Claremont’s field lacrosse academy hosts six visiting schools this week for the annual Spartan Shootout on the turf fields of the University of Victoria.
The showpiece of the tournament is a “Friday Night Lights” style game Friday (Nov. 16) at 7:30 p.m., between Claremont and Bainbridge Island of Washington State.
“We’re going big, American style, like they do with high school football, although in the eastern States there is a big high school lacrosse scene that does it too,” said Darren Reisig, head of the Claremont program.
“Last year’s (Friday night match) was really well attended and we expect this year’s to be as well, with students promoting ticket sales and PA announcements (in the school).”
The Friday night event is led by a committee of Claremont students and includes a fundraiser for Kidsport Victoria.
Claremont is entering two squads into the seven-team senior division, and two squads into the six team junior division. Visiting are B.C. schools New Westminster, Charles Best, Delta and Vancouver College, and from Washington State, Mercer Island and Bainbridge Island.
Two of Claremont’s 2013 grads are committed to play in the NCAA next year, with three or four more expected to sign, Reisig said. Jake Cullen, who was the leading scorer of the 2011 Spartan Shootout, is committed to the University of Albany. Goalie Stuart Smith is going to Bellarmine University in Kentucky.
Smith will join fellow Claremont grads Karsen Leung, Mitch McLaren and Liam Kelly at Bellarmine.