at 6 a.m.

RELATED: Girls field lacrosse academy likely coming to Royal Bay

Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 girlsB次元官网网址� lacrosse academy B次元官网网址� one of the first of its kind in Canada B次元官网网址� is also seeing success in its first year. Fifteen girls have registered for the academy and are B次元官网网址渆xcited and eagerB次元官网网址� to learn and grow the game at the school and within the community, said academy teacher, co-ordinator and coach, David Sundher.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited to develop our skills not only as individuals but also as a team, and maybe even some day send some athletes to post-secondary institutions in Canada and the U.S. to not only continue their education but also play womenB次元官网网址檚 lacrosse,B次元官网网址� he said, noting girls of all skill levels are welcome and will learn under a former Team Canada player.

Anyone interested in joining the girlsB次元官网网址� academy can contact Sundher via email at dsundher@sd62.bc.ca.

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kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com