Lacrosse Expands Across Grand Erie Schools with Growing Support

Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025

lacross-story

 

While sports create charming stories, one powerfully involves Canada’s national summer sport. Lacrosse is the latest sport to prosper in the Grand Erie District School Board.

If you walk the halls of McKinnon Park Secondary School, you will continue to hear chatter about the school’s prestigious title—the 2024 Ontario Division A/AA high school boys’ field lacrosse championship.

“The sport has taken off here and that includes offering it in the physical education curriculum and as an activity in inter-school competition,” said Delby Powless, the school’s guidance counsellor, coach and a former two-time NCAA All-American who had played the sport at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.

“Lacrosse is one of our top sports, and Grand Erie has supported the ongoing success with helmets, gloves, and jerseys for not just us but all school teams. It’s grown so much that we have one of the biggest school leagues in Ontario.”

McKinnon Park went undefeated last year. Powless credits the success to 36 students who were given an opportunity and made the best of it. While some grew up playing lacrosse on Six Nations, demographically the largest First Nations reserve in Canada, others started from scratch in their physical education class.

Dayton Martin, currently in his graduating year at McKinnon Park, said he will take some great memories of playing lacrosse for his school with him.

“It has been an unreal experience, simply amazing and the highlight of my high school days,” said Martin, referring to his small school with a mighty sports program. “Some of my best friends had never played lacrosse. Now, they do. We have built life-long friendships because of this sport.”

Over at Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, the oldest and one of the largest schools in Grand Erie, is known for rugby dominance. Carey Vyse is hoping to raise the spotlight on lacrosse.

“Boys’ lacrosse has returned after a lengthy absence,” said Vyse, Indigenous Education guidance counsellor and staff representative for the boys’ lacrosse team. “The players are all back from last year.  It’s an amazing feeling for everyone and the sport is taking off.”

With lacrosse offered in the school curriculum, Vyse was thinking beyond the traditional gym and school field classes. She is determined to launch a varsity girls’ lacrosse team. Things appear promising this time, with plans for Brantford to stage a mini-tournament involving two other schools – Hagersville and McKinnon Park secondary schools.

Simohn Yellow, a Grade 10 student, played lacrosse in her community last year, but she was unable to get the support needed to form a school team.

“We tried but didn’t get a commitment from enough girls,” said Yellow, the team captain. “You must start somewhere. This year, I’m very happy with our progress, proud of what we’ve accomplished and grateful for the support. We’ll have a team where almost all the girls are new to the sport.”

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