Young lacrosse player scores opportunity to represent Ontario

August 18, 2016

Sidney Deleary holding the trophy after her and her teammates win gold in the week-long 2016 Female Box Lacrosse Nationals tournament hosted in Calgary, Alberta on July 18-July 23, 2016.

By Sidney Deleary

CHIPPEWA OF THE THAMES FIRST NATION—“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough to play at a certain level,” a quote by John Herdman, an English soccer coach, that inspires a young Chippewa of the Thames lacrosse player. This quote resonated with the 12-year-old London Blue Devils Lacrosse player, Sidney Deleary, after being one of the 20 players selected to represent Ontario at the 2016 Female Box Lacrosse Nationals in Calgary, Alberta on July 18-23, 2016.

“When I went into my interview, I was kind of nervous, and my heart was beating fast,” said Deleary.

“The coaches gave me feedback about my skills and things I needed to work on, while also complimenting my speed. I was very excited and happy when they told me I had been selected to the team. I dedicate my success to my family; especially my older siblings who helped train me for tryouts against girls who were all one and two years older than me,” added Deleary, who has only been playing lacrosse for a year, but plays like a seasoned player.

The Canadian Box Lacrosse Nationals involve Team Ontario, as well as provincial teams from British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, in a week long tournament. The Team Ontario Bantams had early success against BC winning 6-4, and later on, a dominating 6-3 win over team Alberta.

They finished the tournament with 6 wins and one loss. They also brought home the gold medal and the Bantam Tournament Trophy.

Deleary contributed one goal and two assists throughout the tournament.

The wins continued for Deleary as she and her team, the London Blue Devils, participated in the provincial tournament and won the silver medal.

Deleary hopes to continue to represent Team Ontario girls’ box team, and their Women’s Field Team as a way to receive opportunities to be recruited by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Teams, in the United States.

She would like to play for either North Carolina or Syracuse University where she can pursue kinesiology.